tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Effect of duration of type I diabetes on the prevalence of stages of diabetic nephropathy defined by urinary albumin/creatinine ratio.
Authors: J H Warram, G Gearin, L Laffel, A S Krolewski
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1996)

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of stages of diabetic nephropathy, defined by the albumin/creatinine ratio (AC ratio) in repeated measurements in random urine samples. Over a 30-month interval, 1613 patients with Type I diabetes (IDDM) (aged 15 to 44 yr, IDDM duration 1 to 39 yr), and 218 healthy control subjects provided multiple urine specimens. AC ratios measured in urine samples taken 5 months apart were highly reproducible (Spearman r = 0.83). A criterion for the boundary between normoalbuminuria and microalbuminuria was obtained by searching for a cutpoint that optimized agreement between serial specimens on individuals. The result was lower in men than women: 17 as compared with 25 micrograms/mg. These two values corresponded to the 95th percentiles of the respective distributions of the AC ratio in healthy control subjects. Also these sex-specific cutpoints, when converted to albumin excretion rates, became almost equal: 30 and 31 micrograms/min. Microalbuminuria appeared early in the course of IDDM (6% of those with only 1 to 3 yr of diabetes) and then increased rapidly during two intervals, the first and third decades, before leveling off at 52%. By that time the cumulative risk of overt proteinuria had risen to 27%. Determinations of the AC ratio in random urine samples are easily obtained and are reliable indices of elevated urinary albumin excretion (microalbuminuria) in IDDM. The pattern of occurrence of microalbuminuria according to duration of IDDM suggests that there may be two subsets of diabetic nephropathy, one appearing early and the other late. Patients with microalbuminuria and 25 yr of postpubertal IDDM have low risk of progression to advanced diabetic nephropathy.
Homocysteine Determinants and the Evidence to What Extent Homocysteine Determines the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: A. De Bree
Journal: Pharmacological Reviews (2002)

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), especially coronary heart disease (CHD), are the most important causes of death in industrialized countries. Increased concentrations of total plasma homocysteine (tHcy) have been associated with an increased risk of CHD. Assuming that this relation is causal, a lower tHcy concentration will reduce the occurrence and recurrence of CHD. Therefore, it is important to know which factors determine the tHcy concentration. In the general population, the most important modifiable determinants of tHcy are folate intake and coffee consumption. Smoking and alcohol consumption are also associated with the tHcy concentration, but more research is necessary to elucidate whether these relations are not originating from residual confounding due to other lifestyle factors. The most important nonmodifiable determinant is the 677 C&gt;T polymorphism in the gene that encodes methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a regulating enzyme in homocysteine metabolism. Especially subjects with the homozygous form of this polymorphism (i.e., 677TT genotype) and a low folate status have elevated tHcy concentrations. Specific clinical conditions like the use of antiepileptic drugs or methotrexate, renal failure, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and hypothyroidism may lead to elevated tHcy concentrations. The available epidemiological evidence indicates that an increased tHcy concentration is not an important risk factor for CHD in healthy subjects. However, prospective studies, which included subjects at high risk of CHD, and secondary prevention trials with intermediary endpoints consistently show that elevations in the tHcy concentration may be an important risk factor in these subjects for a (recurrent) CHD event. The induction of vascular endothelial dysfunction by homocysteine may underlie this increased risk. Ongoing intervention trials will indicate whether homocysteine-lowering through vitamin supplementation, prevents CHD in the treatment groups.
A sex-specific role for androgens in angiogenesis
Authors: Daniel P. Sieveking, Patrick Lim, Renée W.Y. Chow, Louise L. Dunn, Shisan Bao, Kristine C.Y. McGrath, Alison K. Heather, David J. Handelsman, David S. Celermajer, Martin K.C. Ng
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2010)

Mounting evidence suggests that in men, serum levels of testosterone are negatively correlated to cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. We studied the role of androgens in angiogenesis, a process critical in cardiovascular repair/regeneration, in males and females. Androgen exposure augmented key angiogenic events in vitro. Strikingly, this occurred in male but not female endothelial cells (ECs). Androgen receptor (AR) antagonism or gene knockdown abrogated these effects in male ECs. Overexpression of AR in female ECs conferred androgen sensitivity with respect to angiogenesis. In vivo, castration dramatically reduced neovascularization of Matrigel plugs. Androgen treatment fully reversed this effect in male mice but had no effect in female mice. Furthermore, orchidectomy impaired blood-flow recovery from hindlimb ischemia, a finding rescued by androgen treatment. Our findings suggest that endogenous androgens modulate angiogenesis in a sex-dependent manner, with implications for the role of androgen replacement in men.
Isolation of both<i>Sporothrix schenckii</i>and<i>Nocardia asteroides</i>from a mycetoma of the forefoot
Authors: K. Pelzer, H.J. Tietz, W. Sterry, N. Haas
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2000)

Journal Article Isolation of both Sporothrix schenckii and Nocardia asteroides from a mycetoma of the forefoot Get access K. Pelzer, K. Pelzer Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty (Charité), Humboldt‐University Berlin, Schumannstrasse 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar H.J. Tietz, H.J. Tietz Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty (Charité), Humboldt‐University Berlin, Schumannstrasse 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar W. Sterry, W. Sterry Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty (Charité), Humboldt‐University Berlin, Schumannstrasse 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar N. Haas N. Haas Department of Dermatology, Medical Faculty (Charité), Humboldt‐University Berlin, Schumannstrasse 20/21, 10117 Berlin, Germany Norbert Haas. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 143, Issue 6, 1 December 2000, Pages 1311–1315, https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2133.2000.03908.x Published: 01 December 2000
Nonenzymatic glycosylation of poly-l-lysine: A new tool for targeted gene delivery
Authors: Daniel Martinez-Fong, Jerald E. Mullersman, Anthony F. Purchio, Juan Armendariz-Borunda, Antonio Martinez-Hernandez
Journal: Hepatology (1994)

The basic approach in targeted gene delivery relies on the formation of a complex between a vector and a molecule that will be selectively internalized by the target cells. In the case of hepatocytes, asialoglycoproteins are convenient targeting molecules because of the high affinity and avidity of the hepatocyte galactose receptor. In this system, poly-l-lysine is crosslinked to an asialoglycoprotein, and the resulting conjugate is complexed with the expression vector (DNA). The electrostatic binding between DNA and poly-l-lysine—asialoglycoprotein ensures delivery of the intravenously injected complex to the liver, where it is subjected to endocytosis by hepatocytes. However, the poly-l-lysine—asialoglycoprotein complexes tend to be unstable, of limited solubility and of fixed carbohydrate content. For these reasons we searched for a simpler alternative. We exploited the known capacity of reducing sugars to be reductively coupled to the -amino groups in proteins and used lactose to obtain poly-l-lysine with „exposed” galactose. Glycosylation with sodium cyanoborohydride at high pH in borate buffer is a simple, reproducible procedure. The „lactosylated” poly-l-lysine has proved very stable, highly soluble and easily bound to plasmids. In a set of experiments we compared the asialofetuin—poly-l-lysine vector complexes with lactosylated poly-l-lysine vector complexes by transfecting hepatoma cells (HepG2) in culture. For these experiments we used a pRc/cytomegalovirus eukaryotic expression vector containing a mutant TGF-β1 complementary DNA. On Northern-blot analysis, cells transfected with lactosylated poly-l-lysine expressed 10 to 20 times more TGF-β1 messenger RNA than did cells transfected with the same plasmid coupled to asialofetuin—poly-l-lysine. Therefore glycosylated poly-l-lysine is a simple, highly effective alternative to poly-l-lysine—asialoprotein complexes. Furthermore the use of different disaccharides may permit targeting of the complexes to different cell types. (Hepatology 1994;20:1602-1608).
Decreased expressions of CD1d molecule on liver dendritic cells in subcutaneous tumor bearing mice
Authors: Tomohide Tatsumi, Tetsuo Takehara, Shinjiro Yamaguchi, Akira Sasakawa, Masashi Yamamoto, Yui Fujita, Takuya Miyagi, Kazuyoshi Ohkawa, Norio Hayashi
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2008)
Keep in a cool place: exposure of medicines to high temperatures in general practice during a British heatwave
Authors: B. Crichton
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2004)

Exposure of medicines to high temperatures in storage or in transit could reduce their efficacy, and most licences specify storage at 25°C or less. To assess whether this criterion was being met, maximum temperatures in a general practice drug cupboard and in drug bags placed in car boots were recorded for two weeks during a British heatwave (average peak daily ambient temperature 26°C). Also, ten neighbouring dispensing pharmacies were questioned about their temperature-control policies. On every day of the study, maximum temperatures in the drug cupboard and in the car boots exceeded 25°C. Mean daily maxima (range) were: drug cupboard 30.7 (27.5-37.0); silver car 37.5 (32.0-43.5); dark blue car 41.8 (35.0-49.5). None of the local dispensaries had air conditioning or kept a temperature log. In the course of a British summer, medicines were exposed to temperatures that might in theory have reduced their efficacy. This aspect of quality control deserves more attention.
Misuse of corticosteroid metered-dose inhaler is associated with decreased asthma stability
Authors: V. Giraud, N. Roche
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2002)

This study assessed whether the improper use of pressurized metered-dose inhalers (pMDIs) is associated with decreased asthma control in asthmatics treated by inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). General practitioners (GPs) included consecutive asthmatic outpatients treated by pMDI-administered ICS and on-demand, short-acting β 2 -agonists. They measured an asthma instability score (AIS) based on daytime and nocturnal symptoms, exercise-induced dyspnoea, β 2 -agonist usage, emergency-care visits and global perception of asthma control within the preceding month; the inhalation technique of the patient also was assessed. GPs (n=915) included 4,078 adult asthmatics; 3,955 questionnaires were evaluable. pMDI was misused by 71% of patients, of which 47% was due to poor coordination. Asthma was less stable in pMDI misusers than in good users (AIS: 3.93 versus 2.86, p&lt;0.001). Among misusers, asthma was less stable in poor coordinators (AIS: 4.38 versus 3.56 in good coordinators, p&lt;0.001). To conclude, misuse of pressurized metered-dose inhalers, which is mainly due to poor coordination, is frequent and associated with poorer asthma control in inhaled corticosteroid-treated asthmatics. This study highlights the importance of evaluating inhalation technique and providing appropriate education in all patients, especially before increasing inhaled corticosteroid dosage or adding other agents. The use of devices which alleviate coordination problems should be reinforced in pressurized metered-dose inhaler misusers.
A simple test for the detection of KPC and metallo-β-lactamase carbapenemase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates with the use of meropenem disks supplemented with aminophenylboronic acid, dipicolinic acid and cloxacillin
Authors: F. Pasteran, O. Veliz, D. Faccone, L. Guerriero, M. Rapoport, T. Mendez, A. Corso
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2011)
Usefulness of vibration response imaging (VRI) for pneumonia patients
Authors: Kwang Ha Yoo, Kye Young Lee, Sun Jong Kim, Won Dong Kim, Hee Joung Kim, Eugene Park
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: Pneumonia is commonly seen in outpatient clinics, and it is the most common cause of death in infectious disease. Pneumonia is diagnosed by symptoms, chest X-ray and blood tests. Chest X-ray and blood tests have its limitations and primary care clinins usually do not have adequate diagnostic tools. VRI is a new diagnostic modality and the procedure is non-invasive, radiation-free, and easy to handling. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of the VRI test in pneumonia patients and the correlation between other conventional test such as Chest X-ray, Laboratory tests and clinical symptoms.

Methods: VRI was performed in 57 patients who diagnosed with pneumonia in Konkuk University Medical Center. VRI was measured in a quiet room initially and after treatment. The change of Chest X-rays, CRP, WBC, Body temperature were compared with the chage of VRI during time course.

Results: Mean age was 60 years, and average follow up periods was 7.1days. VRI, chest X-ray and CRP was significantly improved after treatment. Correlation with VRI and other test was not seen all patients. But female patients and relatively severe pneumonia patients showed correlation with VRI and chest X-ray.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that VRI can be safely applied to patients with pneumonia.
Climate Change, Noncommunicable Diseases, and Development: The Relationships and Common Policy Opportunities
Authors: S. Friel, K. Bowen, D. Campbell-Lendrum, H. Frumkin, A.J. McMichael, K. Rasanathan
Journal: Annual Review of Public Health (2011)

The rapid growth in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including injury and poor mental health, in low- and middle-income countries and the widening social gradients in NCDs within most countries worldwide pose major challenges to health and social systems and to development more generally. As Earth's surface temperature rises, a consequence of human-induced climate change, incidences of severe heat waves, droughts, storms, and floods will increase and become more severe. These changes will bring heightened risks to human survival and will likely exacerbate the incidence of some NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, some cancers, respiratory health, mental disorders, injuries, and malnutrition. These two great and urgent contemporary human challenges—to improve global health, especially the control of NCDs, and to protect people from the effects of climate change—would benefit from alignment of their policy agendas, offering synergistic opportunities to improve population and planetary health. Well-designed climate change policy can reduce the incidence of major NCDs in local populations.
Activating stem cells may treat Alzheimer's
Authors: Janice Hopkins Tanne
Journal: BMJ (2005)

Stem cells offer promise in treating neurodegenerative diseases but not in the expected way, according to researchers at the annual symposium on dementia and Alzheimer's disease, sponsored by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in New York.

Longevity genes might protect against Alzheimer's disease and combining drugs and non-pharmacological interventions might slow the disease. Researchers recommended a quick office test to identify patients with early dementia.

Cases of dementia cases in the United States are expected to double in the next 40 years, said Gary Kennedy, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Einstein and director of geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore. Currently, Alzheimer's disease alone affects 8% to 15% of American citizens aged at least 65, he said. He …
Cardiac autonomic dysfunction and neuroganglionitis in a rat model of chronic Chaga's disease
Authors: L. F Junqueira, P. S S Beraldo, E. Chapadeiro, P. C Jesus
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1992)

Journal Article Cardiac autonomic dysfunction and neuroganglionitis in a rat model of chronic Chaga's disease Get access Luiz F Junqueira, Jr, Luiz F Junqueira, Jr Cardiovascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, 70910 Brasilia DF, Brazil: L F Junqueira, P S S Beraldo, P C Jesus; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Uberaba MG, Brazil: E Chapadeiro. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Paulo S S Beraldo, Paulo S S Beraldo Cardiovascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, 70910 Brasilia DF, Brazil: L F Junqueira, P S S Beraldo, P C Jesus; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Uberaba MG, Brazil: E Chapadeiro. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Edmundo Chapadeiro, Edmundo Chapadeiro Cardiovascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, 70910 Brasilia DF, Brazil: L F Junqueira, P S S Beraldo, P C Jesus; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Uberaba MG, Brazil: E Chapadeiro. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Paulo C Jesus Paulo C Jesus Cardiovascular Laboratory, Department of Clinical Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia, 70910 Brasilia DF, Brazil: L F Junqueira, P S S Beraldo, P C Jesus; Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Uberaba MG, Brazil: E Chapadeiro. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Cardiovascular Research, Volume 26, Issue 4, April 1992, Pages 324–329, https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/26.4.324 Published: 01 April 1992 Article history Received: 23 April 1991 Accepted: 23 October 1991 Published: 01 April 1992
HTLV-I associated arthritis: characteristics of an HTLV-I virus infected T cell line from synovial fluid.
Authors: K Eguchi, T Nakamura, M Mine, H Ida, A Kawakami, K Migita, K Nagasato, A Kurata, T Fukuda, S Nagataki
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1992)

A T cell line from mononuclear cells in the synovial fluid of a patient with polyarthritis was established. The T cell line reacted with serum samples positive for antibodies to human T cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) and with monoclonal antibody to HTLV-I p19. In Southern blotting with an env-pX-LTR HTLV-I probe and digestion of T cell line DNA with the restriction enzymes ClaI, DraI, and PstI generated fragments that were identical to those found in two HTLV-I infected T cell lines established from adult T cell leukaemia or HTLV-I associated myelopathy. The T cell line expressed CD2, CD3, CD4, CD45RA, CD29, HLA-DR, CD25, and CD26 antigens, but not CD8 and CD20 antigens. Large amounts of interleukin 6, interferon gamma, and tumour necrosis factor alpha were secreted in the culture supernatants of this cell line. This line helped immunoglobulin production by B cells, but not K562, Raji, and synovial cell lysis.
Introduction to the Series on MicroRNAs in the Cardiovascular System
Authors: Eva van Rooij
Journal: Circulation Research (2012)

Until recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) were considered to be relatively small players in biological systems by having a balancing function through moderate effects on gene expression levels. However, it has become appreciated that miRNAs are actually much more relevant during both development and disease, which is underscored by the attention they have been receiving. The goal of this thematic review series is to highlight current knowledge of miRNA function during cardiovascular development, their dysregulation under disease conditions and the disease modifying functions they have been shown to exert in the cardiovascular system. These reviews, in addition to discussing the recent advancements in using miRNAs as circulating biomarkers or therapeutic modalities, will hopefully be able to provide a strong basis for future research to further expand our insights into miRNA function in cardiovascular biology.
Mortality After Acute Myocardial Infarction in Hospitals That Disproportionately Treat Black Patients
Authors: Jonathan Skinner, Amitabh Chandra, Douglas Staiger, Julie Lee, Mark McClellan
Journal: Circulation (2005)

Background— African Americans are more likely to be seen by physicians with less clinical training or to be treated at hospitals with longer average times to acute reperfusion therapies. Less is known about differences in health outcomes. This report compares risk-adjusted mortality after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) between US hospitals with high and low fractions of elderly black AMI patients. Methods and Results— A prospective cohort study was performed for fee-for-service Medicare patients hospitalized for AMI during 1997 to 2001 (n=1 136 736). Hospitals (n=4289) were classified into approximate deciles depending on the extent to which the hospital served the black population. Decile 1 (12.5% of AMI patients) included hospitals without any black AMI admissions during 1997 to 2001. Decile 10 (10% of AMI patients) included hospitals with the highest fraction of black AMI patients (33.6%). The main outcome measures were 90-day and 30-day mortality after AMI. Patients admitted to hospitals disproportionately serving blacks experienced no greater level of morbidities or severity of the infarction, yet hospitals in decile 10 experienced a risk-adjusted 90-day mortality rate of 23.7% (95% CI 23.2% to 24.2%) compared with 20.1% (95% CI 19.7% to 20.4%) in decile 1 hospitals. Differences in outcomes between hospitals were not explained by income, hospital ownership status, hospital volume, census region, urban status, or hospital surgical treatment intensity. Conclusions— Risk-adjusted mortality after AMI is significantly higher in US hospitals that disproportionately serve blacks. A reduction in overall mortality at these hospitals could dramatically reduce black-white disparities in healthcare outcomes.
Clinical Antimicrobial Photodynamic Therapy: Phase II Studies in Chronic Wounds
Authors: Stan Brown
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2012)

Microbiologically based diseases continue to pose serious global health problems. Effective alternative treatments that are not susceptible to resistance are sorely needed, and the killing of photosensitized bacteria through photodynamic therapy (PDT) may ultimately emerge as such an option. In preclinical research and early in vivo studies, PDT has demonstrated the ability to kill an assortment of microorganisms. Antimicrobial PDT has the potential to accelerate wound healing and prevent clinical infection, particularly in patients with chronic leg ulcers. Larger trials are needed to confirm its early promise and suggest its ultimate role in caring for chronic wounds.
A phase III randomised study of concomitant induction radiochemotherapy testing two modalities of radiosensitisation by cisplatin (standard versus daily) for limited small-cell lung cancer
Authors: J.P. Sculier, J.J. Lafitte, A. Efremidis, M.C. Florin, J. Lecomte, M.C. Berchier, M. Richez, T. Berghmans, A. Scherpereel, A.P. Meert, G. Koumakis, N. Leclercq, M. Paesmans, P. Van Houtte
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2008)