tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
“Pressure Gradient” as an Indicator of Plantar Skin Injury
Authors: Michael J. Mueller, Dequan Zou, Donovan J. Lott
Journal: Diabetes Care (2005)

OBJECTIVE—Peak plantar pressures (PPPs) have been studied extensively as a contributing factor to skin breakdown, especially in the forefoot where most plantar neuropathic ulcers occur. The purposes of this article were to 1) describe an additional pressure variable, the peak pressure gradient (PPG), 2) determine whether the PPG is higher in the forefoot than in the rearfoot (even when compared with PPP), and 3) determine the correlation between the PPG and PPP at the forefoot and rearfoot in subjects with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and a history of plantar ulcer. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Twenty subjects (12 male and 8 female) with diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, and a mean ± SD age of 57 ± 9 years participated. Plantar pressures were collected during walking in footwear. The PPP and the PPG (defined as the spatial change in plantar pressure across adjacent sites of the foot surface around the PPP) were determined for the forefoot and rearfoot, and the forefoot-to-rearfoot ratios for each variable were calculated. RESULTS—The mean PPG was 143% higher in the forefoot than in the rearfoot, whereas the mean PPP was only 36% higher in the forefoot than in the rearfoot (P &amp;lt; 0.0001). The PPG forefoot-to-rearfoot ratio (2.84 ± 1.36) was nearly two times greater than the PPP forefoot-to-rearfoot ratio (1.48 ± 0.58) (P &amp;lt; 0.0001). The correlation between PPP and PPG was r = 0.59 at the forefoot and r = 0.75 at the rearfoot. CONCLUSIONS—The PPG was substantially higher in the forefoot than in the rearfoot even when compared with the PPP. The PPG appears to be providing additional information about the stresses experienced by the soft tissues of the foot, especially in the forefoot. The PPG may be a useful indicator of skin trauma because spatial changes in high plantar pressures may identify high stress concentrations within the soft tissue.
Effects of Diet and Exercise on Obesity-Related Vascular Dysfunction in Children
Authors: Kam S. Woo, Ping Chook, Chung W. Yu, Rita Y.T. Sung, Mu Qiao, Sophie S.F. Leung, Christopher W.K. Lam, Con Metreweli, David S. Celermajer
Journal: Circulation (2004)

The prevalence of obesity in both adults and children is increasing rapidly. Obesity in children is independently associated with arterial endothelial dysfunction and wall thickening, key early events in atherogenesis that precede plaque formation.To evaluate the reversibility of obesity-related arterial dysfunction and carotid intima-media thickening by dietary and/or exercise intervention programs, 82 overweight children (body mass index, 25+/-3), 9 to 12 years of age, were randomly assigned to dietary modification only or diet plus a supervised structured exercise program for 6 weeks and subsequently for 1 year. The prospectively defined primary end points were ultrasound-derived arterial endothelial function (endothelium-dependent dilation) of the brachial artery and intima-media thickness of common carotid artery. At 6 weeks, both interventions were associated with decreased waist-hip ratio (P<0.02) and cholesterol level (P<0.05) as well as improved arterial endothelial function. Diet and exercise together were associated with a significantly greater improvement in endothelial function than diet alone (P=0.01). At 1 year, there was significantly less thickening of the carotid wall (P<0.001) as well as persistent improvements in body fat content and lipid profiles in the group continuing an exercise program. Vascular function was significantly better in those children continuing exercise (n=22) compared with children who withdrew from the exercise program (n=19) (P<0.05).Obesity-related vascular dysfunction in otherwise healthy young children is partially reversible with diet alone or particularly diet combined with exercise training at 6 weeks, with sustained improvements at 1 year in those persisting with diet plus regular exercise.
Tolerance to rat monoclonal antibodies. Implications for serotherapy.
Authors: R J Benjamin, S P Cobbold, M R Clark, H Waldmann
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1986)

The antiglobulin response is a major complication of mAb therapy. It has been suggested that, in clinical practice, this might be avoided by using human or chimeric mAbs, or by prior induction of tolerance to the therapeutic mAb. In this study, we show that it is possible to induce tolerance in mice to the constant regions of rat IgG2b mAbs by both classical deaggregation methods and by anti-L3T4 mAb therapy. Mice tolerant to IgG2b constant region determinants failed to make an antiglobulin response when immunized with a number of mAbs of the same isotype that had no binding specificity for mouse cells, but produced vigorous antiidiotypic responses to cell-binding mAbs. Binding of antibodies to hemopoietic cells rends their idiotypic determinants major immunogens even in the presence of tolerance to constant region epitopes. These findings suggest that the use of human or chimeric mAbs will not be sufficient to eliminate the antiglobulin response, and that additional methods need to be investigated.
Recording and response to hyperglycaemia in patients presenting with infective exacerbations of COPD
Authors: Cressida Lorimer, Noor Zaina Zafarulla, Mark Jackson
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

It is established that acute hyperglycaemia confers a poorer prognosis on a range of illnesses including myocardial infarction and stroke. Recent studies have suggested a similar effect in patients admitted with exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (Baker, EH et al Thorax 2006 Apr;61(4):284-9).

The aim was to assess the quality of blood sugar (BM) recording in patients with exacerbations of COPD. If the BM ≥ 7 we studied how this affected length of admission and if treatment was given.

We performed a prospective audit on patients with known COPD, admitted with an infective exacerbation. Data was collected on an initial 19 patients. Regular recording of BMs on the drug chart was then initiated and a further 20 patients sampled. Comparison was made with local guidelines.

View this table:

Patient demographics





Round 1: 12 patients (63%) started steroids on admission. 6 (50%) had a daily BM chart. 4 of these patients had an untreated BM recording ≥ 7.

Round 2: 17 patients (85%) started steroids on admission. 16 (94%) had a daily BM chart. 15 (94%) of these patients had a BM recording ≥ 7. 3 of these patients were treated with insulin.

View this table:

Average length of stay (days)





Recording of BMs for patients on steroids is vital. Initial monitoring of glycaemic status in these patients was inadequate but following institution of standardised monitoring 94% were demonstrated to have episodes of hyperglycaemia. This audit supports studies showing longer hospital stays for patients with untreated high BMs during their admission.
Response of the human cardia sphincter to circulating prostaglandins F2ALPHA and E2 and to antiinflammatory drugs.
Authors: J B Dilawari, A Newman, J Poleo, J J Misiewicz
Journal: Gut (1975)

The effects on intraluminal pressure in the oesophagus, the cardiac sphincter, and the gastric fundus of intravenous prostaglandin F2alpha, E2, And of rectal indomethacin were studies in 41 subjects. Intravenous infusion of prostaglandin F2alpha (0-05 to 0-8 mug kg-minus1) produced marked, dose-related and sustained elevation of cardiac sphincter pressure without significantly affecting oesophageal peristalsis or gastric fundal motility. Sphincteric relaxation during swallowing was prolonged. Plasma gastrin levels were unchanged. Intravenous infusion of PGE2 (0-08 mug kg-minus1 min-minus) inhibited sphincter contractions to serial bolus intravenous injections of pentagastrin (0-1 or 0-2 mug kg-minus 1). Rectal indomethacin (200 mg) resulted in a riseof cardiac sphincter pressure, suggesting that endogenous synthesis of an inhibitory (E-type) prostaglandin was suppressed. The results indicate that prostaglandin E2 may be concerned in the regulation of cardiac sphincter tone in man, whilst prostaglandin F2alpha may be useful in the treatment of gastrooesphageal reflux.
Regulation of acute graft-versus-host disease by microRNA-155
Authors: Parvathi Ranganathan, Catherine E. A. Heaphy, Stefan Costinean, Nicole Stauffer, Caroline Na, Mehdi Hamadani, Ramasamy Santhanam, Charlene Mao, Patricia A. Taylor, Sukhinder Sandhu, Gang He, Arwa Shana'ah, Gerard J. Nuovo, Alessandro Lagana, Luciano Cascione, Susanna Obad, Oliver Broom, Sakari Kauppinen, John C. Byrd, Michael Caligiuri, Danilo Perrotti, Gregg A. Hadley, Guido Marcucci, Steven M. Devine, Bruce R. Blazar, Carlo M. Croce, Ramiro Garzon
Journal: Blood (2012)
Heterozygous TGFBR2 mutations in Marfan syndrome
Authors: Takeshi Mizuguchi, Gwenaëlle Collod-Beroud, Takushi Akiyama, Marianne Abifadel, Naoki Harada, Takayuki Morisaki, Delphine Allard, Mathilde Varret, Mireille Claustres, Hiroko Morisaki, Makoto Ihara, Akira Kinoshita, Koh-ichiro Yoshiura, Claudine Junien, Tadashi Kajii, Guillaume Jondeau, Tohru Ohta, Tatsuya Kishino, Yoichi Furukawa, Yusuke Nakamura, Norio Niikawa, Catherine Boileau, Naomichi Matsumoto
Journal: Nature Genetics (2004)
Genetic Factors Underlying the Risk of Thalidomide-Related Neuropathy in Patients With Multiple Myeloma
Authors: David C. Johnson, Sophie L. Corthals, Brian A. Walker, Fiona M. Ross, Walter M. Gregory, Nicholas J. Dickens, Henk M. Lokhorst, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Faith E. Davies, Brian G.M. Durie, Brian Van Ness, J. Anthony Child, Pieter Sonneveld, Gareth J. Morgan
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

To indentify genetic variation that can modulate and predict the risk of developing thalidomide-related peripheral neuropathy (TrPN).We analyzed DNA from 1,495 patients with multiple myeloma. Using a custom-built single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, we tested the association of TrPN with 3,404 SNPs. The SNPs were selected in predicted functional regions within 964 genes spanning 67 molecular pathways thought to be involved in the pathogenesis, treatment response, and adverse effects associated with myeloma and its therapy. Patient cases and controls were derived from two large clinical trials that compared thalidomide with conventional-based treatment in myeloma patients (Medical Research Council Myeloma-IX and HOVON-50/GMMG-HD3).We report TrPN associations with SNPs-ABCA1 (rs363717), ICAM1 (rs1799969), PPARD (rs2076169), SERPINB2 (rs6103), and SLC12A6 (rs7164902)-where we show cross validation of the associations in both trials. To investigate whether TrPN SNP associations were related to exposure to thalidomide only or general drug-related peripheral neuropathy, we performed a second analysis on patients treated with vincristine. We report SNPs associated with vincristine neuropathy, with a seemingly distinct underlying genetic mechanism.Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that an individual's risk of developing a peripheral neuropathy after thalidomide treatment can be mediated by polymorphisms in genes governing repair mechanisms and inflammation in the peripheral nervous system. These findings will contribute to the development of future neuroprotective strategies with thalidomide therapy and the better use of this important compound.
Spondylectomy for malignant tumors of the spine.
Authors: N Sundaresan, G V DiGiacinto, G Krol, J E Hughes
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1989)

Spondylectomy is the complete surgical removal of all parts of one or more vertebrae above the sacrum. We report our initial experience with spondylectomy in eight patients with malignant tumors of the spine operated on over a 7-year period (1980 to 1986). Four patients had primary neoplasms of the spine, and four others had solitary metastases to the vertebrae. Following surgery, five patients underwent radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy depending on histology of the tumor. Radiographic confirmation of tumor resection was obtained on all patients. Pain relief was noted in all patients, and six patients with preoperative neurological deficits improved. There was no surgical mortality, and one patient developed wound dehiscence following surgery. Six of the eight patients are alive with a median follow-up of 36 months, and local control was achieved in six of the eight patients. These preliminary data suggest that malignant tumors of the spine can be completely resected using a staged approach. In potentially responsive tumors, systemic chemotherapy is recommended between the two operations to reduce the risk of systemic dissemination.
CD7+ and CD56+ Myeloid/Natural Killer Cell Precursor Acute Leukemia: A Distinct Hematolymphoid Disease Entity
Authors: Ritsuro Suzuki, Kazuhito Yamamoto, Masao Seto, Yoshitoyo Kagami, Michinori Ogura, Yasushi Yatabe, Taizan Suchi, Yoshihisa Kodera, Yasuo Morishima, Toshitada Takahashi, Hidehiko Saito, Ryuzo Ueda, Shigeo Nakamura
Journal: Blood (1997)
The calcineurin inhibitor tacrolimus activates the renal sodium chloride cotransporter to cause hypertension
Authors: Ewout J Hoorn, Stephen B Walsh, James A McCormick, Antje Fürstenberg, Chao-Ling Yang, Tom Roeschel, Alexander Paliege, Alexander J Howie, James Conley, Sebastian Bachmann, Robert J Unwin, David H Ellison
Journal: Nature Medicine (2011)
Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Stergios A. Polyzos, Jannis Kountouras, Athanasios Papatheodorou, Kalliopi Patsiaoura, Evangelia Katsiki, Efthimia Zafeiriadou, Christos Zavos, Kyriaki Anastasiadou, Evangelos Terpos
Journal: Metabolism (2012)
Effects of Biocompatible versus Standard Fluid on Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes
Authors: David W. Johnson, Fiona G. Brown, Margaret Clarke, Neil Boudville, Tony J. Elias, Marjorie W.Y. Foo, Bernard Jones, Hemant Kulkarni, Robyn Langham, Dwarakanathan Ranganathan, John Schollum, Michael Suranyi, Seng H. Tan, David Voss
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2012)

The clinical benefits of using “biocompatible” neutral pH solutions containing low levels of glucose degradation products for peritoneal dialysis compared with standard solutions are uncertain. In this multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial, we randomly assigned 185 incident adult peritoneal dialysis patients with residual renal function to use either biocompatible or conventional solution for 2 years. The primary outcome measure was slope of renal function decline. Secondary outcome measures comprised time to anuria, fluid volume status, peritonitis-free survival, technique survival, patient survival, and adverse events. We did not detect a statistically significant difference in the rate of decline of renal function between the two groups as measured by the slopes of GFR: −0.22 and −0.28 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per month (P=0.17) in the first year in the biocompatible and conventional groups, respectively, and, −0.09 and −0.10 ml/min per 1.73 m2 per month (P=0.9) in the second year. The biocompatible group exhibited significantly longer times to anuria (P=0.009) and to the first peritonitis episode (P=0.01). This group also had fewer patients develop peritonitis (30% versus 49%) and had lower rates of peritonitis (0.30 versus 0.49 episodes per year, P=0.01). In conclusion, this trial does not support a role for biocompatible fluid in slowing the rate of GFR decline, but it does suggest that biocompatible fluid may delay the onset of anuria and reduce the incidence of peritonitis compared with conventional fluid in peritoneal dialysis.
Association between metformin use and progression of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance to multiple myeloma in US veterans with diabetes mellitus: a population-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Su-Hsin Chang, Suhong Luo, Katiuscia K O'Brian, Theodore S Thomas, Graham A Colditz, Nils P Carlsson, Kenneth R Carson
Journal: The Lancet Haematology (2015)
Risk Factors for Early Myocardial Infarction in South Asians Compared With Individuals in Other Countries
Authors: Prashant Joshi, Shofiqul Islam, Prem Pais, Srinath Reddy, Prabhakaran Dorairaj, Khawar Kazmi, Mrigendra Raj Pandey, Sirajul Haque, Shanthi Mendis, Sumathy Rangarajan, Salim Yusuf
Journal: JAMA (2007)

South Asians have high rates of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) at younger ages compared with individuals from other countries but the reasons for this are unclear.To evaluate the association of risk factors for AMI in native South Asians, especially at younger ages, compared with individuals from other countries.Standardized case-control study of 1732 cases with first AMI and 2204 controls matched by age and sex from 15 medical centers in 5 South Asian countries and 10,728 cases and 12,431 controls from other countries. Individuals were recruited to the study between February 1999 and March 2003.Association of risk factors for AMI.The mean (SD) age for first AMI was lower in South Asian countries (53.0 [11.4] years) than in other countries (58.8 [12.2] years; P<.001). Protective factors were lower in South Asian controls than in controls from other countries (moderate- or high-intensity exercise, 6.1% vs 21.6%; daily intake of fruits and vegetables, 26.5% vs 45.2%; alcohol consumption > or =once/wk, 10.7% vs 26.9%). However, some harmful factors were more common in native South Asians than in individuals from other countries (elevated apolipoprotein B(100) /apolipoprotein A-I ratio, 43.8% vs 31.8%; history of diabetes, 9.5% vs 7.2%). Similar relative associations were found in South Asians compared with individuals from other countries for the risk factors of current and former smoking, apolipoprotein B100/apolipoprotein A-I ratio for the top vs lowest tertile, waist-to-hip ratio for the top vs lowest tertile, history of hypertension, history of diabetes, psychosocial factors such as depression and stress at work or home, regular moderate- or high-intensity exercise, and daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Alcohol consumption was not found to be a risk factor for AMI in South Asians. The combined odds ratio for all 9 risk factors was similar in South Asians (123.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 38.7-400.2] and in individuals from other countries (125.7; 95% CI, 88.5-178.4). The similarities in the odds ratios for the risk factors explained a high and similar degree of population attributable risk in both groups (85.8% [95% CI, 78.0%-93.7%] vs 88.2% [95% CI, 86.3%-89.9%], respectively). When stratified by age, South Asians had more risk factors at ages younger than 60 years. After adjusting for all 9 risk factors, the predictive probability of classifying an AMI case as being younger than 40 years was similar in individuals from South Asian countries and those from other countries.The earlier age of AMI in South Asians can be largely explained by higher risk factor levels at younger ages.
Multicyclic, dose-intensive chemotherapy supported by sequential reinfusion of hematopoietic progenitors in whole blood.
Authors: R Pettengell, P J Woll, N Thatcher, T M Dexter, N G Testa
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

PURPOSE To support multicyclic, dose-intensive chemotherapy, we assessed the effects of reinfusing hematopoietic progenitors collected at each cycle in leukapheresis product or whole blood. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) were treated with six cycles of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) 300 micrograms/d subcutaneously (SC) on days 4 to 15. Hematopoietic progenitors collected during each cycle were reinfused on day 3 of the next cycle. Cohort 1 (n = 6) was treated every 3 weeks, with leukapheresis after 2 weeks and cryopreservation of the leukapheresis product. Chemotherapy was given if the WBC count was &gt; or = 3 x 10(9)/L and platelet count &gt; or = 100 x 10(9)/L. Cohort 2 (n = 7) was treated every 2 weeks, with leukapheresis on day 1 of the next cycle and storage of the leukapheresis product at 4 degrees C. Cohort 3 (n = 12) was treated every 2 weeks, with 500 to 750 mL of blood drawn by venesection on day 1 of the next cycle and stored at 4 degrees C. In cohorts 2 and 3, chemotherapy was given if the WBC count was &gt; or = 3 x 10(9)/L and platelet count &gt; or = 30 x 10(9)/L. Blood and leukapheresis products were assayed for hematopoietic progenitors. RESULTS ICE chemotherapy with G-CSF was effective in mobilizing blood progenitors (median, 120-fold). Long-term cultures showed no evidence of stem-cell depletion. The cytotoxic dose-intensity of standard every-4-weeks ICE is 100%. In the first three cycles, it was 134% (median) in cohort 1 and 200% in cohorts 2 and 3 (P &lt; .0001). Toxicity and supportive care requirements were not increased. CONCLUSION The dose-intensity of ICE chemotherapy can be doubled by reinfusing hematopoietic progenitors collected by leukapheresis or venesection and stored at 4 degrees C.
14-3-3ζ Overexpression Defines High Risk for Breast Cancer Recurrence and Promotes Cancer Cell Survival
Authors: Christopher L. Neal, Jun Yao, Wentao Yang, Xiaoyan Zhou, Nina T. Nguyen, Jing Lu, Christopher G. Danes, Hua Guo, Keng-Hsueh Lan, Joe Ensor, Walter Hittelman, Mien-Chie Hung, Dihua Yu
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

The ubiquitously expressed 14-3-3 proteins are involved in numerous important cellular functions. The loss of 14-3-3sigma is a common event in breast cancer; however, the role of other 14-3-3s in breast cancer is unclear. Recently, we found that 14-3-3zeta overexpression occurs in early stage breast diseases and contributes to transformation of human mammary epithelial cells. Here, we show that 14-3-3zeta overexpression also persisted in invasive ductal carcinoma and contributed to the further progression of breast cancer. To examine the clinical effect of 14-3-3zeta overexpression in advanced stage breast cancer, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of 14-3-3zeta expression in primary breast carcinomas. 14-3-3zeta overexpression occurred in 42% of breast tumors and was determined to be an independent prognostic factor for reduced disease-free survival. 14-3-3zeta overexpression combined with ErbB2 overexpression and positive lymph node status identified a subgroup of patients at high risk for developing distant metastasis. To investigate whether 14-3-3zeta overexpression causally promotes breast cancer progression, we overexpressed 14-3-3zeta by stable transfection or reduced 14-3-3zeta expression by siRNA in cancer cell lines. Increased 14-3-3zeta expression enhanced anchorage-independent growth and inhibited stress-induced apoptosis, whereas down-regulation of 14-3-3zeta reduced anchorage-independent growth and sensitized cells to stress-induced apoptosis via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Transient blockade of 14-3-3zeta expression by siRNA in cancer cells effectively reduced the onset and growth of tumor xenografts in vivo. Therefore, 14-3-3zeta overexpression is a novel molecular marker for disease recurrence in breast cancer patients and may serve as an effective therapeutic target in patients whose tumors overexpress 14-3-3zeta.
Pneumococcal septic arthritis in rheumatoid arthritis.
Authors: P K Morley, R G Hull, M A Hall
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1987)

Septic arthritis is associated with a definite morbidity which may be related to a delay in diagnosis and hence treatment. The cases of three patients with rheumatoid arthritis and chronic chest disease where the joint sepsis was not the predominant feature are presented. The responsible organism was Streptococcus pneumoniae which had spread after recent chest infections. Minimal joint symptoms or general malaise in association with an unexplained rise in erythrocyte sedimentation rate in these circumstances warrant a search for joint sepsis.