tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Hematopoietic Recovery of Friend Virus-Infected Mice After Heavy X Irradiation
Authors: O. Gallien-Lartigue, P. Tambourin, F. Wendling, F. Zajdela
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1969)

Endogenous hematopoietic recovery, after exposure to 950 R of whole-body X radiation, was obtained in Swiss mice made splenomegalic (800–2000 mg) by inoculation of anemia-producing Friend virus (FVA) 15 days prior to irradiation. Mice infected 6 days before, whose spleen weight did not exceed 300 mg, showed no hematopoietic recovery and died within the same interval as their controls. This finding seems to indicate that the stem-cell pool still available after exposure to 950 R was considerably increased in splenomegalic, FVA-infected mice. Clusters of precursors of granulocytes, platelets, and sometimes erythrocytes were observed in spleen sections as early as 3 days after irradiation. No strict correlation was found between presence of surface spleen nodules and survival, which did not exceed 40%. Unrestrained proliferation of reticulum cells was resumed the 2d week after irradiation. Survivors demonstrated an increased lifespan as compared with un irradiated mice that had been virus-inoculated at the same time.
Cardiovascular Outcomes in High-Risk Hypertensive Patients Stratified by Baseline Glomerular Filtration Rate
Authors: Mahboob Rahman
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2006)

Background: Chronic kidney disease is common in older patients with hypertension. Objective: To compare rates of coronary heart disease (CHD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) events; to determine whether glomerular filtration rate (GFR) independently predicts risk for CHD; and to report the efficacy of first-step treatment with a calcium-channel blocker (amlodipine) or an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (lisinopril), each compared with a diuretic (chlorthalidone), in modifying cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes in high-risk patients with hypertension stratified by GFR. Design: Post hoc subgroup analysis. Setting: Multicenter randomized, double-blind, controlled trial. Participants: Persons with hypertension who were 55 years of age or older with 1 or more risk factors for CHD and who were stratified into 3 baseline GFR groups: normal or increased (≥ 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2; n = 8126 patients), mild reduction (60 to 89 mL/min per 1.73 m2; n = 18 109 patients), and moderate or severe reduction (< 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2; n = 5662 patients). Interventions: Random assignment to chlorthalidone, amlodipine, or lisinopril. Measurements: Rates of ESRD, CHD, stroke, and combined CVD (CHD, coronary revascularization, angina, stroke, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease). Results: In participants with a moderate to severe reduction in GFR, 6-year rates were higher for CHD than for ESRD (15.4% vs. 6.0%, respectively). A baseline GFR of less than 53 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (compared with >104 mL/min per 1.73 m2) was independently associated with a 32% higher risk for CHD. Amlodipine was similar to chlorthalidone in reducing CHD (16.0% vs. 15.2%, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.89 to 1.27]), stroke, and combined CVD (CHD, coronary revascularization, angina, stroke, heart failure, and peripheral arterial disease), but less effective in preventing heart failure. Lisinopril was similar to chlorthalidone in preventing CHD (15.1% vs. 15.2%, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.00 [CI, 0.84 to 1.20]), but was less effective in reducing stroke, combined CVD events, and heart failure. Limitations: Proteinuria data were not available, and combination therapies were not tested. Conclusions: Older high-risk patients with hypertension and reduced GFR are more likely to develop CHD than to develop ESRD. A low GFR independently predicts increased risk for CHD. Neither amlodipine nor lisinopril is superior to chlorthalidone in preventing CHD, stroke, or combined CVD, and chlorthalidone is superior to both for preventing heart failure, independent of level of renal function. *For a complete listing of the ALLHAT Collaborative Research Group, please refer to the following: Major outcomes in high-risk hypertensive patients randomized to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or calcium channel blocker vs diuretic: The Antihypertensive and Lipid-Lowering Treatment to Prevent Heart Attack Trial (ALLHAT). JAMA. 2002;288:2981-97. [PMID: 12479763]
Recording pressure at the distal end of the endotracheal tube to measure respiratory impedance
Authors: D Navajas, R Farre, M Rotger, J Canet
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1989)

To minimize the flow-dependent effects caused by an endotracheal tube during impedance measurements, we recorded pressure inside the tube at its distal end. We used a commercial endotracheal tube with a lumen built into its wall with the opening located near the outlet of the tube. We characterized the effect of the tube by means of an effective transfer function (H). We measured H from 0.25-32 Hz on a mechanical analogue by using pseudorandom excitation with different peak-to-peak flow amplitudes (Vpp). For an 8 mm internal diameter (ID) endotracheal tube the modulus of H measured with Vpp 0.2 l.s-1 was 1.00 at 0.25 Hz and increased with the frequency to 1.40 at 32 Hz. The phase factor was close to zero (less than 5 degrees) over the whole frequency band. The modulus of H changed less than 5% and the phase factor less than 3 degrees when Vpp was increased from 0.2 to 0.8 l.s-1. We evaluated the method on five mechanical analogues with increased resistance or elastance and with a different tracheal area. The mean normalized distance in the complex plane over the whole frequency band (dz) between the analogue impedance and the estimated value from intubation was always less than 5%. Finally, the method was tested on an active analogue which superimposed a high-amplitude (up to 1.4 l.s-1 peak-to-peak) low-frequency (0.25 or 0.33 Hz) sinusoidal flow onto excitation: dz was always less than 4.3%.
Class I-restricted processing and presentation of exogenous cell-associated antigen in vivo.
Authors: F R Carbone, M J Bevan
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1990)

MHC class I-restricted T lymphocyte responses are usually directed to cellular antigenic components resulting from endogenous gene expression. Exogenous, non-replicating antigens, such as soluble proteins, usually fail to enter the class I pathway of antigen processing and presentation. Consistent with this notion, we have recently shown that soluble, exogenous proteins can be efficiently processed for class I presentation in vitro only if they are introduced directly into the target cell cytoplasm. In this report we extend this work to the in vivo situation by introducing soluble protein into the cytoplasm of mouse splenocytes via the osmotic lysis of pinosomes and then using these cells for in vivo immunization. Our results show that cytoplasmic loading of OVA and beta-GAL into H-2b and H-2d splenocytes respectively, resulted in effective in vivo immunogens for class I-restricted CTL. To our surprise, control spleen cell preparations simply incubated with the exogenous, native protein for 10 min at 37 degrees C in isotonic medium and then washed could also induce a comparable class I-restricted CTL response following intravenous injection. Experiments using (H-2b X H-2d)F1 mice showed that protein pulsed splenocytes from one parental strain could effectively "cross prime" T cells restricted to the MHC of the other parental strain. In all cases, target cell recognition by the effector CTL generated by immunization with spleen cell-associated antigen required the antigen to be present in the cell cytoplasm. Thus the CTL do not recognize target cells exposed to soluble, exogenous antigen. These results, reminiscent of analogous experiments with cross priming by minor histocompatibility antigens, argue that class I-restricted processing and presentation of exogenous antigen can occur in vivo following immunization with cell-associated antigen.
The Coming of Age of the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Charles M. Alexander
Journal: Diabetes Care (2003)

The metabolic syndrome, or insulin resistance syndrome, is present in almost one-half of older individuals and is associated with dyslipidemia (especially low HDL cholesterol, increased triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B levels), hypertension, insulin resistance/glucose intolerance/hyperglycemia, and visceral adiposity (as well as lipid deposition in other nonadipose sites) (1). Although the term “insulin resistance syndrome” has many supporters among the diabetes community, many others (especially cardiologists) favor the term “the metabolic syndrome,” which will be used here.

In many countries, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome appears to be increasing along with BMI, especially in younger individuals. Onset varies from adolescence in the most severe cases to the very elderly. Prevalence varies markedly by race/ethnicity and the environment. Those ethnic/racial groups in the U.S. living in environments with high-sugar, high-fat food and little physical activity have an extremely high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (e.g., Pima Indians in Arizona compared with Mexico). Most individuals with type 2 diabetes have the metabolic syndrome. Although it is suspected to predate the onset of diabetes, longitudinal studies of individuals with the metabolic syndrome are needed to confirm this. It is clear that there is a step-wise increase in prevalence of the metabolic syndrome with increasing glucose intolerance/hyperglycemia. The major consequences of the metabolic syndrome are …
A major surface protein on group A streptococci is a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase with multiple binding activity.
Authors: V Pancholi, V A Fischetti
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1992)

The surface of streptococci presents an array of different proteins, each designed to perform a specific function. In an attempt to understand the early events in group A streptococci infection, we have identified and purified a major surface protein from group A type 6 streptococci that has both an enzymatic activity and a binding capacity for a variety of proteins. Mass spectrometric analysis of the purified molecule revealed a monomer of 35.8 kD. Molecular sieve chromatography and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-gel electrophoresis suggest that the native conformation of the protein is likely to be a tetramer of 156 kD. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis revealed 83% homology in the first 18 residues and about 56% in the first 39 residues with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) of eukaryotic or bacterial origin. This streptococcal surface GAPDH (SDH) exhibits a dose-dependent dehydrogenase activity on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate in the presence of beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide both in its pure form and on the streptococcal surface. Its sensitivity to trypsin on whole organism and its inability to be removed with 2 M NaCl or 2% SDS support its surface location and tight attachment to the streptococcal cell. Affinity-purified antibodies to SDH detected the presence of this protein on the surface of all M serotypes of group A streptococcal tested. Purified SDH was found to bind to fibronectin, lysozyme, as well as the cytoskeletal proteins myosin and actin. The binding activity to myosin was found to be localized to the globular heavy meromyosin domain. SDH did not bind to streptococcal M protein, tropomyosin, or the coiled-coil domain of myosin. The multiple binding capacity of the SDH in conjunction with its GAPDH activity may play a role in the colonization, internalization, and the subsequent proliferation of group A streptococci.
FDA to review “missing” drug company documents
Authors: Jeanne Lenzer
Journal: BMJ (2004)

The US Food and Drug Administration has agreed to review confidential drug company documents that went missing during a controversial product liability suit more than 10 years ago. The documents appear to suggest a link between the drug fluoxetine (Prozac), made by Eli Lilly, and suicide attempts and violence.

The missing documents, which were sent to the BMJ by an anonymous source last month, include reviews and memos indicating that Eli Lilly officials were aware in the 1980s that fluoxetine had troubling side effects and sought to minimise their likely negative effect on prescribing.

The documents received by the BMJ reportedly went missing during the 1994 Wesbecker case that grew out of a lawsuit filed on behalf of victims of a work-place shooting in 1989. Joseph Wesbecker, armed with an AK-47, shot eight people dead and wounded another 12. He then shot and killed himself. Mr Wesbecker, who had a long history of depression, had been placed on fluoxetine one month before the shootings.

One of the internal company documents, a report of 8 November 1988, entitled “Activation and Sedation in …
Prognostic value of heart rate variability during long-term follow-up in patients with mild to moderate heart failure
Authors: Jan Brouwer, Dirk J. van Veldhuisen, Arie J. Man In 't Veld, Jaap Haaksma, W. Arnold Dijk, Klaas R. Visser, Frans Boomsma, Peter H.J.M. Dunselman, K.I. Lie
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1996)
Regulatory Myeloid Suppressor Cells in Health and Disease
Authors: Srinivas Nagaraj, Michele Collazo, Cesar A. Corzo, Je-In Youn, Myrna Ortiz, David Quiceno, Dmitry I. Gabrilovich
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Research in recent years has brought a wealth of information about the important role of immune suppressive myeloid cells in cancer and other diseases. There is growing evidence suggesting that the expansion of these regulatory cells may represent a common response to all forms of inflammation.
Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH): a new UK register: Table 1
Authors: Rebecca H Mason, Noeleen M Foley, Howard M Branley, Huzaifa I Adamali, Martin Hetzel, Toby M Maher, Jay Suntharalingam
Journal: Thorax (2014)

<h3>Abstract</h3> Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare interstitial lung disease of unknown aetiology. We aimed to characterise a UK-wide cohort of patients with PLCH and compare diagnostic and management methods in specialist and non-specialist centres. 106 cases (53 hospitals) identified. Complete data received in 67 cases (53.7% female, age 37.1±14.4 years). 96% current or ex-smokers. Treatment; smoking cessation (79%), corticosteroids (30.6%), cytotoxic therapy (26.9%) and lung transplant (6%). Patients at specialist centres received cytotoxic drugs more often (p=0.0001) and survival appeared higher. This dataset indicates a more even gender distribution than previously documented. It suggests variation in clinical management and outcomes achieved dependent on clinical experience.
The Reversal of Fortunes: Trends in County Mortality and Cross-County Mortality Disparities in the United States
Authors: Majid Ezzati, Ari B Friedman, Sandeep C Kulkarni, Christopher J. L Murray
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2008)

Background Counties are the smallest unit for which mortality data are routinely available, allowing consistent and comparable long-term analysis of trends in health disparities. Average life expectancy has steadily increased in the United States but there is limited information on long-term mortality trends in the US counties This study aimed to investigate trends in county mortality and cross-county mortality disparities, including the contributions of specific diseases to county level mortality trends. Methods and Findings We used mortality statistics (from the National Center for Health Statistics [NCHS]) and population (from the US Census) to estimate sex-specific life expectancy for US counties for every year between 1961 and 1999. Data for analyses in subsequent years were not provided to us by the NCHS. We calculated different metrics of cross-county mortality disparity, and also grouped counties on the basis of whether their mortality changed favorably or unfavorably relative to the national average. We estimated the probability of death from specific diseases for counties with above- or below-average mortality performance. We simulated the effect of cross-county migration on each county's life expectancy using a time-based simulation model. Between 1961 and 1999, the standard deviation (SD) of life expectancy across US counties was at its lowest in 1983, at 1.9 and 1.4 y for men and women, respectively. Cross-county life expectancy SD increased to 2.3 and 1.7 y in 1999. Between 1961 and 1983 no counties had a statistically significant increase in mortality; the major cause of mortality decline for both sexes was reduction in cardiovascular mortality. From 1983 to 1999, life expectancy declined significantly in 11 counties for men (by 1.3 y) and in 180 counties for women (by 1.3 y); another 48 (men) and 783 (women) counties had nonsignificant life expectancy decline. Life expectancy decline in both sexes was caused by increased mortality from lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, and a range of other noncommunicable diseases, which were no longer compensated for by the decline in cardiovascular mortality. Higher HIV/AIDS and homicide deaths also contributed substantially to life expectancy decline for men, but not for women. Alternative specifications of the effects of migration showed that the rise in cross-county life expectancy SD was unlikely to be caused by migration. Conclusions There was a steady increase in mortality inequality across the US counties between 1983 and 1999, resulting from stagnation or increase in mortality among the worst-off segment of the population. Female mortality increased in a large number of counties, primarily because of chronic diseases related to smoking, overweight and obesity, and high blood pressure.
Preliminary screening for respiratory disease among workers in a garment factory (GF)
Authors: Dushantha Madegedara, Duminda Yasaratne, Hemali Nagahatenna, Deepani Kosgallana, Ruwan Kumara, Damith Nandadeva
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background  Garment industry is a major source of national income in Sri Lanka.    Aim  To determine whether occupational exposure causes respiratory diseases and decline in lung function among GF workers.    Method  We conducted a cross sectional study in a cotton GF in Board of Investment zone, Kundasale, Sri Lanka in October 2012. All factory workers were interviewed using interviewer administered questionnaire. Respiratory system was examined and spirometry performed using portable spirometer.    Results  A total 156 employees were screened (105 females; mean age 30 years) with an average service of 4.8 years. 88 had high occupational risk exposure (cutting and sewing sections) while the exposure was low in remaining 68 (ironing, quality supervising, packing and office sections). Only 24 (15%) of high risk employees were using safety appliances like face masks.  Incidence of recent onset wheezing and/or rhinitis in the high risk group was 35% (30) and in the low risk group 19% (13), showing a relative risk of 1.78 (P=0.0462). However, only three of the wheezers had demonstrable airway obstruction on spirometry. Age and sex adjusted percentage FEV1 was lower in the high risk group (mean 85.3 ± SE 1.6) compared to the low risk group (88.0 ± 1.7), although the difference was not significant (t=-1.17, p=0.25). Despite the significant symptomatology among the high risk employers, there was no correlation between the duration of risk exposure and decline in percentage FEV1 (r=0.096, p=0.19).    Conclusion  Upper and lower respiratory symptoms were significantly higher among GF workers with high occupational risk exposure. However there was no significant decline in respiratory parameters on spirometry.
Is Patient Readiness to Change a Predictor of Improved Glycemic Control?
Authors: Patrick J. O’Connor, Stephen E. Asche, A. Lauren Crain, William A. Rush, Robin R. Whitebird, Leif I. Solberg, JoAnn M. Sperl-Hillen
Journal: Diabetes Care (2004)

OBJECTIVE—To test the hypothesis that patient readiness to change (RTC) predicts future changes in glycemic control in adults with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We linked survey data with HbA1c data for a stratified random sample of consenting adults with diabetes. Change in HbA1c from baseline to the 1-year follow-up was computed and used as a dependent variable. Linear regression models assessed RTC and other patient variables as predictors of HbA1c change. RESULTS—Among 617 patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7% and complete data for analysis, RTC predicted subsequent improvement in HbA1c for those with higher physical functioning (interaction t = −2.45, P &amp;lt; 0.05). Other factors that predicted HbA1c improvement in multivariate linear regression models included higher self-reported medication adherence (t = −4.41, P &amp;lt; 0.01), higher baseline HbA1c (t = −15.08, P &amp;lt; 0.01), and older age (t = −2.61, P &amp;lt; 0.01). CONCLUSIONS— Diabetes RTC independently predicts change in HbA1c for patients with high but not for patients with low functional health status. Customized use of RTC assessment may have potential to improve care.
Relevance of pollen‐specific IgE levels to the development of Apiaceae hypersensitivity in patients with birch pollen allergy
Authors: R. Asero
Journal: Allergy (1997)

A large clinical/serologic study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Apiaceae (carrot, celery, and fennel) hypersensitivity in patients with birch pollen allergy, and to investigate its relationship with apple and hazelnut allergy and with birch pollen-specific IgE levels. A total of 196 birch pollen-hypersensitive patients with oral allergy syndrome (OAS) caused by different vegetable foods were examined in the cross-sectional part of the study. Of this total, 195 patients had apple and/or hazelnut allergy, and 103 had Apiaceae sensitivity; only one patient had Apiaceae allergy alone. Apiaceae-positive patients showed significantly higher birch pollen-specific IgE levels than negative ones (median 13 vs 7 AU/ml; P < 0.0001). The prospective part of the study was performed on 103 birch pollen-hypersensitive patients who were OAS-free at the time of the first visit and were periodically followed-up for OAS. Patients who developed Apiaceae sensitivity showed much higher birch-specific IgE levels than patients who developed apple/hazelnut allergy only (median 15.5 vs 8.5 AU/ml; P < 0.05), whereas those who remained OAS-free showed the lowest specific IgE levels (median 5 AU/ml). This study suggests that most Apiaceae determinants cross-react with apple or hazelnut determinants, whereas only some apple or hazelnut determinants cross-react with Apiaceae-allergenic determinants; moreover, it shows that birch-specific IgE levels heavily influence the onset of OAS as a whole, and probably play a critical role in the development of allergies to distinct vegetable foods as well.