tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Drug companies are ignoring health crisis in poor countries, Oxfam says
Authors: Adrian O'Dowd
Journal: BMJ (2007)

The drug industry is "burying its head in the sand" when dealing with health in developing countries and denying poorer people access to life saving drugs, a report claims this week.A critical report by the international agency Oxfam says that the drug industry is refusing to change the way it does business in poor countries, despite promising that it would, and is undermining its own future.Oxfam's report looks at the world's top 12 drug companies, including their drug pricing policies, their record in developing drugs that are relevant to health care in poor countries, and their stance on protecting intellectual property rights.The report says that the industry shows various shortcomings, including:• Failure to implement a systematic and transparent tiered pricing policy that is based on people's ability to pay • Continuing to neglect research and development concerning diseases that affect developing countries, and • Inflexibility in protecting intellectual property, which includes challenging poor countries in court to stop them using legal safeguards to protect public health.Oxfam interviewed 12 companies in preparing the report: Abbott, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Eli Lilly, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, and Wyeth
Kappa-chain gene rearrangement in an apparent T-lineage lymphoma.
Authors: K Ha-Kawa, J Hara, Y Keiko, A Muraguchi, N Kawamura, S Ishihara, S Doi, H Yabuuchi
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1986)

We describe a 10-yr-old boy with T-lineage non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. He had a mediastinal mass, swollen supraclavicular lymph nodes, and pleural effusion. A supraclavicular lymph node biopsy under light microscopy showed a malignant lymphoma of diffuse lymphoblastic type. Most of the cells taken from the malignant pleural effusion expressed T cell-associated antigens such as Leu-1 and OKT 8. To confirm these antigens as T-lineage lymphoma, we examined genomic DNA from malignant cells obtained from the pleural effusion. As was expected, T cell receptor beta-chain gene rearrangements were demonstrated. However, when the immunoglobulin gene organization was analyzed, we detected rearrangements in both the heavy- and kappa-chain genes. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which kappa-chain gene rearrangement was detected in apparent T-lineage cells. These findings provide important information relating to determination of the cellular lineage of lymphoid malignancy.
Influence of Host Genotype on Responses to Four Strains of Avian Leukosis Virus
Authors: L. N. Payne, L. B. Crittenden, W. Okazaki
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1968)

The RPL25, RPL28, RPL29, and RPL30 strains of avian leukosis virus, isolated relatively recently from farm flocks dying from lymphomatosis, were characterized according to Vogt's subgroup A and B classification of avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses. The criteria used were: 1) their ability to interfere in cell culture with transformation produced by strains of Rous sarcoma virus of subgroups A and B and 2) their ability to induce the group-specific antigen of avian leukosis/sarcoma viruses in selectively susceptible cell cultures as detected in complement-fixation tests. The RPL28, RPL29, and RPL30 strains were found to be subgroup A viruses, whereas RPL25 was a mixture of subgroup A and B viruses. The 4 leukosis viruses were inoculated at various dilutions into chick embryos, which were either heterozygous (asar) or homozygous-resistant (arar)at the tva locus. This locus, which controls susceptibility to infection by subgroup A viruses, greatly influenced the oncogenic properties of RPL28, RPL29, and RPL30; hemorrhages, erythroblastosis, and sarcomas were markedly suppressed, and lymphoid leukosis was completely suppressed, in ararchickens, in comparison with asar chickens. In contrast, tumor production by RPL25 was only slightly suppressed in ararchickens in comparison with asar chickens, probably because of the presence of subgroup B virus in the RPL25 virus stock.
Prognostic Impact of Bim, Puma, and Noxa Expression in Human Colon Carcinomas
Authors: Frank A. Sinicrope, Rafaela L. Rego, Kenji Okumura, Nathan R. Foster, Michael J. O'Connell, Daniel J. Sargent, Harold E. Windschitl
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2008)

Abstract Purpose: Proapoptotic BH3-only proteins (Bim, Bad, Bid, Puma, and Noxa) initiate apoptosis by binding to regulatory sites on antiapoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, directly neutralizing their cytoprotective function. Expression of these proteins in colon cancer patients may account for differences in recurrence and survival rates. Experimental Design: Archival tumor-node-metastasis stage II and III primary colon carcinomas from patients treated in 5-fluorouracil–based adjuvant therapy trials were studied. Immunohistochemical analysis of Bim, Puma, and Noxa proteins was done using tissue microarrays (n = 431). Immunoscores were determined and correlated with clinicopathologic variables and disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates. Results: Elevated expression of proapoptotic Bim (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% confidence interval, 0.44-0.97; P = 0.033) and Puma (hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.37-0.93; P = 0.022), but not Noxa, proteins in the tumor cytoplasm was significantly associated with more favorable OS in a univariate analysis, and elevated Bim expression was also associated with better DFS (P = 0.023). Patient age, tumor stage, and histologic grade were also prognostic. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that Bim (DFS, P = 0.030; OS, P = 0.045) and Puma (OS, P = 0.037) expression were independent predictors of OS after adjustment for histologic grade, tumor stage, age, and treatment. Furthermore, the combined variable of Bim and Puma was highly discriminant for both DFS (P = 0.0034) and OS (P = 0.0011). Conclusions: The proapoptotic BH3-only proteins Bim and Puma can provide prognostic information for stage II and III colon cancer patients receiving 5-fluorouracil–based adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, our results support BH3-only proteins as molecular targets of novel anticancer drugs.
A case-control study to investigate the relation between low and moderate levels of physical activity and osteoarthritis of the knee using data collected as part of the Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey
Authors: A J Sutton
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2001)

Physical activity is being recommended as an intervention for seemingly almost universal improvements to health. A potential concern with this recommendation for increased exercise is that some believe increased levels of activity may lead to increased incidence of osteoarthritis of the knee (knee OA), as a result of accelerated "wear and tear" of the major joints.To investigate the hypothesis that the occurrence of knee OA may be related to the duration of participation in some forms of sport and active recreation.The relation between habitual exercise, reported by a cross section of people surveyed in England, and self reported knee OA was investigated. Data were derived from the Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey (1990-91). A matched retrospective case-control design was used and a new exposure classification system which categorised different grades of activities for different time periods for each subject's lifetime participation in regular physical activities was developed. Additional data on knee injuries sustained and bodily composition were also included in a multivariate analysis.From 4316 people originally interviewed, 216 eligible cases (66 men, 150 women) were identified (mean age 57.1). Each case was matched to four controls. When habitual sport/exercise participation were examined during a subject's life, only exposure to regular long walks and being physically active between the ages of 20 and 24 suggested any association with developing knee OA later in life. The only strong association found was a greatly increased risk of knee OA having previously sustained a knee injury (p<0.01, odds ratio 8.0 (95% confidence interval 2.0 to 32.0)).There was little evidence to suggest that increased levels of regular physical activity throughout life lead to an increased risk of knee OA later in life. Previous knee injury was associated with an increased risk of knee OA. Additionally, most injuries were caused through participation in physical activities. Hence, when deciding on participation in activities, it is worth taking the likelihood of joint injury into consideration, as the chance of injury is greater in some activities than others.
Bone densitometry in clinical practice.
Authors: M.-C. DE VERNEJOUL
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1999)

Bone densitometry in clinical practice. Sydney Lou Bonnick. (Pp 256; $89.50). New Jersey: Humana Press, 1998. ISBN 0-89603-513-1.

Bone densitometry is a proliferating tool in rheumatology practice but often the theoretical and technical basis required to give and interprete correctly the data are missing. This book is dedicted to all the physicians, internists, endocrinologists, gynaecologists, who deal with bone disease and particularily osteoporosis. It is also comprehensive for technicians who perform the examinations. It is dedicated to those who already use bone densitometry and I am sure it will convince those who are still reluctant to use it in clinical practice.

The first five chapters deal with the technical issues. They include a review of all the techniques possible to measure bone density these days. …
Prenatal Antidepressant Exposure: Clinical and Preclinical Findings
Authors: Chase H. Bourke, Zachary N. Stowe, Michael J. Owens
Journal: Pharmacological Reviews (2014)

Pharmacological treatment of any maternal illness during pregnancy warrants consideration of the consequences of the illness and/or medication for both the mother and unborn child. In the case of major depressive disorder, which affects up to 10–20% of pregnant women, the deleterious effects of untreated depression on the offspring can be profound and long lasting. Progress has been made in our understanding of the mechanism(s) of action of antidepressants, fetal exposure to these medications, and serotonin's role in development. New technologies and careful study designs have enabled the accurate sampling of maternal serum, breast milk, umbilical cord serum, and infant serum psychotropic medication concentrations to characterize the magnitude of placental transfer and exposure through human breast milk. Despite this progress, the extant clinical literature is largely composed of case series, population-based patient registry data that are reliant on nonobjective means and retrospective recall to determine both medication and maternal depression exposure, and limited inclusion of suitable control groups for maternal depression. Conclusions drawn from such studies often fail to incorporate embryology/neurotransmitter ontogeny, appropriate gestational windows, or a critical discussion of statistically versus clinically significant. Similarly, preclinical studies have predominantly relied on dosing models, leading to exposures that may not be clinically relevant. The elucidation of a defined teratological effect or mechanism, if any, has yet to be conclusively demonstrated. The extant literature indicates that, in many cases, the benefits of antidepressant use during pregnancy for a depressed pregnant woman may outweigh potential risks.
Effectiveness of Self-Management Training in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Susan L. Norris, Michael M. Engelgau, K.M. Venkat Narayan
Journal: Diabetes Care (2001)

OBJECTIVE—To systematically review the effectiveness of self-management training in type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—MEDLINE, Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC), and Nursing and Allied Health databases were searched for English-language articles published between 1980 and 1999. Studies were original articles reporting the results of randomized controlled trials of the effectiveness of self-management training in people with type 2 diabetes. Relevant data on study design, population demographics, interventions, outcomes, methodological quality, and external validity were tabulated. Interventions were categorized based on educational focus (information, lifestyle behaviors, mechanical skills, and coping skills), and outcomes were classified as knowledge, attitudes, and self-care skills; lifestyle behaviors, psychological outcomes, and quality of life; glycemic control; cardiovascular disease risk factors; and economic measures and health service utilization. RESULTS—A total of 72 studies described in 84 articles were identified for this review. Positive effects of self-management training on knowledge, frequency and accuracy of self-monitoring of blood glucose, self-reported dietary habits, and glycemic control were demonstrated in studies with short follow-up (&amp;lt;6 months). Effects of interventions on lipids, physical activity, weight, and blood pressure were variable. With longer follow-up, interventions that used regular reinforcement throughout follow-up were sometimes effective in improving glycemic control. Educational interventions that involved patient collaboration may be more effective than didactic interventions in improving glycemic control, weight, and lipid profiles. No studies demonstrated the effectiveness of self-management training on cardiovascular disease–related events or mortality; no economic analyses included indirect costs; few studies examined health-care utilization. Performance, selection, attrition, and detection bias were common in studies reviewed, and external generalizability was often limited. CONCLUSIONS—Evidence supports the effectiveness of self-management training in type 2 diabetes, particularly in the short term. Further research is needed to assess the effectiveness of self-management interventions on sustained glycemic control, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and ultimately, microvascular and cardiovascular disease and quality of life.
Identification of dairy fractions with anti-inflammatory properties in models of acute gout
Authors: N. Dalbeth, E. Gracey, B. Pool, K. Callon, F. M. McQueen, J. Cornish, A. MacGibbon, K. Palmano
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2009)

Large epidemiological studies have shown that low-fat dairy intake reduces the risk of developing gout. It was hypothesised that factors within dairy fractions inhibit the inflammatory response to monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals.Dairy fractions were tested in MSU crystal-stimulated THP-1 cell assays. Fractions with inhibitory effects were then tested in the murine urate peritonitis model.Two dairy fractions were found to have consistent inhibitory effects. Glycomacropeptide (GMP) and G600 milk fat extract both inhibited interleukin-1beta (IL1beta) gene and protein expression in the THP-1 cell assay. Conversely, standard milk fat increased IL8 protein expression in the THP-1 cell assay. Oral administration of GMP and G600 milk fat extract inhibited cellular influx in the urate peritonitis model.Both protein and lipid fractions within dairy products are capable of modulating the inflammatory response to MSU crystals.
Regional Effects of Selective Pharyngeal Muscle Activation on Airway Shape
Authors: Samuel T. Kuna
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2004)

Pharyngeal airway fiberoptic imaging was performed in 10 decerebrate cats to determine the effect of selective pharyngeal muscle activation on airway shape. At intraluminal pressures from 6 to -6 cm H2O, maximum anteroposterior and lateral diameters were measured in the rostral oropharynx, caudal oropharynx, and velopharynx with and without bilateral stimulation of the medial hypoglossus (HG), lateral HG, whole HG, glossopharyngeus, and pharyngeal branch of vagus nerves. At all three airway levels without nerve stimulation, the increase in diameter with increasing pressure was greater in the lateral than anteroposterior dimension. Stimulation of the hypoglossal and glossopharyngeus nerves caused greater increases in lateral than anteroposterior diameter in all three regions with different effects across nerves and regions. Stimulation of these four nerves frequently caused greater increases in both diameters, as the airway cross-sectional area was decreased by lowering airway pressure. Stimulation of the pharyngeal branch of vagus resulted in greater decreases in lateral than anteroposterior dimension in the caudal oropharynx and velopharynx, especially as airway cross-sectional area was increased by increasing intraluminal pressure. The results indicate that selective activation of pharyngeal muscles in cats frequently results in greater changes in lateral than anteroposterior airway diameter and that these effects are dependent on airway region and cross-sectional area.
Axillary vein thrombosis in adolescent onset systemic sclerosis.
Authors: A Leak, K J Patel, E G Tuddenham, J D Pearson, P Woo
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1990)

<h3>Abstract</h3> During our everyday lives, visual beauty is often conveyed by sustained and dynamic visual stimulation, such as when we walk through an enchanting forest or watch our pets playing. Here, I devised an MEG experiment that mimics such situations: Participants viewed 8s videos of everyday situations and rated their beauty. Using multivariate analysis, I linked aesthetic ratings to (1) sustained MEG broadband responses and (2) spectral MEG responses in the alpha and beta frequency bands. These effects were not accounted for by a set of high- and low-level visual descriptors of the videos, suggesting that they are genuinely related to aesthetic perception. My findings provide a first characterization of spectral brain signatures linked to aesthetic experiences in the real world.
Measuring height in children
Authors: C D Wylie
Journal: BMJ (1992)

During the trial two subjects failed to don the equipment correctly and one suffered extreme rebreathing, which limited his exercise tolerance in the test atmosphere to less than two minutes.Two volunteers refused to undergo the session in the test atmosphere wearing the hood as they perceived it as too stressful.We have also studied two other commercially available smoke hoods with filters in two volunteers exercising in air at only 75 W.One resulted in a ventilation of 109 /min in one subject, while the other subject was unable to exercise beyond two minutes when his oxygen saturation fell to 87% and his ventilation reached 919 I/min.The other device resulted in ventilations of 103-1 l/min and 107 71/min in the same volunteers.Our subjects represent the healthiest of those who travel by air, whose range of states of health and disease is wide.Tolerance to wearing a smoke hood is probably reduced in less healthy people, elderly people, and children.The hazards of rebreathing while wearing a smokehood and attempting to escape from fire need to be investi- gated further before widespread use of smoke hoods can be recommended.Our study further emphasises the widely held view that people who wear respiratory protection should be specifically trained in its use.Without training, such equipment carries a risk that might limit escape from fire even if the atmosphere is minimally toxic.We believe that existing smoke hoods carry an intrinsic risk to the wearer that in some instances outweighs their potential benefits.
Further Neuropsychiatric Observations in Nigeria
Authors: T. A. Lambo
Journal: BMJ (1960)

The place of the newer penicillins in the treatment of any other infections thani staphylococcal is more doubtful.Penicillin G exceeds all other penicillins in activity against all other bacteria (except two uncommon species of Proteus), the differences being often wide.The nearest approach to the activity of penicillin G against important pathogenic organisms such as haemolytic streptococci and pneumococci is that of penicillin V, which may therefore reasonably claim to retain its place in the oral treatment of sufficiently sensitive infections. SummaryThe minimum concentrations of four penicillins inhibiting the growth of a variety of pathogenic bacteria have been determined, and the differences in activity so revealed are briefly discussed.I am indebted to Beecham Research Laboratories for kindly furnishing supplies of broxil and celbenin; to Eli Lilly and Co. for supplies of pure potassium penicillin V; to Dr. C
Ultra Low-Dose IL-2 for GVHD Prophylaxis after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Mediates Expansion of Regulatory T Cells without Diminishing Antiviral and Antileukemic Activity
Authors: Alana A. Kennedy-Nasser, Stephanie Ku, Paul Castillo-Caro, Yasmin Hazrat, Meng-Fen Wu, Hao Liu, Jos Melenhorst, A. John Barrett, Sawa Ito, Aaron Foster, Barbara Savoldo, Eric Yvon, George Carrum, Carlos A. Ramos, Robert A. Krance, Kathryn Leung, Helen E. Heslop, Malcolm K. Brenner, Catherine M. Bollard
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2014)

Abstract Purpose: GVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) has been associated with low numbers of circulating CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs). Because Tregs express high levels of the interleukin (IL)-2 receptor, they may selectively expand in vivo in response to doses of IL-2 insufficient to stimulate T effector T-cell populations, thereby preventing GVHD. Experimental Design: We prospectively evaluated the effects of ultra low-dose (ULD) IL-2 injections on Treg recovery in pediatric patients after alloSCT and compared this recovery with Treg reconstitution post alloSCT in patients without IL-2. Sixteen recipients of related (n = 12) or unrelated (n = 4) donor grafts received ULD IL-2 post hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT; 100,000–200,000 IU/m2 ×3 per week), starting &amp;lt;day 30 and continuing for 6 to 12 weeks. Results: No grade 3/4 toxicities were associated with ULD IL-2. CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Tregs increased from a mean of 4.8% (range, 0%–11.0%) pre IL-2 to 11.1% (range, 1.2%–31.1%) following therapy, with the greatest change occurring in the recipients of matched related donor (MRD) transplants. No IL-2 patients developed grade 2–4 acute GVHD (aGVHD), compared with 4 of 33 (12%) of the comparator group who did not receive IL-2. IL-2 recipients retained T cells reactive to viral and leukemia antigens, and in the MRD recipients, only 2 of 13 (15%) of the IL-2 patients developed viral infections versus 63% of the comparator group (P = 0.022). Conclusions: Hence, ULD IL-2 is well tolerated, expands a Treg population in vivo, and may be associated with a lower incidence of viral infections and GVHD. Clin Cancer Res; 20(8); 2215–25. ©2014 AACR.