tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The challenging task of screening and monitoring tuberculosis infection in candidates for biological therapies
Authors: G. Delogu
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2014)

Journal Article The challenging task of screening and monitoring tuberculosis infection in candidates for biological therapies Get access G. Delogu G. Delogu Istituto di Microbiologia Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore Rome Italy Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 171, Issue 4, 1 October 2014, Pages 694–695, https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.13322 Published: 01 October 2014
Nephritogenic mAb 5-1-6 is directed at the extracellular domain of rat nephrin
Authors: Peter S. Topham, Hiroshi Kawachi, Samir A. Haydar, Sumant Chugh, Theresa A. Addona, Kathryn B. Charron, Lawrence B. Holzman, Michael Shia, Fujio Shimizu, David J. Salant
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1999)

mAb 5-1-6 identifies an antigen on rat podocyte slit-diaphragms and induces severe proteinuria when injected into rats. Nephrin, an Ig-like transmembrane protein that is mutated in congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type, has been localized to the slit-diaphragm on human podocytes. Here we document that the mAb 5-1-6 antigen is rat nephrin. After incubation of rat glomeruli with this mAb, the antibody/antigen complex was chemically cross-linked, extracted, and immunoprecipitated, prior to Western analysis. By mass spectrometry and 2D gel electrophoresis, we identified several peptides with complete identity to human nephrin. In addition, the 185-kDa protein immunoprecipitated by mAb 5-1-6 from rat glomerular extracts reacts with a rabbit anti-mouse nephrin antibody. Finally, nephrin and the mAb 5-1-6 antigen have identical glomerular localization patterns on immunofluorescence of rat kidney. These results demonstrate that the nephritogenic mAb 5-1-6 identifies the extracellular domain of nephrin, thereby documenting the importance of the slit-diaphragm and its component, nephrin, in the regulation of glomerular permselectivity.
The Immigration Bill: Extending charging regimes and scapegoating the vulnerable will pose risks to public health
Authors: Sarah Steele, David Stuckler, Martin McKee, Allyson M Pollock
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2014)

Politicians, claim these measures are necessary to cut costs of ‘health tourism’ and ‘abuse’ by illegal immigrants, and to further the Government’s push to reduce net migration overall. Such claims are despite evidence that the UK is a net beneficiary of health tourism 3 and that, while immigrants account
Major Depressive Disorder in Long-Term Cancer Survivors: Analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey Replication
Authors: William F. Pirl, Joseph Greer, Jennifer S. Temel, Beow Y. Yeap, Stephen E. Gilman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2009)

Prior research is mixed as to whether long-term cancer survivors (LCSs) have higher rates of depression than the general population. This is the first study to compare the rates of major depressive disorder (MDD) between LCSs and people without cancer histories in a nationally representative cross-sectional multistage cluster survey sample, the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (NCS-R).Between 2001 and 2003, face-to-face interviews were conducted for the NCS-R in a national sample of 9,282 people, of whom 5,692 were assessed for a history of cancer. Participants with cancer diagnoses at least 5 years before the interview were considered LCSs. Survivors of childhood cancers were excluded. Comparing LCSs to those without a cancer history, odds ratios for having a MDD episode in the last 12 months before interview were obtained using multiple logistic regression controlling for demographic and medical variables. Differences in characteristics of those MDD episodes were also compared between groups.Of participants age 23 years or older, 243 LCSs and 4,890 adults without a cancer history were identified in the sample. Adjusting for demographic variables and medical comorbidities, LCSs did not have increased odds of MDD in the last 12 months, with an odds ratio of (OR) 0.99 (95% CI, 0.55 to 1.79). LCSs reported higher mean levels of impairment from MDD in their home, social, and work life, but these differences were not significant.LCSs do not appear to have elevated rates of MDD. However, they may experience greater impairment from MDD compared to those without cancer. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Cisplatin and etoposide combination chemotherapy for locally advanced or metastatic thymoma. A phase II study of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Lung Cancer Cooperative Group.
Authors: G Giaccone, A Ardizzoni, A Kirkpatrick, M Clerico, T Sahmoud, N van Zandwijk
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1996)

BACKGROUND Thymomas are rare neoplasms of the mediastinum. The role of chemotherapy in advanced thymomas is not fully established. PATIENTS AND METHODS In the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Lung Cancer Cooperative Group, 16 patients with recurrent or metastatic malignant thymoma were entered over 6 years onto a study of combination chemotherapy that consisted of cisplatin 60 mg/m2 on day 1 and etoposide 120 mg/m2 on days 1, 2, and 3, every 3 weeks. RESULTS A median of six courses per patient was administered. Main side effects of treatment were leukopenia, nausea and vomiting, and alopecia. Five complete responses and four partial responses were obtained, with a median response duration of 3.4 years. The median progression-free survival and survival times were 2.2 years and 4.3 years, respectively, with a median follow-up duration of 7 years. CONCLUSION The combination of cisplatin and etoposide is highly effective and well tolerated in advanced thymoma. The investigation of this combination in a neoadjuvant setting in unresectable invasive thymoma is warranted.
Significance of Dysregulated Metadherin and MicroRNA-375 in Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Angela B.Y. Hui, Jeff P. Bruce, Nehad M. Alajez, Wei Shi, Shijun Yue, Bayardo Perez-Ordonez, Wei Xu, Brian O'Sullivan, John Waldron, Bernard Cummings, Patrick Gullane, Lillian Siu, Fei-Fei Liu
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2011)

Despite recent improvements in local control of head and neck cancers (HNC), distant metastasis remains a major cause of death. Hence, further understanding of HNC biology, and in particular, the genes/pathways driving metastasis is essential to improve outcome.Quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the expression of miR-375 and metadherin (MTDH) in HNC patient samples. Targets of miR-375 were confirmed using qRT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and luciferase assays. Phenotypic effects of miR-375 reexpression and MTDH knockdown were assessed using viability (MTS), clonogenic survival, cell migration/invasion, as well as in vivo tumor formation assays. The prognostic significance of miR-375 or MTDH in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) was determined by comparing low versus high expression groups.MiR-375 expression was significantly reduced (P = 0.01), and conversely, MTDH was significantly increased (P = 0.0001) in NPC samples. qRT-PCR, Western blots, and luciferase assays corroborated MTDH as a target of miR-375. Reexpression of miR-375 and siRNA knockdown of MTDH both decreased cell viability and clonogenic survival, cell migration/invasion, as well as in vivo tumor formation. NPC patients whose tumors expressed high levels of MTDH experienced significantly lower survival and, in particular, higher distant relapse rates (5-year distant relapse rates: 26% vs. 5%; P = 0.005).Dysregulation of miR-375 and MTDH may represent an important oncogenic pathway driving human HNC progression, particularly distant metastases, which is now emerging as a major cause of death for HNC patients. Hence, targeting this pathway could potentially be a novel therapeutic strategy by which HNC patient outcome could be improved.
Benchmark analysis of quality of life in patients with bronchial asthma complicated by different degree of remodeling of right ventricle of the heart
Authors: Diloram Rakhimova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Aim: To study the parameters of quality of life (QL) beside in patients with bronchial asthma (BA) complicated by different degree of cor pulmonale.

Methods. We studied parameters of QL in 36 patients on specialized Seattle tests, which allows value physical level, emotional condition, professional fitness and complacency by treatment. We used Doppler echocardiography for defining pulmonary hypertension - I group - 19 patients and remodeling of right ventricle (RV) - 2 group - 17 patients.

Results. The analysis of results has shown that parameters of QL is reduced and denominated changes to specified subgroup ambiguous. So patients with BA complicated by remodeling of RV are worse adapted to all sphere of activity and it is installed more denominated emotional distress.

We discovered reduction of parameters of physical level and professional fitness that was in 2,7 below and 2,2 times greatly possible bull (5,2 and 7 bulls), but emotional condition and complacency by treatment were reduction on 2,32±0,06 and 2,32±0,06 bulls, under greatly possible estimation in 5,2; 7; 7 and 5,3 bulls (p<0,05).

These patients felt the fear to physical activity and dissatisfaction by treatment to execute the usual professional duties. Patients with remodeling of RV realistically more often felt the fear to physical activity, than patients with pulmonary hypertension (p<0,03).

Conclusion. In patients with BA complicated by remodeling of right ventricle of the heart we noted more expressing reduction of QL on physical condition and complacency by treatment, so it is necessary to take this into consideration in rehabilitations action.
Multicenter Implementation of a Severe Sepsis and Septic Shock Treatment Bundle
Authors: Russell R. Miller, Li Dong, Nancy C. Nelson, Samuel M. Brown, Kathryn G. Kuttler, Daniel R. Probst, Todd L. Allen, Terry P. Clemmer
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2013)

Rationale: Severe sepsis and septic shock are leading causes of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, morbidity, and mortality. The effect of compliance with sepsis management guidelines on outcomes is unclear.Objectives: To assess the effect on mortality of compliance with a severe sepsis and septic shock management bundle.Methods: Observational study of a severe sepsis and septic shock bundle as part of a quality improvement project in 18 ICUs in 11 hospitals in Utah and Idaho.Measurements and Main Results: Among 4,329 adult subjects with severe sepsis or septic shock admitted to study ICUs from the emergency department between January 2004 and December 2010, hospital mortality was 12.1%, declining from 21.2% in 2004 to 8.7% in 2010. All-or-none total bundle compliance increased from 4.9–73.4% simultaneously. Mortality declined from 21.7% in 2004 to 9.7% in 2010 among subjects noncompliant with one or more bundle element. Regression models adjusting for age, severity of illness, and comorbidities identified an association between mortality and compliance with each of inotropes and red cell transfusions, glucocorticoids, and lung-protective ventilation. Compliance with early resuscitation elements during the first 3 hours after emergency department admission caused ineligibility, through lower subsequent severity of illness, for these later bundle elements.Conclusions: Total severe sepsis and septic shock bundle compliances increased substantially and were associated with a marked reduction in hospital mortality after adjustment for age, severity of illness, and comorbidities in a multicenter ICU cohort. Early resuscitation bundle element compliance predicted ineligibility for subsequent bundle elements.
Stimulation of Aldosterone Secretion by Hemorrhage in Dogs after Nephrectomy and Decapitation
Authors: ROBERT E. McCAA, CONNIE S. McCAA, ALLEN W. COWLEY, COBERN E. OTT, ARTHUR C. GUYTON
Journal: Circulation Research (1973)

In eight intact, anesthetized dogs the aldosterone secretory rate averaged 13.8 ± 1.9 ng/min (mean ± SE ). One hour after nephrectomy and decapitation, the aldosterone secretory rate decreased to 2.3 ± 1.7 ng/min and failed to increase in response to hemorrhage. By 8 hours after surgery, the aldosterone secretory rate had returned to control levels. The serum potassium concentration gradually increased from 3.2 ± 0.5 mEq/liter in the control samples to 5.3 ± 0.5 mEq/liter in the 8-hour samples. Eight hours after nephrectomy and decapitation, the arterial blood pressure was lowered to 70 mm Hg by hemorrhage in six dogs. During the next 3 hours, the aldosterone secretory rate increased from 11.2 ± 2.1 ng/min to 27.3 ± 2.1 ng/min. Associated with the increase in the aldosterone secretory rate following hemorrhage was a further increase in the serum potassium concentration from 5.3 ± 0.5 mEq/liter to 6.8 ± 0.5 mEq/liter. The aldosterone secretory rate did not increase following hemorrhage when the rise in serum potassium concentration was prevented by hemodialysis. These data indicate that normal levels of aldosterone secretion can be maintained in the absence of the renin-angiotensin system and the pituitary secretion of adrenocorticotropic hormone. Also, hemorrhage will greatly enhance aldosterone secretion in the absence of the head and the kidneys but only if the serum potassium concentration is allowed to rise following the hemorrhage.
Microtiter Assay Useful for Screening of Cell-Differentiation Agents1
Authors: J. J. Catino, L. A. Miceli
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1988)

Promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells induced to differentiate along the granulocytic and monocytic pathways respond to stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate by producing superoxide radicals. The amount of superoxide radical generation can be monitored by spectrophotometric measurement of cytochrome c reduction. We have developed a microtiter assay that assesses differentiation of HL-60 cells on the basis of cytochrome c reduction. HL-60 cells were incubated with known standards or unknown samples, including crude fermentation broths, for 6 days; then cytochrome c reduction was quantified as a function of increasing absorbance at 550 nm on a microtiter plate reader. HL-60 cells induced to differentiate showed up to a 10-fold increase in absorbance over that of control cells. Differentiation was confirmed by morphological assessment and by flow cytometric analysis of the DNA cell-cycle distribution and the cell-surface transferrin receptor. Analysis of 198 crude fermentation broth samples confirmed the feasibility of using this assay for large-scale drug screening.
Feasibility of power-type strength training for middle aged men and women: self perception, musculoskeletal symptoms, and injury rates
Authors: J Surakka, S Aunola, T Nordblad, S-L Karppi, E Alanen
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2003)

Objectives: To examine the feasibility of a power-type strength training programme for middle aged men and women, the impact of the training programme on perceived health and fitness and on knee and low back symptoms, and the rate of exercise induced injuries. Methods: A total of 154 voluntary, healthy, sedentary men and women participated in a training programme lasting about four months. The explosive force of leg extensor muscles was measured by means of standing long jumps and vertical squat jumps. Perceived health, perceived fitness, and low back and knee symptoms were assessed before and after the intervention by using a questionnaire. Musculoskeletal disorders and exercise induced injuries were reported during the training programme. Results: Perceived fitness improved in both men (p&lt;0.01) and women (p&lt;0.0001), but perceived health only in women (p&lt;0.01). Men with increased explosive force in squat jumping also showed better perceived health (p&lt;0.05), and women with increased explosive force in standing long jump showed better perceived fitness (p&lt;0.05). Exercising men who had increased knee symptoms had significantly higher body mass index than the other exercising men (p&lt;0.05). The exercise induced injury rate was 19% in men and 6% in women. Conclusions: Successful completion of the exercise programme, together with the increased physical activity and relatively low injury rate, may have contributed to the participants finding the exercise programme positive and stimulating and believing that their health and fitness had improved. The low rate of musculoskeletal injury suggests that this type of supervised exercise programme is feasible for untrained middle aged people.
Emergency hospital admissions for respiratory disorders attributable to summer time ozone episodes in Great Britain
Authors: J. R. Stedman, H. R. Anderson, R. W. Atkinson, R. L. Maynard
Journal: Thorax (1997)

BACKGROUND: There is accumulating evidence from various countries, including the UK, that ground level ozone concentrations are associated with increased daily hospital admissions for respiratory diseases. This paper estimates the impact of ozone episodes on daily hospital admissions for respiratory disease in Great Britain by combining locally based exposure-response relationships with mapped estimates of ozone exposure for the population in the summers of 1993 and 1995. METHODS: For the given years the available ozone measurements were used to construct maps of ozone concentrations for each day. The population exposed to a given concentration of ozone on a particular day was calculated from census data using a geographical information system. The additional hospital admissions for respiratory disease were then estimated using a regression coefficient for London. RESULTS: It is estimated that 0.10% (a total of 184) and 0.35% (a total of 643) of hospital admissions for respiratory disorders during the summers of 1993 and 1995, respectively, can be attributed to levels of ozone above 50 ppb (the recommended air quality standard for the UK). A sensitivity analysis for 1995 found that, if no threshold is assumed, the estimate is increased by about twenty fold (6% of admissions attributable). CONCLUSIONS: The additional hospital admissions for respiratory disease attributable to ozone are very small in both absolute and relative terms if a threshold of 50 ppb is assumed, but this estimate is very sensitive to threshold assumptions.
Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Imaging with Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Christopher Kai-shun Leung, Carol Yim-lui Cheung, Robert N. Weinreb, Quanliang Qiu, Shu Liu, Haitao Li, Guihua Xu, Ning Fan, Lina Huang, Chi-Pui Pang, Dennis Shun Chiu Lam
Journal: Ophthalmology (2009)
Adolescents in Clinical Remission of Atopic Asthma Have Elevated Exhaled Nitric Oxide Levels and Bronchial Hyperresponsiveness
Authors: LEON M. van den TOORN, JAN-BAS PRINS, SHELLEY E. OVERBEEK, HENK C. HOOGSTEDEN, JOHAN C. de JONGSTE
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2000)

Symptoms of atopic asthma often decrease or even seem to disappear around puberty. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this so-called clinical remission is accompanied by remission of airway inflammation, since symptoms relapse in a substantial proportion of subjects later in life. To assess indicators of inflammation and/or structural damage of the airways, exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) and bronchial responsiveness to adenosine-5 ′ -monophosphate (AMP) and methacholine (MCh) were determined in 21 subjects in clinical remission of atopic asthma. Clinical remission was defined as complete absence of symptoms of asthma without the use of any medication in the year preceding the study. Results were compared with those of 21 patients with current asthma and 18 healthy control subjects. We found significantly higher eNO values in the remission group than in healthy controls (geometric mean, 18.9 and 1.0 ppb, respectively; p < 0.001) whereas eNO values of the remission group and those of the subjects with current asthma (geometric mean, 21.9 ppb) were similar (p = 0.09). The responsiveness to both AMP and MCh of subjects in clinical remission was significantly higher as compared with responsiveness of healthy controls, and lower than responsiveness of subjects with current asthma. A significant correlation could be established between eNO and responsiveness to AMP, but not between eNO and responsiveness to MCh. The results of this study are suggestive of persistent airway inflammation during clinical remission of atopic asthma. We speculate that subclinical inflammation is a risk factor for asthma relapse later in life, and that eNO and responsiveness to both AMP and MCh can be used as different, noninvasive indices of the inflammatory process of the airways.
Bronchial biopsy findings in intermittent or "early" asthma☆☆☆
Authors: Lauri A. Laitinen, Annika Laitinen, Alan Altraja, Ismo Virtanen, Mary Kämpe, Bo G. Simonsson, Sven-Erik Karlsson, Lena Håkansson, Per Venge, Heinart Sillastu
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (1996)
Detection of Hypermethylated Genes in Women with and Without Cervical Neoplasia
Authors: Q. Feng, A. Balasubramanian, S. E. Hawes, P. Toure, P. S. Sow, A. Dem, B. Dembele, C. W. Critchlow, L. Xi, H. Lu, M. W. McIntosh, A. M. Young, N. B. Kiviat
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2005)

Background: DNA methylation changes are an early event in carcinogenesis and are often present in the precursor lesions of various cancers. We examined whether DNA methylation changes might be used as markers of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Methods: We used methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze promoter hypermethylation of 20 genes, selected on the basis of their role in cervical cancer, in 319 exfoliated cell samples and matched tissue biopsy specimens collected during two studies of Senegalese women with increasingly severe CIN and ICC (histology negative/atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance [ASCUS] = 142, CIN-1 = 39, CIN-2 = 23, CIN-3/carcinoma in situ [CIS] = 23, ICC = 92). Logic regression was used to determine the best set of candidate genes to use as disease markers. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: Similar promoter methylation patterns were seen in genes from exfoliated cell samples and corresponding biopsy specimens. For four genes (CDH13, DAPK1, RARB, and TWIST1), the frequency of hypermethylation increased statistically significantly with increasing severity of neoplasia present in the cervical biopsy ( P <.001 for each). By using logic regression, we determined that the best panel of hypermethylated genes included DAPK1, RARB, or TWIST1. At least one of the three genes was hypermethylated in 57% of samples with CIN-3/CIS and in 74% of samples with ICC but in only 5% of samples with CIN-1 or less. The estimated specificity of the three-gene panel was 95%, and its sensitivity was 74% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 73% to 75%) for ICC and 52% (95% CI = 49% to 55%) for CIN-3/CIS. By extrapolation, we estimated that, among Senegalese women presenting to community-based clinics, detection of the DAPK1, RARB, or TWIST1 hypermethylated gene would reveal histologically confirmed CIN-3 or worse with a sensitivity of 60% (95% CI = 57% to 63%) and a specificity of 95% (95% CI = 94% to 95%). Conclusions: Aberrant promoter methylation analysis on exfoliated cell samples is a potential diagnostic tool for cervical cancer screening that potentially may be used alone or in conjunction with cytology and/or human papillomavirus testing.