tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Large lungs and growth hormone: an increased alveolar number?
Authors: PM Donnelly, RR Grunstein, JK Peat, AJ Woolcock, PT Bye
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1995)

Previous physiological studies suggest that increased lung growth in patients with acromegaly is associated with either a normal or above normal pulmonary transfer factor. These findings can be interpreted to suggest either alveolar hypertrophy or hyperplasia as the mechanism for lung growth in this condition. Since the ventilated airspaces retain normal elastic properties, we wanted to determine whether the mechanism for lung growth in acromegaly is the result of an increased alveolar number rather than size. Measurements of pulmonary distensibility (K) (an index of alveolar size), elastic recoil, single-breath carbon monoxide transfer factor and carbon monoxide transfer coefficient (KCO), pulmonary capillary blood volume and alveolar membrane diffusing capacity, together with chest width, were compared in nonsmoking, acromegalic and normal men and women, with and without an increased lung size. Pulmonary transfer factor was normal for all groups studied, regardless of lung size. However, KCO was inversely related to total lung capacity (% predicted) for all subjects and KCO (% predicted) was inversely related to chest width in men. Pulmonary capillary blood volume (% predicted) was inversely related to total lung capacity (% predicted) for subjects with large lungs. Pulmonary distensibility (K), membrane diffusing capacity and elastic recoil were within the normal range. These findings suggest normal alveolar size, alveolar membrane surface area and mechanical function in subjects with large lungs. They also suggest that KCO may not be a reliable guide to the interpretation of the mechanism of lung growth in individuals with disproportionately large lungs, and may be reduced because not all the alveoli are perfused. The normal values for pulmonary distensibility found in all our individuals with large lungs, including acromegalics, suggest that lung growth has been achieved by an increased alveolar number rather than size. However, morphometric studies of the lungs of nonsmoking, acromegalic subjects without lung disease, are required to substantiate this finding.
TOWARD A DEFINITION OF THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY
Authors: HARRY A. WILMER
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1958)

The therapeutic community concept is only one of many new approaches to the problem of the mentally ill. But it is a hopeful method, and one that can lead, I believe, to the improvement of our mental hospitals. How much its success depends upon the enthusiasm, optimism, and enhanced interest and activity of the staff is difficult to evaluate. The immediate task facing those of us who believe in its efficacy is, as I see it one of making the intangible atmosphere tangible—descriptively, statistically, and graphically—so that the failures and successes with the therapeutic community approach can be analyzed and the procedures perfected. We need to work toward a clearer understanding of what this method is, psychologically, psychoanalytically, and psychiatrically; to identify, define, and study significant elements of the therapeutic milieu as objectively and critically as possible. We need work like the paper of Ackner, Harris, and Oldham(1) in which scrupulous controls are established in the evaluation of treatment programs with proper consideration of therapy and socio-environmental factors with elimination of staff attitude from the final judgments. The therapeutic community here described represents an effort at the understanding of patient management. It is my impression that it is also therapy but this has not been proved. The "traditional role of the patient is to be sick" but in this ward the role of the patient is to exhibit normal behavior as nearly as he possibly can. Management of the acute psychiatric patient was based on the expectation of self-control rather than the traditional staff attitudes that patients were "dangerous" and would momentarily go out of control. With a sharing of responsibility and participation in the over-all program (within the limitations of the military hospital structure) according to the capabilities of the patients the expectations were now based on actual happenings rather than projected fears. This type of management opens up the possibilities of therapy through social interaction with the staff-patient involvement affording potentialities for social development and identification with the group. It also focuses attention on treatment at the beginning of hospitalization (in an admission ward) which is a necessary parallel to studies of therapy and patient management, resocialization and rehabilitation of the long-term patient. It is also, in a sense, part of the same problem and could ameliorate the magnitude of the enduring hospital problems in patient management.
Observation on Renal Outcomes in the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial
Authors: Lily Agrawal, Nasrin Azad, Nicholas V. Emanuele, Gideon D. Bahn, Derrick G. Kaufman, Thomas E. Moritz, William C. Duckworth, Carlos Abraira
Journal: Diabetes Care (2011)

The Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT) was a randomized, prospective, controlled trial of 1,791 patients with type 2 diabetes to determine whether intensive glycemic control would reduce cardiovascular events compared with standard control. The effect of intensive glycemic control and selected baseline variables on renal outcomes is reported.Baseline mean age was 60.4 years, mean duration of diabetes was 11.5 years, HbA(1c) was 9.4%, and blood pressure was 132/76 mmHg. The renal exclusion was serum creatinine >1.6 mg/dL. Renal outcomes were sustained worsening of the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and sustained worsening by one or more stages in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).Intensive glycemic control did not independently reduce ACR progression but was associated with a significant attenuation in the progression of ACR in those who had baseline photocoagulation, cataract surgery, or both. The beneficial effect of intensive glycemic control increased with increasing BMI and with decreasing diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Intensive glycemic control was associated with less worsening of eGFR with increasing baseline ACR and insulin use. Baseline systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and photocoagulation were associated with worsening of eGFR.Intensive glycemic control had no significant effect on the progression of renal disease in the whole cohort but was associated with some protection against increasing ACR in those with more advanced microvascular disease, lower baseline DBP, or higher baseline BMI and on worsening of eGFR in those with high baseline ACR.
Risk Factors Associated With the Onset and Progression of Posttransplantation Diabetes in Renal Allograft Recipients
Authors: Kyu Yeon Hur, Myoung Soo Kim, Yu Seun Kim, Eun Seok Kang, Jae Hyun Nam, So Hun Kim, Chung Mo Nam, Chul Woo Ahn, Bong Soo Cha, Soon Il Kim, Hyun Chul Lee
Journal: Diabetes Care (2007)

OBJECTIVE—The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM) in renal allograft recipients and to investigate factors contributing to the onset and progression of PTDM and its underlying pathogenic mechanism(s). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 77 patients with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) were enrolled in this study. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed 1 week before transplantation and repeated at 1 and 7 years after transplantation. RESULTS—The overall incidence of PTDM was 39% at 1 year and 35.1% at 7 years posttransplantation. The incidence for each category of PTDM was as follows: persistent PTDM (P-PTDM) (patients who developed diabetes mellitus within 1 year of transplantation and remained diabetic during 7 years), 23.4%; transient PTDM (T-PTDM) (patients who developed diabetes mellitus during the 1st year after transplantation but eventually recovered to have NGT), 15.6%; late PTDM (L-PTDM) (patients who developed diabetes mellitus later than 1 year after transplantation), 11.7%; and non-PTDM during 7 years (N-PTDM7) (patients who did not develop diabetes mellitus during 7 years), 49.3%. Older age (≥40 years) at transplantation was a higher risk factor for P-PTDM, whereas a high BMI (≥25 kg/m2) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) at 1 year posttransplantation were higher risk factors for L-PTDM. Impaired insulin secretion rather than insulin resistance was significantly associated with the development of P- and L-PTDM. CONCLUSIONS—Impaired insulin secretion may be the main mechanism for the development of PTDM. Older age at transplantation seems to be associated with P-PTDM, whereas a high BMI and IFG at 1 year after transplantation were associated with L-PTDM.
Safety measures in amateur boxing
Authors: P Jako
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2002)

Amateur boxing has become one of the safest contact sports "It must be satisfactory to all true lovers of the Art, as a national and progressive institution, to feel that the past few years have witnessed changes—mostly in the right direction—in the science of Boxing." This was written by Allanson-Winn in 1897.1 Since then, more than 1200 articles have been published on medical and ethical aspects of boxing, usually not differentiating between amateur and professional. Most of the studies have methodological problems: few cases were analysed; there was a lack of adequate controls; in many studies the boxers were about 60 years old and were boxing before safety rules and careful medical supervision had been introduced; the authors could not distinguish between the late impact of the blows and the effects of the ageing process or other factors, such as alcohol consumption, that produce similar clinical and morphological changes in the brain. During the last two decades, amateur and professional boxing have become completely separate. The main differences are as follows.
Disseminated Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Due to IFN-γ Deficiency. Response to Replacement Therapy
Authors: S.L. Seneviratne, J. Macfarlane, R. Doffinger, L. Ceron-Gutierrez, M. Amel Kashipaz, A. Robbins, T. Patel, P.T. Powell, D.S. Kumararatne, R.J. Powell
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2006)
Assessment of genetic diversity of non-basmati rice of Jammu and Kashmir using microsatellite markers
Authors: Ritu Mahajan, Syed Tabia, Gourav Raina, Neha Mangotra
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2012)

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the oldest domesticated crop species in the world and is widely recognized as an ideal model plant for the study of grass genetics and genome organization. Rice improvement depends on the conserved use of genetic variability and diversity in plant breeding programmes. Phenotypic variability and genetic diversity was studied in 13 non basmati rice samples collected from Jammu and Kashmir. The length of the seeds varied from 0.5 to 0.8 cm and the seed width varied from 0.1 to 0.3 cm. The weight of the seed varied from 0.36 to 0.77 g. A total of 94 alleles were amplified in 13 rice samples using six simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The analysis and dendrogram construction was performed using the DARWin 5.0 software. The genetic dissimilarity index calculated between samples ranged from 0.00 to 0.63. The generated dendrogram based on the dissimilarity matrix using the neighbor-joining approach of the unweighted pair group with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) method showed three distinct clusters.

	 

	Key words: Oryza sativa, diversity, characterization, molecular markers
Serum soluble interleukin 7 receptor is strongly associated with lupus nephritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Valérie Badot, Remco K M A C Luijten, Joel A van Roon, Geneviève Depresseux, Selda Aydin, Benoît J Van den Eynde, Frédéric A Houssiau, Bernard R Lauwerys
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2012)

<h3>Background</h3> The soluble form of the interleukin 7 receptor (sIL-7R) is produced by fibroblasts after stimulation with proinflammatory cytokines. Increased sIL-7R serum and synovial fluid levels were recently demonstrated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. <h3>Objectives</h3> To investigate whether sIL-7R production is dysregulated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and whether this correlates with disease activity. <h3>Methods</h3> Serum and urine sIL-7R concentrations were measured by ELISA, and sIL-7R quantitative PCR (qPCR) studies were performed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). IL-7R, tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα), IL-1β and IL-17 immunostainings were performed on kidney sections. <h3>Results</h3> sIL-7R concentrations were significantly higher in SLE sera than in controls, and correlated with SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores. Accordingly, serum sIL-7R levels were strongly raised in patients with nephritis. Moreover in patients with lupus nephritis, serum sIL-7R decreased upon treatment. sIL-7R gene expression in PBMCs was similar in patients with lupus nephritis and controls. By contrast, abundant perivascular IL-7R expression was seen in SLE kidney biopsy specimens, which was associated with expression of TNFα in the surrounding tissue. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Our data indicate that sIL-7R is a marker of SLE disease activity, especially nephritis. In contrast to conventional disease activity markers, sIL-7R is not produced by immune cells, but might instead reflect activation of tissue cells in the target organ.
Phosphoprotein Associated with Glycosphingolipid-Enriched Microdomains (Pag), a Novel Ubiquitously Expressed Transmembrane Adaptor Protein, Binds the Protein Tyrosine Kinase Csk and Is Involved in Regulation of T Cell Activation
Authors: Tomás̆ Brdic̆ka, Dagmar Pavlis̆tová, Albrecht Leo, Eddy Bruyns, Vladimír Kor̆ínek, Pavla Angelisová, Jeanette Scherer, Andrej Shevchenko, Anna Shevchenko, Ivan Hilgert, Jan C̆erný, Karel Drbal, Yasuhiro Kuramitsu, Birgit Kornacker, Václav Hor̆ejs̆í, Burkhart Schraven
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2000)

According to a recently proposed hypothesis, initiation of signal transduction via immunoreceptors depends on interactions of the engaged immunoreceptor with glycosphingolipid-enriched membrane microdomains (GEMs). In this study, we describe a novel GEM-associated transmembrane adaptor protein, termed phosphoprotein associated with GEMs (PAG). PAG comprises a short extracellular domain of 16 amino acids and a 397-amino acid cytoplasmic tail containing ten tyrosine residues that are likely phosphorylated by Src family kinases. In lymphoid cell lines and in resting peripheral blood α/β T cells, PAG is expressed as a constitutively tyrosine-phosphorylated protein and binds the major negative regulator of Src kinases, the tyrosine kinase Csk. After activation of peripheral blood α/β T cells, PAG becomes rapidly dephosphorylated and dissociates from Csk. Expression of PAG in COS cells results in recruitment of endogenous Csk, altered Src kinase activity, and impaired phosphorylation of Src-specific substrates. Moreover, overexpression of PAG in Jurkat cells downregulates T cell receptor–mediated activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells. These findings collectively suggest that in the absence of external stimuli, the PAG–Csk complex transmits negative regulatory signals and thus may help to keep resting T cells in a quiescent state.
New Strategies in Pleural Mesothelioma: BAP1 and NF2 as Novel Targets for Therapeutic Development and Risk Assessment
Authors: Marc Ladanyi, Marjorie G. Zauderer, Lee M. Krug, Tatsuo Ito, Robert McMillan, Matthew Bott, Filippo Giancotti
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2012)

Abstract Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a highly lethal cancer with limited therapeutic options. Recent work has focused on the frequent somatic inactivation of two tumor suppressor genes in MPM—NF2 (Neurofibromatosis type 2) and the recently identified BAP1 (BRCA associated protein 1). In addition, germline mutations in BAP1 have been identified that define a new familial cancer syndrome, which includes MPM, ocular melanoma, and other cancers. These recent advances may allow screening of high-risk individuals and the development of new therapies that target key pathways in MPM. Clin Cancer Res; 18(17); 4485–90. ©2012 AACR.
Treatment With Human Analog (GlyA21, ArgB31,ArgB32) Insulin Glargine (HOE901) Resolves a Generalized Allergy to Human Insulin in Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Hiroaki Moriyama, Masao Nagata, Kazuhiro Fujihira, Katumi Yamada, Shahead Ali Chowdhury, Sagarika Chakrabarty, Zhenzi Jin, Hisafumi Yasuda, Hiroo Ueda, Koichi Yokono
Journal: Diabetes Care (2001)

Allergic reactions to insulin are rare now that recombinant human insulin is clinically available. However, certain patients still suffer from insulin allergy, even with human insulins. We report herein the case of a 45-year-old type 1 diabetic Japanese man (weight 62 kg, BMI 19.3 kg/m2) with generalized allergy to human insulin, who was successfully treated with human analog (GlyA21, ArgB31, ArgB32) insulin glargine (HOE901). He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes because of the high titer of anti-GAD antibody (65 U/ml, normal range <5) and poor C-peptide responses after glucagon loading (0.43 ng/ml).

In 1985, his first insulin therapy …
Health Information Technology: An Updated Systematic Review With a Focus on Meaningful Use
Authors: Spencer S. Jones, Robert S. Rudin, Tanja Perry, Paul G. Shekelle
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2014)

Background: Incentives offered by the U.S. government have spurred marked increases in use of health information technology (IT). Purpose: To update previous reviews and examine recent evidence that relates health IT functionalities prescribed in meaningful use regulations to key aspects of health care. Data Sources: English-language articles in PubMed from January 2010 to August 2013. Study Selection: 236 studies, including pre–post and time-series designs and clinical trials that related the use of health IT to quality, safety, or efficiency. Data Extraction: Two independent reviewers extracted data on functionality, study outcomes, and context. Data Synthesis: Fifty-seven percent of the 236 studies evaluated clinical decision support and computerized provider order entry, whereas other meaningful use functionalities were rarely evaluated. Fifty-six percent of studies reported uniformly positive results, and an additional 21% reported mixed-positive effects. Reporting of context and implementation details was poor, and 61% of studies did not report any contextual details beyond basic information. Limitation: Potential for publication bias, and evaluated health IT systems and outcomes were heterogeneous and incompletely described. Conclusion: Strong evidence supports the use of clinical decision support and computerized provider order entry. However, insufficient reporting of implementation and context of use makes it impossible to determine why some health IT implementations are successful and others are not. The most important improvement that can be made in health IT evaluations is increased reporting of the effects of implementation and context. Primary Funding Source: Office of the National Coordinator.
Expression of Costimulatory Molecule CD40 in Murine Heart With Acute Myocarditis and Reduction of Inflammation by Treatment With Anti-CD40L/B7-1 Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Yoshinori Seko, Naoyuki Takahashi, Miyuki Azuma, Hideo Yagita, Ko Okumura, Yoshio Yazaki
Journal: Circulation Research (1998)

Abstract —Evidence has accumulated that antigen-specific T cells infiltrate the heart and play an important role in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis. Costimulatory molecules such as B7s and CD40 expressed on antigen-presenting cells are known to play a critical role for antigen-specific T-cell activation to occur. To investigate the role for a costimulatory molecule, CD40, in the development of acute viral myocarditis, we first analyzed the expression of CD40 in the hearts of mice with acute viral myocarditis induced by Coxsackievirus B3. We also evaluated the induction of CD40 in cultured cardiac myocytes treated with interferon gamma in vitro. Second, we analyzed the cytokine production by cultured cardiac myocytes by stimulation with anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in vitro. Third, we examined the effects of in vivo administration of anti–CD40L/B7-1 mAbs on the development of acute viral myocarditis. We found that Coxsackievirus B3–induced murine acute myocarditis results in enhanced expression of CD40 on cardiac myocytes. The expression of CD40 on cardiac myocytes could be induced by interferon gamma in vitro. We also found that the production of interleukin-6 by cardiac myocytes was stimulated with anti-CD40 mAb and that in vivo anti–CD40L/B7-1 mAb treatment significantly decreased the myocardial inflammation. Our findings strongly suggest that CD40 plays an important role in the development of acute viral myocarditis and raise the possibility of immunotherapy with anti–CD40L/B7-1 mAbs to prevent T cell–mediated myocardial damage in viral myocarditis.
Childhood asthma: exhaled nitric oxide in relation to clinical symptoms
Authors: A Artlich, T Busch, K Lewandowski, S Jonas, L Gortner, KJ Falke
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1999)

Bronchial asthma is associated with increased levels of exhaled nitric oxide which are suppressible by glucocorticosteroid inhalation. Children with bronchial asthma were studied to elucidate the relation between endogenous NO release and recent symptoms of bronchial obstruction. Twenty-five children with atopic asthma and 11 healthy control subjects were enrolled and exhaled NO was studied using chemiluminescence analysis. The subjects breathed purified air (&lt;0.5 parts per billion (ppb) NO) exclusively through their mouths. Orally expired NO was measured during continuous nasal aspiration (1.3 L x min(-1)) to remove nasally produced NO. Nasal NO concentration was determined within the aspirated gas. Orally expired NO concentration was 2.5+/-0.3 ppb (mean +/-SEM) in healthy control subjects, 3.19+/-0.88 ppb (NS) in symptom-free children, and 8.28+/-0.81 ppb (p&lt; or =0.01) in children with bronchial asthma who had had recent symptoms of bronchial obstruction. Similarly, in the subgroup of children treated regularly with inhaled glucocorticosteroids those with recent symptoms had significantly higher orally exhaled NO concentrations than healthy control subjects (9.5+/-1.5 ppb, p&lt;0.05). The nasal NO concentration was 152.8+/-12.7 ppb in healthy control subjects and not significantly different in asthmatic children. In this group of asthmatic children, recent symptoms of bronchial obstruction were linked to significantly higher concentrations of NO in orally exhaled gas and to increased oral NO excretion rates. If substantiated by further studies, measurement of orally exhaled NO during nasal aspiration may become useful to monitor disease control in asthmatic children.
Maintenance therapy after quadruple induction therapy in HIV-1 infected individuals: Amsterdam Duration of Antiretroviral Medication (ADAM) study
Authors: Monique HE Reijers, Gerrit Jan Weverling, Suzanne Jurriaans, Ferdinand WNM Wit, Hugo M Weigel, Reinier W Ten Kate, Jan Willem Mulder, PH Jos Frissen, Remko van Leeuwen, Peter Reiss, Hanneke Schuitemaker, Frank de Wolf, Joep MA Lange
Journal: The Lancet (1998)