tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Parental smoking and childhood asthma: longitudinal and case-control studies
Authors: D. P Strachan, D. G Cook
Journal: Thorax (1998)

<b>1036</b> <h3><b>Objectives</b></h3> The objective of this study was to develop a mSiO<sub>2</sub>/PSS/PDDA@BSA-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-AS1411 molecular magnetic resonance imaging (mMRI) probe, which could recognize ccRCC sensitively and specifically. <h3><b>Methods</b></h3> For the fabrication of mMRI nanoprobes, BSA-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3 </sub>NPs were employed as MRI contrast agents and nanocarriers as well as AS1411 aptamer as target molecule. BSA-Gd2O3 NPs were assemblied onto mSiO<sub>2</sub> with the help of anionic polyelectrolyte PSS and cationic polyelectrolyte PDDA layer by layer. FT-IR spectra and Zeta potential determination were used to monitor such assembly. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT assay on a 786-0 cell line and a normal human umbilical vein endothelial cell line. For MRI diagnosis, 786-0 cells were incubated with PBS, mSiO<sub>2</sub>/PSS/PDDA@BSA-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> and mSiO<sub>2</sub>/PSS/PDDA@BSA-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-AS1411, respectively. NIH-3T3 cells were treated the same as control. The MR imaging was performed using 3.0-Tesla MRI. <h3><b>Results</b></h3> The successful assembly of this nanoprobe was confirmed by transmission electron microscopic (TEM), FT-IR spectroscopy and Zeta- potential analysis. The presence of PDDA and PSS could increase loading amount of BSA-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> on mSiO<sub>2</sub>. The MTT assay showed no significant cytotoxicity on both 786-0 renal carcinoma cells and normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells. T1-weighted and T1-map imagings demonstrated that AS1411-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PDDA/PSS/mSiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoprobes could speciﬁcally targeted 786-0 cell lines. <h3><b>Conclusions</b></h3> In this study, mSiO<sub>2</sub>/PSS/PDDA@BSA-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>-AS1411 nanocomplex were prepared for the sensitive and specific mMRI probes of ccRCC. With our fabricated nanoprobes, ccRCC could be recognized specifically by MRI in vitro. <h3><b>Research Support</b></h3> Figure (a) Schematic illustration of the fabrication process of AS1411-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PDDA/PSS/mSiO<sub>2</sub> nanoprobes. (b) T1-weighted and T1-map image of double distilled water, supernatant of Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@ mSiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles, Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@ mSiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles, Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PDDA/PSS/mSiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles with different concentrations at 3.0 T.(c) FT-IR spectra of AS1411/Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PSS/PDDA/mSiO<sub>2 </sub> nanoprobes (red line), Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PSS/PDDA/mSiO<sub>2</sub> nanoparticles (black line), and AS1411 (red line). (d) T1-weighted(coronal, axial) and T1-map(axial) MR images of 786-0 renal carcinoma cells treated with AS1411-Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PDDA/PSS/mSiO<sub>2</sub> nanoprobe(200, 500, 1000µg/mL ), Gd<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>@PDDA/PSS/mSiO<sub>2 </sub>nanoparticles(200, 500, 1000µg/mL).
Body composition of rugby union football players.
Authors: W. Bell
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1979)

The components of body composition were studied in 56 second class rugby union football players: 28 forwards and 28 backs. Fowards were found to have 19.5% TBF (TOTAL BODY FAT) and 80.5% LBM (LEAN BODY MASS); backs 12.2% TBF and 87.8% LBM. It was felt that greater attention should be given to the ratio of TBF to LBM in determining body weight and that there should be an increased emphasis of the LBM at the expense of TBF.
NRAGE, A Novel MAGE Protein, Interacts with the p75 Neurotrophin Receptor and Facilitates Nerve Growth Factor–Dependent Apoptosis
Authors: Amir H Salehi, Philippe P Roux, Chris J Kubu, Christine Zeindler, Asha Bhakar, Laura-Lee Tannis, Joseph M Verdi, Philip A Barker
Journal: Neuron (2000)
Surgical Therapy for Metastatic Disease to the Liver
Authors: David J. Bentrem, Ronald P. DeMatteo, Leslie H. Blumgart
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (2004)

The liver is a common site of hematogenous metastasis. In the past, patients with liver metastases were often deemed inoperable, and medical therapy conferred only minor survival benefit. However, advances in surgical techniques and chemotherapeutic agents during the past two decades have led to effective treatments for selected patients with metastases to the liver. Up to approximately 80% of the liver can be resected, and partial hepatectomy is now routinely performed with a perioperative mortality rate of <5%. Surgical resection of colorectal cancer metastatic to the liver results in a 5-year survival rate of 40%. These results are expected to improve even further with multimodality approaches that include newer chemotherapy regimens. Liver metastases from other primary tumors, such as neuroendocrine carcinoma and genitourinary tumors, are also treated effectively with liver resection. The indications for surgical treatment of liver metastases are broadening as a variety of novel therapies are being developed, including hepatic artery embolization, hepatic artery infusion of chemotherapy, and radiofrequency ablation.
Suppressor-cell induction in vitro. IV. Target of antigen-specific suppressor factor and its genetic relationships.
Authors: S Kontiainen, M Feldmann
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1978)

Antigen-specific suppressor factor produced by metabolically active in vitro-induced suppressor cells, upon further antigenic stimulation, act on nylon wool nonadherent, Ly-2-negative target cells within helper cell population, resulting in suppression of both the IgM and IgG antibody responses. Thus the target is an Ly-1+ T cell, possibly the helper cell. All the mouse strains tested so far have been able to produce the factor, and when tested in CBA or B10 mice, there seems to be no genetic restriction involved e.g., nonsyngeneic suppressor factors suppress as well as do the syngeneic factors. Comparison of the properties of suppressor factor with those of extracts of suppressor cells yield differences in origin, target of action and effect, indicating that these are different molecules. The heterogeneity of suppressor pathways is discussed.
Successful immunotherapy of natural killer-resistant established pulmonary melanoma metastases by the intravenous adoptive transfer of syngeneic lymphocytes activated in vitro by interleukin 2.
Authors: A Mazumder, S A Rosenberg
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1984)

In previous in vitro studies, we have shown that murine splenocytes or cancer patient lymphocytes incubated in IL-2 become lytic for fresh syngeneic or autologous tumors. We have now performed the adoptive transfer of such lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in a murine B16 metastasis model to test their in vivo efficacy. 1 X 10(8) LAK cells, infused intravenously into C57BL/6 mice with established B16 pulmonary metastases, led to a marked decreased in the number of lung nodules and improved survival. LAK cells administered 3 d after amputation of a tumor-bearing limb also decreased the incidence of spontaneous pulmonary metastases. LAK cells generated from tumor-bearer splenocytes had effects equivalent to those from normal animals, and this antimetastatic effect of the LAK cells did not require the prior administration of cyclophosphamide or other immunosuppressants. Fresh or unstimulated splenocytes had no effect. The antitumor effectors and precursors in vivo and in vitro were Thy-1+. The lymphokine required for the activation appeared to be interleukin 2 (IL-2), since incubation in partially purified supernatants from PMA pulsed EL-4 or Con A-pulsed splenocytes or purified Jurkat IL-2 led to the generation of LAK cells equally active in vivo. The use of IL-2-activated cells may provide a valuable method for the adoptive therapy of human neoplasms as well.
Quantification of disease activity in Crohn's disease by computer analysis of Tc-99m hexamethyl propylene amine oxime (HMPAO) labelled leucocyte images.
Authors: M H Giaffer, W B Tindale, S Senior, D C Barber, C D Holdsworth
Journal: Gut (1993)

The reliability and clinical applications of computerised image analysis measurement of bowel uptake of Tc-99m HMPAO labelled leucocytes has been examined as a measure of disease activity in Crohn9s disease. In 54 studies carried out on 33 patients with established Crohn9s disease, the mean 9scan score9, a quantitative assessment of image intensity, was 82.1 SEM (13.6), in patients with clinically active disease compared to 24.7 (7.0) in those with quiescent disease, p &lt; or = 0.0005. A significant correlation was found between the scan score and Crohn9s Disease Activity Index (rs = 0.52, p &lt; 0.0001), and Harvey and Bradshaw Simple Index (rs = 0.4, p &lt; 0.004). A low scan score correctly identified seven patients whose raised Crohn9s Disease Activity Index incorrectly indicated active disease because symptoms used in calculation of the index were not caused by active inflammation. Of the laboratory measurements, the scan score correlated with the haemoglobin (rs = 0.66, p &lt; 0.0001), albumin level (rs = -0.6, p &lt; 0.0001), C-reactive protein (rs = 0.7, p &lt; 0.0001), alpha-acid glycoprotein (rs = 0.57, p &lt; 0.001), and platelet count (rs = 0.47, p &lt; or = 0.006), but not with the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (rs = 0.2, p &lt; or = 0.25). The scan score was raised in all patients who had clinically active disease but normal laboratory tests. The results of this study indicate that the scan score provides an objective indicator of disease activity in Crohn9s disease which may be superior to clinical indices, and also to laboratory tests which although objective are often normal in the presence of active disease.
Casualty departments and the monitoring of drug dependence.
Authors: A H Ghodse
Journal: BMJ (1977)

In a month-long prospective survey of patients attending London casualty departments with drug-related problems, 395 drug-dependent patients were identified. A check against the official Home Office index of notified addicts showed that 226 (57%) were not known to the Home Office. Of 92 patients who used narcotics only 53% were known with certainty to the Home Office, and when the source of notification was checked it became clear that in at least 77% of incidents involving narcotic addicts in casualty departments the addict was not reported. Repeated research in casualty departments could play a valuable role in monitoring drug dependence and might provide information supplementary to that obtained from the specialised drug treatment clinics and other sources of notification.
Medical Care in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Authors: Paul C. Nathan, Mark L. Greenberg, Kirsten K. Ness, Melissa M. Hudson, Ann C. Mertens, Martin C. Mahoney, James G. Gurney, Sarah S. Donaldson, Wendy M. Leisenring, Leslie L. Robison, Kevin C. Oeffinger
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008)

Purpose To evaluate whether childhood cancer survivors receive regular medical care focused on the specific morbidities that can arise from their therapy. Patients and Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey of health care use in 8,522 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, a multi-institutional cohort of childhood cancer survivors. We assessed medical visits in the preceding 2 years, whether these visits were related to the prior cancer, whether survivors received advice about how to reduce their long-term risks, and whether screening tests were discussed or ordered. Completion of echocardiograms and mammograms were assessed in patients at high risk for cardiomyopathy or breast cancer. We examined the relationship between demographics, treatment, health status, chronic medical conditions, and health care use. Results Median age at cancer diagnosis was 6.8 years (range, 0 to 20.9 years) and at interview was 31.4 years (range, 17.5 to 54.1 years). Although 88.8% of survivors reported receiving some form of medical care, only 31.5% reported care that focused on their prior cancer (survivor-focused care), and 17.8% reported survivor-focused care that included advice about risk reduction or discussion or ordering of screening tests. Among survivors who received medical care, those who were black, older at interview, or uninsured were less likely to have received risk-based, survivor-focused care. Among patients at increased risk for cardiomyopathy or breast cancer, 511 (28.2%) of 1,810 and 169 (40.8%) of 414 had undergone a recommended echocardiogram or mammogram, respectively. Conclusion Despite a significant risk of late effects after cancer therapy, the majority of childhood cancer survivors do not receive recommended risk-based care.
When to Initiate Combined Antiretroviral Therapy to Reduce Mortality and AIDS-Defining Illness in HIV-Infected Persons in Developed Countries
Authors: Lauren E Cain, Roger Logan, James M Robins, Jonathan a C Sterne, Caroline Sabin, Loveleen Bansi, Amy Justice, Joseph Goulet, Ard van Sighem, Frank de Wolf, Heiner C Bucher, Viktor von Wyl, Anna Esteve, Jordi Casabona, Julia del Amo, Santiago Moreno, Remonie Seng, Laurence Meyer, Santiago Perez-Hoyos, Roberto Muga, Sara Lodi, Emilie Lanoy, Dominique Costagliola, Miguel A Hernan, Christian Michelet
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2011)

Most clinical guidelines recommend that AIDS-free, HIV-infected persons with CD4 cell counts below 0.350 × 10(9) cells/L initiate combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), but the optimal CD4 cell count at which cART should be initiated remains a matter of debate.To identify the optimal CD4 cell count at which cART should be initiated.Prospective observational data from the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration and dynamic marginal structural models were used to compare cART initiation strategies for CD4 thresholds between 0.200 and 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L.HIV clinics in Europe and the Veterans Health Administration system in the United States.20, 971 HIV-infected, therapy-naive persons with baseline CD4 cell counts at or above 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L and no previous AIDS-defining illnesses, of whom 8392 had a CD4 cell count that decreased into the range of 0.200 to 0.499 × 10(9) cells/L and were included in the analysis.Hazard ratios and survival proportions for all-cause mortality and a combined end point of AIDS-defining illness or death.Compared with initiating cART at the CD4 cell count threshold of 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L, the mortality hazard ratio was 1.01 (95% CI, 0.84 to 1.22) for the 0.350 threshold and 1.20 (CI, 0.97 to 1.48) for the 0.200 threshold. The corresponding hazard ratios were 1.38 (CI, 1.23 to 1.56) and 1.90 (CI, 1.67 to 2.15), respectively, for the combined end point of AIDS-defining illness or death.CD4 cell count at cART initiation was not randomized. Residual confounding may exist.Initiation of cART at a threshold CD4 count of 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L increases AIDS-free survival. However, mortality did not vary substantially with the use of CD4 thresholds between 0.300 and 0.500 × 10(9) cells/L.
Dissociation as a Mediator of Psychopathology Among Sexually Abused Children and Adolescents
Authors: Cassandra L. Kisiel, John S. Lyons
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2001)

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the role of dissociation as a mediator of mental health outcomes in children with a history of sexual abuse. METHOD: The study group consisted of 114 children and adolescents (ages 10–18 years) who were wards of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and were living in residential treatment centers. Interviews, provider ratings, and chart reviews were used to assess the relationship of childhood abuse history, dissociative responses, and psychopathology. RESULTS: Sexual abuse history was significantly associated with dissociation, whereas a history of physical abuse was not. Both sexual abuse and dissociation were independently associated with several indicators of mental health disturbance, including risk-taking behavior (suicidality, self-mutilation, and sexual aggression). Severity of sexual abuse was not associated with dissociation or psychopathology. Analysis of covariance indicated that dissociation had an important mediating role between sexual abuse and psychiatric disturbance. These results were replicated across several assessment sources and varied perspectives. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a unique relationship between sexual abuse and dissociation. Dissociation may be a critical mediator of psychiatric symptoms and risk-taking behavior among sexually abused children. The assessment of dissociation among children may be an important aspect of treatment.
Independence in disciplinary proceedings against doctors
Authors: J. R. De Havilland
Journal: BMJ (2012)

Dr Eva Michalak’s employers were found to have discriminated against her on grounds of race and sex, victimised her for protected disclosures, and unfairly dismissed her.1 The campaign of harassment made her so ill that the tribunal deemed she would not work as a doctor again. This “career loss” resulted in record damages. How was this possible?

After negotiation with the BMA, …
Fatal massive haemoptysis after embolectomy for chronic pulmonary embolism.
Authors: J A Elliott
Journal: Thorax (1980)

Antimonial agents are a mainstay for the treatment of leishmaniasis, a group of protozoal diseases that includes visceral leishmaniasis, or Kala Azar. Chemotherapy with trivalent potassium antimony tartrate (PAT) and, more importantly, pentavalent antimony-carbohydrate complexes, such as sodium stibogluconate (SSG), has been reported to prolong the QT interval and produce life-threatening arrhythmias. PAT is chemically related to As<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, which alters cardiac excitability by inhibition of human <i>ether a-go-go</i> related gene (hERG) trafficking and an increase of cardiac calcium currents. In this study, we report that PAT does not block hERG currents on short-term exposure but reduces current density on long-term exposure (IC<sub>50</sub>, 11.8 μM) and inhibits hERG maturation on Western blots (IC<sub>50</sub>, 62 μM). Therapeutic concentrations of 0.3 μM PAT increase cardiac calcium currents from -4.8 ± 0.7 to -7.3 ± 0.5 pA/pF at 10 mV. In marked contrast, pentavalent SSG, the drug of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis, did not affect hERG/I<sub>Kr</sub> or any other cardiac potassium current at therapeutic concentrations. However, both cardiac sodium and calcium currents were significantly increased on long-term exposure to 30 μM SSG in isolated guinea pig ventricular myocytes. We propose that the increase in calcium currents from -3.2 ± 0.3 to -5.1 ± 0.3 pA/pF at 10 mV prolongs APD<sub>90</sub> from 464 ± 35 to 892 ± 64 ms. Our data suggest that conversion of Sb(V) into active Sb(III) in patients produces a common mode of action for antimonial drugs, which define a novel compound class that increases cardiac risk not by a reduction of hERG/I<sub>Kr</sub> currents but—for the first time—by an increase in cardiac calcium currents.
Diabetic Neuropathies
Authors: Andrew J.M. Boulton, Arthur I. Vinik, Joseph C. Arezzo, Vera Bril, Eva L. Feldman, Roy Freeman, Rayaz A. Malik, Raelene E. Maser, Jay M. Sosenko, Dan Ziegler
Journal: Diabetes Care (2005)

The diabetic neuropathies are heterogeneous, affecting different parts of the nervous system that present with diverse clinical manifestations. They may be focal or diffuse. Most common among the neuropathies are chronic sensorimotor distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DPN) and the autonomic neuropathies. DPN is a diagnosis of exclusion. The early recognition and appropriate management of neuropathy in the patient with diabetes is important for a number of reasons. 1 ) Nondiabetic neuropathies may be present in patients with diabetes. 2 ) A number of treatment options exist for symptomatic diabetic neuropathy. 3 ) Up to 50% of DPN may be asymptomatic, and patients are at risk of insensate injury to their feet. As >80% of amputations follow a foot ulcer or injury, early recognition of at-risk individuals, provision of education, and appropriate foot care may result in a reduced incidence of ulceration and consequently amputation. 4 ) Autonomic neuropathy may involve every system in the body. 5 ) Autonomic neuropathy causes substantial morbidity and increased mortality, particularly if cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is present. Treatment should be directed at underlying pathogenesis. Effective symptomatic treatments are available for the manifestations of DPN and autonomic neuropathy.

This statement is based on two recent technical reviews (1,2), to which the reader is referred for detailed discussion and relevant references to the literature.

An internationally agreed simple definition of DPN for clinical practice is “the presence of symptoms and/or signs of peripheral nerve dysfunction in people with diabetes after the exclusion of other causes” (3). However, the diagnosis cannot be made without a careful clinical examination of the lower limbs, as absence of symptoms should never be assumed to indicate an absence of signs. This definition conveys the important message that not all patients with peripheral nerve dysfunction have a neuropathy caused by diabetes. Confirmation can be established with …
Innate helper cells: a novel cell type essential in the initiation of asthma?
Authors: S. Saglani
Journal: Thorax (2011)

The role of the innate immune system in asthma initiation is being increasingly recognised, and several innate epithelial cytokines, such as interleukin 33 (IL-33), IL-25 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin, have been described as important in asthma pathogenesis. However, until now, the mechanism by which these cytokines initiate Th2 responses and form a link with the adaptive immune system was undetermined. The recent discovery of a new group of non-T, non-B innate helper cells, which are induced by epithelial innate cytokines and secrete the Th2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13, may provide a mechanism by which the innate and adaptive immune systems become activated in asthma.
Hepatocyte Growth Factor Antagonizes the Profibrotic Action of TGF-β1 in Mesangial Cells by Stabilizing Smad Transcriptional Corepressor TGIF
Authors: Chunsun Dai, Youhua Liu
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2004)

Mesangial cell activation is a predominant pathologic feature of diabetic nephropathy that precedes the accumulation of extracellular matrix leading to glomerulosclerosis. For understanding the potential mechanism by which hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ameliorates diabetic nephropathy, the effects of HGF on mesangial cell activation induced by TGF-beta1 were investigated. Western blot analysis and immunostaining revealed that HGF suppressed alpha-smooth muscle actin expression induced by TGF-beta1 in cultured rat and human mesangial cells. HGF also inhibited TGF-beta1-mediated fibronectin and type I collagen expression. Such action of HGF was dependent on the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1 and -2 but not on Akt and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. HGF did not affect TGF-beta1-mediated Smad2 phosphorylation and its nuclear translocation. However, it rapidly upregulated Smad transcriptional corepressor TG-interacting factor (TGIF) abundance in mesangial cells, which was primarily mediated by stabilizing its protein from degradation. Ectopic expression of TGIF markedly suppressed Smad-mediated activation of TGF-beta1-responsive promoter activity and completely blocked TGF-beta1-induced alpha-smooth muscle actin expression. In vivo, TGIF expression was dramatically downregulated in the glomeruli of diabetic kidneys, and delivery of exogenous HGF induced TGIF expression. These results suggest that HGF specifically antagonizes the profibrotic action of TGF-beta1 in mesangial cells by stabilizing Smad transcriptional corepressor TGIF.
QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT IN THE RANDOMIZED PROTECT AF TRIAL OF PATIENTS AT RISK FOR STROKE WITH NON-VALVULAR ATRIAL FIBRILLATION
Authors: David R. Holmes, Vivek Reddy, Zoltan Turi, Shephal Doshi, Horst Sievert, Maurice Buchbinder, Christopher Mullin, Peter Sick
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2012)