tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Geriatric surgery is about disease, not age
Authors: Stephen D Preston, Ashley RD Southall, Mark Nel, Saroj K Das
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2008)

Maintaining life span and quality of life remains a valid aim of surgery in elderly people. Surgery can be an effective way of restoring both length and quality of life to older people. Minimally invasive techniques and surgery under local anaesthesia make fewer demands on geriatric physiology; given that co-morbidity is a stronger predictor of outcome from surgery than age, this is a significant consideration.
Electrical Conduction Between the Right Atrium and the Left Atrium via the Musculature of the Coronary Sinus
Authors: Matthias Antz, Kenichiro Otomo, Mauricio Arruda, Benjamin J. Scherlag, Jan Pitha, Claudio Tondo, Ralph Lazzara, Warren M. Jackman
Journal: Circulation (1998)

Background —The purpose of this study was to determine whether the coronary sinus (CS) musculature has electrical connections to the right atrium (RA) and left atrium (LA) and forms an RA-LA connection. Methods and Results —Six excised dog hearts were perfused in a Langendorff preparation. A 20-electrode catheter (2-4-2-mm spacing center to center) was placed along the CS. Excision of the pulmonary veins provided access to the LA, and a second 20-electrode catheter was placed along the LA endocardium opposite the CS catheter. An incision opened the CS longitudinally, and microelectrodes were inserted into the CS musculature and adjacent LA myocardium. Continuous CS musculature was visible along a 35±9-mm length of the CS beginning at the ostium. During lateral LA pacing, CS electrodes recorded double potentials, a rounded, low-frequency potential followed by a sharp potential. The rounded initial potential propagated in the lateral-to-septal direction and represented “far-field” LA activation (timing coincided with adjacent LA potentials and with action potentials recorded from microelectrodes in adjacent LA cells). The sharp potential represented CS activation (timing coincided with action potentials recorded from CS musculature). A distal LA-CS connection (earliest sharp potential in the CS during lateral LA pacing) was located 26±7 mm from the ostium. During RA pacing posterior to the CS ostium, CS electrodes recorded septal-to-lateral activation of the high-frequency potential, with slightly later activation of the rounded potential (LA activation). Incisions surrounding the CS ostium isolating the ostium from the RA had no effect on the CS musculature and LA potentials during RA pacing within the isolated segment containing the CS ostium. RA pacing outside the isolated segment delayed activation of the CS musculature until after LA activation, confirming that the RA-CS connection was located in the region of the CS ostium as well as confirming the presence of the LA-CS connection. Conclusions —In canine hearts, the CS musculature is electrically connected to the RA and the LA and forms an RA-LA connection.
Effects of vitamin D supplementation on bone density in healthy children: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: T. Winzenberg, S. Powell, K. A. Shaw, G. Jones
Journal: BMJ (2011)

<b>Objective</b> To determine the effectiveness of vitamin D supplementation for improving bone mineral density in children and adolescents and if effects vary with factors such as vitamin D dose and vitamin D status. <b>Design</b> Systematic review and meta-analysis. <b>Data sources</b> Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Medline (1966 to present), Embase (1980 to present), CINAHL (1982 to present), AMED (1985 to present), and ISI Web of Science (1945 to present), last updated on 9 August 2009, and hand searching of conference abstracts from key journals. <b>Study selection </b>Placebo controlled randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation for at least three months in healthy children and adolescents (aged 1 month to &lt;20 years) with bone density outcomes. Two authors independently assessed references for inclusion and study quality and extracted data. <b>Data synthesis</b> Standardised mean differences of the percentage change from baseline in bone mineral density of the forearm, hip, and lumbar spine and total body bone mineral content in treatment and control groups. Subgroup analyses were carried out by sex, pubertal stage, dose of vitamin D, and baseline serum vitamin D concentration. Compliance and allocation concealment were also considered as possible sources of heterogeneity. <b>Results</b> From 1653 potential references, six studies, totalling 343 participants receiving placebo and 541 receiving vitamin D, contributed data to meta-analyses. Vitamin D supplementation had no statistically significant effects on total body bone mineral content or on bone mineral density of the hip or forearm. There was a trend to a small effect on lumbar spine bone mineral density (standardised mean difference 0.15, 95% confidence interval −0.01 to 0.31; P=0.07). Effects were similar in studies of participants with high compared with low serum vitamin D levels, although there was a trend towards a larger effect with low vitamin D for total body bone mineral content (P=0.09 for difference). In studies with low serum vitamin D, significant effects on total body bone mineral content and lumbar spine bone mineral density were roughly equivalent to a 2.6% and 1.7% percentage point greater change from baseline in the supplemented group. <b>Conclusions</b> It is unlikely that vitamin D supplements are beneficial in children and adolescents with normal vitamin D levels. The planned subgroup analyses by baseline serum vitamin D level suggest that vitamin D supplementation of deficient children and adolescents could result in clinically useful improvements, particularly in lumbar spine bone mineral density and total body bone mineral content, but this requires confirmation.
Polymorphisms of the IgH enhancer HS1.2 and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Domenico Frezza, Barbara Tolusso, Vincenzo Giambra, Elisa Gremese, Maurizio Marchini, Marcin Nowik, Eliseo Serone, Pietro D'Addabbo, Claudia Mattioli, Silvia Canestri, Luca Petricca, Graziella D'Antona, Barbara K Birshtein, Raffaella Scorza, Gianfranco Ferraccioli
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2012)

<h3>Objective</h3> To determine whether the allelic frequency variation of the HS1.2 enhancer of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) 3′ regulatory region (3′RR-1) locus represents a risk factor for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify a possible functional difference in the two most frequent alleles (*1 and *2) in binding nuclear factor- κB (NF-κB) and Sp1. <h3>Methods</h3> The frequency of the enhancer HS1.2 alleles was determined in two cohorts of patients with SLE (n=293) and in 1185 controls. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) were carried out with B cell nuclear extracts with different probes of HS1.2 alleles *1 and *2 to map the consensus binding sites of the nuclear factors. A confirmatory cohort of 121 patients with SLE was also included. <h3>Results</h3> The frequency of allele *2 of the HS1.2 enhancer was significantly increased in patients with SLE compared with controls (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.33 to 1.92, p&lt;0.001). EMSA experiments showed the presence of the Sp1 binding site in both alleles whereas only allele *2 carried the consensus for the NF-κB factor. The presence versus absence of allele *2 in patients with SLE correlated with a higher concentration of IgM levels and with the expression of B cell activating factor receptor (BAFF-R). <h3>Conclusions</h3> The increased frequency of allele *2 in patients with SLE identifies a new genetic risk factor for SLE. A possible biological effect of the polymorphism could be the difference observed in the localisation of an NF-κB binding site which is specific for allele *2 and absent in allele *1. These observations suggest a functional effect of the HS1.2 enhancer in this disease.
CD4-mediated stimulation of human eosinophils: lymphocyte chemoattractant factor and other CD4-binding ligands elicit eosinophil migration.
Authors: T H Rand, W W Cruikshank, D M Center, P F Weller
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1991)

Lymphocyte chemoattractant factor (LCF) is a tetrameric glycoprotein of 56,000 relative molecular mass produced by activated T lymphocytes. LCF binds to CD4 and has previously been found to stimulate migration of CD4+ lymphocytes and monocytes. Because human eosinophils, like T cells and monocytes, express CD4, we examined functional responses of eosinophils to LCF. Recombinant LCF (rLCF) expressed in COS cells was purified on a CD4 affinity column. Migration of eosinophils was elicited by rLCF at low concentrations: the 50% effective dose (ED50) was 10(-12) to 10(-11) M, concentrations 100- to 1,000-fold lower than the ED50s for the recognized eosinophil chemoattractants C5a and platelet-activating factor. Two other ligands which bound to CD4, human immunodeficiency virus-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 and monoclonal antibody OKT4, also stimulated eosinophil migration. Monovalent OKT4 Fab competitively inhibited eosinophil responses to rLCF. rLCF did not influence other functional responses of eosinophils tested, including degranulation, superoxide generation, leukotriene C4 production, in vitro survival, or surface expression of the adherence receptor CR3 (CD11b), human histocompatibility leukocyte antigen DR, or interleukin 2 receptor p55 (CD25). We conclude that CD4 on eosinophils is capable of transducing a migratory stimulus and serves as a receptor for a chemoattractant lymphokine LCF. T cell-derived LCF may contribute to recruitment of eosinophils and CD4+ mononuclear cells concomitantly at inflammatory reactions.
An increased incidence of Propionibacterium acnes biofilms in acne vulgaris: a case-control study
Authors: A.C. Jahns, B. Lundskog, R. Ganceviciene, R.H. Palmer, I. Golovleva, C.C. Zouboulis, A. McDowell, S. Patrick, O.A. Alexeyev
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2012)

Summary Background Acne vulgaris is a disorder of the sebaceous follicles. Propionibacterium acnes can be involved in inflammatory acne. Objectives This case–control study aimed at investigating the occurrence and localization of P. acnes in facial biopsies in acne and to characterize the P. acnes phylotype in skin compartments. Methods Specific monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were applied to skin biopsies of 38 patients with acne and matching controls to localize and characterize P. acnes and to determine expression of co‐haemolysin CAMP factor, a putative virulence determinant. Results Follicular P. acnes was demonstrated in 18 (47%) samples from patients with acne and eight (21%) control samples [odds ratio (OR) 3·37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·23–9·23; P =0·017]. In 14 (37%) samples from patients with acne, P. acnes was visualized in large macrocolonies/biofilms in sebaceous follicles compared with only five (13%) control samples (OR 3·85, 95% CI 1·22–12·14; P =0·021). Macrocolonies/biofilms consisting of mixed P. acnes phylotypes expressing CAMP1 were detected in both case and control samples. Only four samples tested positive for the presence of Staphylococcus spp. and fungi were not observed. Conclusions We have for the first time visualized different P. acnes phylotypes in macrocolonies/biofilms in sebaceous follicles of skin biopsies. Our results support the hypothesis that P. acnes can play a role in the pathogenesis of acne as acne samples showed a higher prevalence of follicular P. acnes colonization, both in terms of follicles containing P. acnes and the greater numbers of bacteria in macrocolonies/biofilms than in control samples.
Hepatic stellate cells in liver development, regeneration, and cancer
Authors: Chunyue Yin, Kimberley J. Evason, Kinji Asahina, Didier Y.R. Stainier
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2013)

Hepatic stellate cells are liver-specific mesenchymal cells that play vital roles in liver physiology and fibrogenesis. They are located in the space of Disse and maintain close interactions with sinusoidal endothelial cells and hepatic epithelial cells. It is becoming increasingly clear that hepatic stellate cells have a profound impact on the differentiation, proliferation, and morphogenesis of other hepatic cell types during liver development and regeneration. In this Review, we summarize and evaluate the recent advances in our understanding of the formation and characteristics of hepatic stellate cells, as well as their function in liver development, regeneration, and cancer. We also discuss how improved knowledge of these processes offers new perspectives for the treatment of patients with liver diseases.
RELATION OF THE PORTAL BLOOD TO LIVER MAINTENANCE
Authors: Peyton Rous, Louise D. Larimore
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1920)

The occlusion of portal branches to a part of the liver of the rabbit leads to a progressive and ultimately complete atrophy of the parenchyma in the region deprived of portal blood, and to hypertrophy of the rest of the hepatic tissue which receives such blood in excess. Three-fourths of the liver may thus be reduced to a fibrous tag within 2 months, while the remaining fourth attains the bulk of the entire original organ. The atrophy is simple, unaccompanied by obvious degenerative changes or by any connective tissue replacement. More important, it is conditional in nature, failing to progress when the bile duct from the proliferating tissue is ligated and its hypertrophy checked in this way. There are indications in the literature that an atrophy conditional on hypertrophy, such as is here described, occurs in man after local portal occlusion. And some experiments in our laboratory, not yet completed, show definitely its occurrence in the dog. The changes take place slowly in the canine liver. After 3 months the tissue deprived of portal blood has diminished to about one-third of its original bulk. The conditional character of the atrophy is proven by its failure to occur to any similar degree in the absence of a compensating parenchyma, as when the portal stream is diverted from the whole liver by way of an Eck fistula. Is the atrophy functional? If so, its completeness would indicate that the liver has no essential activity-none on which its maintenance depends-that it is not intimately connected with substances derived from organs drained by the portal system. Observations on the rate of hypertrophy after local diversion of the portal stream and on the character of the bile secreted by the atrophic tissue may be taken to favor such a view. The hypertrophy is nearly, perhaps quite, as rapid as if the tissue deprived of portal blood had been removed from the body. The bile secreted from a liver mass far advanced in atrophy and competing with a large bulk of parenchyma that receives the entire portal stream is almost colorless and may give but a weak Pettenkofer reaction. Glycogen, on the other hand, is present in the atrophic cells in approximately the same amount and distribution as in the hypertrophic liver tissue of the same animal. The fact that a parenchymal shift follows local disturbances in the portal stream has a bearing on the cause of certain alterations in the shape of the normal liver that have been loosely attributed heretofore to pressure from the surrounding organs. It also has some interest in connection with pathological changes. Liver hypertrophy dependent on a preceding destruction has long been known to pathologists. Now a type of destruction dependent on compensatory hypertrophy must also be reckoned with. The occurrence of changes of the latter character will explain certain of the lesions observed in diseases that involve a disturbance of the portal flow to portions of the liver substance.
Identification of the sequence required for expression of the 2H4 epitope on the human leukocyte common antigens.
Authors: M Streuli, T Matsuyama, C Morimoto, S F Schlossman, H Saito
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1987)

The anti-2H4 antibody, which subdivides the T4+ population of human T lymphocytes into T4+, 2H4+ suppressor-inducer cells and T4+, 2H4- helper cells, recognizes an epitope on a subset of the human leukocyte common antigens (LCAs). LCAs are a family of cell surface glycoproteins generated from a single gene by the differential usage of three exons near the NH2-terminus. Using cDNA clones corresponding to four of the different forms of LCA molecules, extracellular domains of the LCA molecules were synthesized in vitro. Immunoprecipitation of these molecules with the anti-2H4 antibody demonstrated that exon A is required for the expression of the 2H4 epitope.
Decreased prostacyclin biosynthesis preceding the clinical manifestation of pregnancy-induced hypertension.
Authors: D J Fitzgerald, S S Entman, K Mulloy, G A FitzGerald
Journal: Circulation (1987)

Patients who develop pregnancy-induced hypertension exhibit a lesser increment in prostacyclin biosynthesis than healthy pregnant subjects. Whether this precedes the development of clinical disease and therefore may be important in the pathogenesis of pregnancy-induced hypertension or is a secondary event is unknown. We prospectively determined prostacyclin biosynthesis in pregnant subjects at risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension by use of noninvasive approach, measurement of the urinary metabolite 2,3-dinor-6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha. Patients were recruited at less than 20 weeks gestation. After delivery, patients were retrospectively allocated by use of preset criteria, to one of four groups: pregnancy-induced hypertension (n = 12), hypertension in labor (n = 22), chronic hypertension (n = 9), and normotension (n = 24). There was a significant increase in prostacyclin biosynthesis in all study groups during gestation. However, patients who developed pregnancy-induced hypertension exhibited a lesser increment and this difference persisted throughout gestation. These results are consistent with a pathophysiologic role for altered prostacyclin biosynthesis in women with pregnancy-induced hypertension. In addition, decreased prostacyclin formation identifies a population at risk of developing pregnancy-induced hypertension. Such information would assist the design of clinical trials of drugs, such as aspirin, that might prevent the development of this disease.
Thyroid Hormone Regulation of miR-21 Enhances Migration and Invasion of Hepatoma
Authors: Ya-Hui Huang, Yang-Hsiang Lin, Hsiang-Cheng Chi, Chen-Hsin Liao, Chia-Jung Liao, Sheng-Ming Wu, Cheng-Yi Chen, Yi-Hsin Tseng, Chung-Ying Tsai, Sheng-Yen Lin, Yu-Ting Hung, Chih-Jen Wang, Crystal D. Lin, Kwang-Huei Lin
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Thyroid hormone (T(3)) signaling through the thyroid hormone receptor (TRα1) regulates hepatoma cell growth and pathophysiology, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear at present. Here, we have shown that the oncomir microRNA-21 (miR-21) is activated by T(3) through a native T(3) response element in the primary miR-21 promoter. Overexpression of miR-21 promoted hepatoma cell migration and invasion, similar to that observed with T(3) stimulation in hepatoma cells. In addition, anti-miR-21-induced suppression of cell migration was rescued by T(3). The Rac-controlled regulator of invasion and metastasis, T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1 (TIAM1), was identified as a miR-21 target additionally downregulated by T(3). Attenuation and overexpression of miR-21 induced upregulation and downregulation of TIAM1, respectively. TIAM1 attenuation, in turn, enhanced migration and invasion via the upregulation of β-catenin, vimentin, and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in hepatoma cells. Notably, correlations between TRα1, miR-21, and TIAM1 expression patterns in animal models paralleled those observed in vitro. In the clinic, we observed a positive correlation (P = 0.005) between the tumor/nontumor ratios of TRα1 and miR-21 expression, whereas a negative correlation (P = 0.019) was seen between miR-21 and TIAM1 expression in patients with hepatoma. Our findings collectively indicate that miR-21 stimulation by T(3) and subsequent TIAM1 suppression promotes hepatoma cell migration and invasion.
Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Options for Systemic Therapy of Metastatic Disease?
Authors: Renato G. Martins, Joseph G. Rajendran, Peter Capell, David R. Byrd, David A. Mankoff
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

Renato G. Martins, Division of Medical Oncology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA Joseph G. Rajendran, Division of Nuclear Medicine, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA Peter Capell, Division of Endocrinology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA David R. Byrd, Department of Surgery, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA David A. Mankoff, Divisions of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrinology, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Massage provision by physiotherapists at major athletics events between 1987 and 1998 * Commentary
Authors: S D R Galloway, J M Watt
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2004)

The equivocal findings in the literature on efficacy of massage makes it difficult to assess the requirement for, or justify the use of, specialist massage personnel at major athletics events. However, the use of massage by athletes during training and competition remains popular.To quantify the amount of their time that physiotherapists devote to massage treatment at major athletics events in an attempt to determine the importance of this treatment modality, and to examine whether the use of massage at athletics events is changing over time.Data recorded by the head team physiotherapist from 12 major athletics events (national and international events) between 1987 and 1998 were examined. For each event, the data included: total number of treatments administered by the physiotherapist, the treatment modalities used, and the number of attendances for treatment. The amount of massage provided was expressed as a percentage of the total number of treatments for each athletic event, and the pattern of change in use of massage treatment over time was evaluated.The percentage of time spent providing massage treatment ranged from 24.0% to 52.2% of the total number of treatments made. The overall median percentage of total treatments in the form of massage was 45.2%. No significant increase or decrease in the use of massage as a treatment modality was observed between 1987 and 1998 in the athletics events examined (p = 0.95).A significant proportion of physiotherapists' time is devoted to the delivery of massage treatment at athletics events. The demand for massage treatment has been steady over the time period, in the events for which data are available, indicating a consistent use of this treatment modality. Given the popularity of massage among athletes, consideration should be given to the use of specialist sports massage staff at major athletics events. Furthermore, it would seem prudent to further investigate the efficacy of the treatment.