tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Hyperoxia increases maximal work rate and endurance in non-athletic healthy subjects
Authors: Elisabeth Hasler, Séverine Müller-Mottet, Michael Furian, Deborah Flück, Tsogyal D. Latshang, Konrad E. Bloch, Silvia Ulrich
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background : We measured exercise performance, gas-exchange and tissue oxygenation in healthy non-athletes undergoing cycle cardiopulmonary exercise test while breathing different oxygen concentrations.   Methods : 34 healthy (43±14y,14 women) performed 4 bicycle exercise tests to exhaustion on separate days with tests a) and b) using a progressive ramp protocol breathing FiO2 0.21 and 0.50, respectively, tests c) and d) a constant load exercise (75%Wmax) breathing FiO2 0.21, and 0.50, respectively, according to a single blinded randomized cross-over design. ECG, pulmonary gas exchange, pulse oximetry, brain- and muscle tissue oxygenation by NIRS were monitored breath by breath and variables averaged over 30 sec at rest and end-exercise.   Results : During maximal ramp exercise, hyperoxia was associated with a significantly higher work-rate (270±80 Wattvs.257±76,p=.000) , arterial- and brain-tissue-oxygenation (98.8±0.5vs.94.7±3.3,p=.000 and 67.5±9.0vs.61.1±11.1%, p=0.011) along with a lower brain-tissue-desaturation from rest to exercise (2.2±6.9vs.5.6±7.1%,p=.027) and borg-score (4.8±2.2vs.5.7±2.5,p=.010) whereas heart rate, minute ventilation and muscle-tissue oxygenation were unchanged. In submaximal constant load exercise hyperoxia significantly prolonged exercise time (16:48±0:07vs.11:04±0:05,p=.000) with lower minute ventilation, higher arterial- and muscle oxygenation but unchanged heart rate, brain-tissue oxygenation and borg scale.   Conclusion : Hyperoxia increases maximal work rate and submaximal endurance in healthy subjects. This is related to hyperoxia-associated increase in arterial and brain-tissue oxygenation under maximal exercise and muscle tissue-oxygenation under constant exercise.
Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D and exercise capacity in COPD
Authors: M. Ferrari, K. Schenk, C. Papadopoulou, P. Ferrari, L. Dalle Carbonare, F. Bertoldo
Journal: Thorax (2010)

Janssens and colleagues1 have recently reported that vitamin D deficiency is very common in patients affected by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and that vitamin D status correlates with lung function. In the same issue of Thorax, Quint and Wedzicha2 discuss potential effects of vitamin D deficiency and supplementation in COPD with special focus on immunomodulatory function. However, they do not consider a potential impact of the hormone on muscle mass and function, and consequently on exercise capacity in these patients.3

Since exercise …
Hide-and-Seek: The Challenge of Viral Persistence in HIV-1 Infection
Authors: Luc Geeraert, Günter Kraus, Roger J. Pomerantz
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (2007)

The success of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) for HIV-1 infection has sparked interest in mechanisms by which the virus can persist despite effectively suppressive therapy. Latent HIV-1 reservoirs established early during infection not only prevent sterilizing immunity but also represent a major obstacle to virus eradication. When HIV-1 gains a foothold in the immunologic memory or in certain inaccessible compartments of the human body, it cannot be easily purged by HAART and is able to replenish systemic infection on treatment interruption. Because latently infected cells are indistinguishable from uninfected cells, deliberate activation of latent infection combined with intensified HAART seems to be the best strategy to combat latent infection. Initial hypothesis-driven clinical trials did not achieve their ultimate goal, although they provided valuable insight for the design of future eradication protocols. A more detailed understanding of the basic mechanisms underlying the establishment and long-term maintenance of HIV-1 reservoirs will be critical in developing new eradication approaches.
Prognostic and mechanistic potential of progesterone sulfates in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy and pruritus gravidarum
Authors: Shadi Abu‐Hayyeh, Caroline Ovadia, TinaMarie Lieu, Dane D. Jensen, Jenny Chambers, Peter H. Dixon, Anita Lövgren‐Sandblom, Ruth Bolier, Dagmar Tolenaars, Andreas E. Kremer, Argyro Syngelaki, Muna Noori, David Williams, Jose J.G. Marin, Maria J. Monte, Kypros H. Nicolaides, Ulrich Beuers, Ronald Oude‐Elferink, Paul T. Seed, Lucy Chappell, Hanns‐Ulrich Marschall, Nigel W. Bunnett, Catherine Williamson
Journal: Hepatology (2015)

A challenge in obstetrics is to distinguish pathological symptoms from those associated with normal changes of pregnancy, typified by the need to differentiate whether gestational pruritus of the skin is an early symptom of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) or due to benign pruritus gravidarum. ICP is characterized by raised serum bile acids and complicated by spontaneous preterm labor and stillbirth. A biomarker for ICP would be invaluable for early diagnosis and treatment and to enable its differentiation from other maternal diseases. Three progesterone sulfate compounds, whose concentrations have not previously been studied, were newly synthesized and assayed in the serum of three groups of ICP patients and found to be significantly higher in ICP at 9-15 weeks of gestation and prior to symptom onset (group 1 cases/samples: ICP n = 35/80, uncomplicated pregnancy = 29/100), demonstrating that all three progesterone sulfates are prognostic for ICP. Concentrations of progesterone sulfates were associated with itch severity and, in combination with autotaxin, distinguished pregnant women with itch that would subsequently develop ICP from pruritus gravidarum (group 2: ICP n = 41, pruritus gravidarum n = 14). In a third group of first-trimester samples all progesterone sulfates were significantly elevated in serum from low-risk asymptomatic women who subsequently developed ICP (ICP/uncomplicated pregnancy n = 54/51). Finally, we show mechanistically that progesterone sulfates mediate itch by evoking a Tgr5-dependent scratch response in mice.Our discovery that sulfated progesterone metabolites are a prognostic indicator for ICP will help predict onset of ICP and distinguish it from benign pruritus gravidarum, enabling targeted obstetric care to a high-risk population. Delineation of a progesterone sulfate-TGR5 pruritus axis identifies a therapeutic target for itch management in ICP.
Deciphering the Imperative: Translating Public Health Quality Improvement into Organizational Performance Management Gains
Authors: Leslie M. Beitsch, Valerie A. Yeager, John Moran
Journal: Annual Review of Public Health (2014)

With the launching of the national public health accreditation program under the auspices of the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), health department momentum around quality improvement adoption has accelerated. Domain 9 of the PHAB standards (one of 12 domains) focuses on evaluation and improvement of performance and is acting as a strong driver for quality improvement and performance management implementation within health departments. Widespread adoption of quality improvement activities in public health trails that in other US sectors. Several performance management models have received broad acceptance, including models among government and nonprofits. A model specifically for public health has been developed and is presented herein. All models in current use reinforce customer focus; streamlined, value-added processes; and strategic alignment. All are structured to steer quality improvement efforts toward organizational priorities, ensuring that quality improvement complements performance management. High-performing health departments harness the synergy of quality improvement and performance management, providing powerful tools to achieve public health strategic imperatives.
The philosophy of science
Authors: A. Eisinger
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2003)

Dr Harper's paper (January 2003 JRSM1) refers to the philosophy of science. It is disappointing to see no mention of a giant of 20th century philosophy, Sir Karl Popper. The philosophy of science was an area in which he made groundbreaking observations. Harper dwells on Kuhn who, worthy though he may be, compares with Popper as a foothill does to Mount Everest. Although he was best known as a philosopher of science, Popper's ideas give insights which advance way beyond the confines of science and this also puts him on a different plane. The philosophy of science without Popper is like Hamlet without the Prince.
Chronic overexpression of PNPLA3I148M in mouse liver causes hepatic steatosis
Authors: John Zhong Li, Yongcheng Huang, Ruchan Karaman, Pavlina T. Ivanova, H. Alex Brown, Thomas Roddy, Jose Castro-Perez, Jonathan C. Cohen, Helen H. Hobbs
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2012)

A genetic variant in PNPLA3 (PNPLA3I148M), a triacylglycerol (TAG) hydrolase, is a major risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD); however, the mechanism underlying this association is not known. To develop an animal model of PNPLA3-induced fatty liver disease, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress similar amounts of wild-type PNPLA3 (PNPLA3WT) or mutant PNPLA3 (PNPLA3I148M) either in liver or adipose tissue. Overexpression of the transgenes in adipose tissue did not affect liver fat content. Expression of PNPLA3I148M, but not PNPLA3WT, in liver recapitulated the fatty liver phenotype as well as other metabolic features associated with this allele in humans. Metabolic studies provided evidence for 3 distinct alterations in hepatic TAG metabolism in PNPLA3I148M transgenic mice: increased formation of fatty acids and TAG, impaired hydrolysis of TAG, and relative depletion of TAG long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. These findings suggest that PNPLA3 plays a role in remodeling TAG in lipid droplets, as they accumulate in response to food intake, and that the increase in hepatic TAG levels associated with the I148M substitution results from multiple changes in hepatic TAG metabolism. The development of an animal model that recapitulates the metabolic phenotype of the allele in humans provides a new platform in which to elucidate the role of PNLPA3I148M in NAFLD.
Paternal Age and Risk of Schizophrenia in Adult Offspring
Authors: Alan S Brown, Catherine A Schaefer, Richard J Wyatt, Melissa D Begg, Raymond Goetz, Michaeline A Bresnahan, Jill Harkavy-Friedman, Jack M Gorman, Dolores Malaspina, Ezra S Susser
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2002)

The study examined the relation between paternal age at the time of birth and risk of schizophrenia in the adult offspring.Data from the birth cohort of the Prenatal Determinants of Schizophrenia study were used in this study. Virtually all members of this birth cohort had prospective information about paternal age at the time of the offspring's birth. Subjects with schizophrenia and other schizophrenia spectrum disorders (N=71) among members of this birth cohort were previously ascertained. In separate analyses, paternal age was modeled as a continuous variable and as a categorical variable, and its relation with the risk of adult schizophrenia and other schizophrenia spectrum disorders and with the risk of schizophrenia separately were examined.There was a marginally significant, monotonic association between advancing paternal age and risk of adult schizophrenia and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The association held after the analysis controlled for the effects of maternal age and other potential confounders. Similar results were observed when only subjects with schizophrenia were included in the analysis.Advanced paternal age at the time of birth of the offspring may be a risk factor for adult schizophrenia.
Family Support, Medication Adherence, and Glycemic Control Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Lindsay S. Mayberry, Chandra Y. Osborn
Journal: Diabetes Care (2012)

OBJECTIVE We used a mixed-methods approach to explore the relationships between participants’ perceptions of family members’ diabetes self-care knowledge, family members’ diabetes-specific supportive and nonsupportive behaviors, and participants’ medication adherence and glycemic control (A1C). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Adults with type 2 diabetes participated in focus group sessions that discussed barriers and facilitators to diabetes management (n = 45) and/or completed surveys (n = 61) to collect demographic information, measures of diabetes medication adherence, perceptions of family members’ diabetes self-care knowledge, and perceptions of family members’ diabetes-specific supportive and nonsupportive behaviors. Most recent A1C was extracted from the medical record. RESULTS Perceiving family members were more knowledgeable about diabetes was associated with perceiving family members performed more diabetes-specific supportive behaviors, but was not associated with perceiving family members performed fewer nonsupportive behaviors. Perceiving family members performed more nonsupportive behaviors was associated with being less adherent to one’s diabetes medication regimen, and being less adherent was associated with worse glycemic control. In focus groups, participants discussed family member support and gave examples of family members who were informed about diabetes but performed sabotaging or nonsupportive behaviors. CONCLUSIONS Participant reports of family members’ nonsupportive behaviors were associated with being less adherent to one’s diabetes medication regimen. Participants emphasized the importance of instrumental help for diabetes self-care behaviors and reported that nonsupportive family behaviors sabotaged their efforts to perform these behaviors. Interventions should inform family members about diabetes and enhance their motivation and behavioral skills around not interfering with one's diabetes self-care efforts.
Sex Disparities in the Treatment and Control of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Ioanna Gouni-Berthold, Heiner K. Berthold, Christos S. Mantzoros, Michael Böhm, Wilhelm Krone
Journal: Diabetes Care (2008)

To assess whether sex differences exist in the effective control and medication treatment intensity of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors.We performed a cross-sectional analysis including 44,893 patients with type 2 diabetes (51% women). End points included uncontrolled CVD risk factors (LDL cholesterol > or =130 mg/dl, systolic blood pressure [SBP] > or =140 mmHg, and A1C > or =8%) and the intensity of medical management in patients with uncontrolled CVD risk factors. Multiple-adjusted odds ratios were calculated after stratification for the presence of CVD (present in 39% of the patients).Women with CVD were less likely to have SBP, LDL cholesterol, and A1C controlled and less likely to receive intensive lipid-lowering treatment. Women without CVD were less likely than men to have LDL cholesterol controlled with no differences in SBP or A1C control.Women with diabetes and CVD have poorer control of important modifiable risk factors than men and receive less intensified lipid-lowering treatment.
Functional properties of the surface of the vermilion border of the lips are distinct from those of the facial skin
Authors: H. Kobayashi, H. Tagami
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2004)

The vermilion border of the lips (lip for short) is the only part on the face where the oral mucosa is persistently exposed to the outside. Despite its prominent presence on the face, constituting not only the target of cosmetics but also the site for various skin diseases, its functional properties remain almost unknown.To elucidate the functional properties of the vermilion border of the lips.We studied the biophysical properties of the lip by comparing them with those of the cheek skin in 303 healthy Japanese females aged 21-80 years, in winter. We used a closed-chamber system to measure transepithelial water loss (TEWL) of the lip to avoid the effect of breathing. Moreover, we examined the effects of oral etretinate, a drug that definitely produces dry, scaly lips, on the lips of seven male patients aged 49-89 (average 67) years.TEWL was significantly almost three times as high on the lips as that on the cheek which is a site that shows far higher levels than do other body areas. TEWL decreased with age more remarkably on the lip than on the cheek. High-frequency conductance, a parameter for surface hydration state, was significantly lower on the lip than on the cheek. The mean values obtained were about one-third of those on the cheek, and no age-related changes were observed either on the lip or on the cheek. The superficial epithelial cells on the lip were parakeratotic and larger than those of the cheek skin. Furthermore, we detected a significant increase in TEWL on the lip as well as on the cheek of patients treated with oral etretinate.It appears that the incomplete corneocyte formation of the lip surface is responsible for the poor barrier function and water-holding capacity.
INCLUSION BODIES IN MEASLES ENCEPHALITIS
Authors: C. Allan Phillips
Journal: JAMA (1966)

In 1964, there were 458,083 cases of measles reported by the individual states and territories of the United States through the National Morbidity Reporting System and 300 cases of measles encephalitis.<sup>1</sup>in 1963, a total of 364 deaths were attributed to measles. History has recorded numerous devastating epidemics of measles attacking entire populations of susceptible individuals. In modern civilizations, measles has become accepted as an almost inevitable part of growing up, to the point where a safe and effective vaccine capable of preventing the disease has been accepted slowly for widespread use by the public. This has occurred in spite of the fact that few parents who have suffered through even an uncomplicated case of measles in their own children would deny that it is a severe disease. The most serious complication of measles is encephalitis, generally classified as a "postinfectious" encephalitis. The frequency of clinical encephalitis complicating measles
Impaired interleukin 12 production in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
Authors: J Chehimi, S E Starr, I Frank, A D'Andrea, X Ma, R R MacGregor, J Sennelier, G Trinchieri
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1994)

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, asymptomatic or with acquired immunodeficiency virus, produced 10-fold less interleukin 12 (IL-12) free heavy chain and fivefold less biologically active IL-12 heterodimer than PBMC from uninfected healthy donors when challenged in vitro with the common human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. In contrast, PBMC from HIV-infected individuals and uninfected control donors produced similar levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-10, and PBMC from HIV-infected individuals produced three- to fourfold more IL-6 compared with PBMC from uninfected control donors. The defect in IL-12 production is not due to hyperproduction of IL-10, a cytokine exerting an autocrine-negative feedback on IL-12 production, but was directly related to HIV infection, as suggested by the reduced ability of monocytes infected in vitro with HIV to produce IL-12. IL-12 deficiency may be an important component of the immunodeficiency associated with HIV infection.
Autofluorescence bronchoscopy with white light bronchoscopy compared with white light bronchoscopy alone for the detection of precancerous lesions: a European randomised controlled multicentre trial
Authors: K Haussinger
Journal: Thorax (2005)

The potential of autofluorescence bronchoscopy (AFB) to detect precancerous lesions in the central airways and its role in lung cancer screening is uncertain. A study was undertaken to evaluate the prevalence of moderate/severe dysplasia (dysplasia II-III) and carcinoma in situ (CIS) using a newly developed AFB system in comparison with conventional white light bronchoscopy (WLB) alone.In a prospective randomised multicentre trial, smokers > or = 40 years of age (> or = 20 pack-years) were stratified into four different risk groups and investigated with either WLB+AFB (arm A) or WLB alone (arm B).1173 patients (916 men) of mean age 58.7 years were included. Overall (arms A and B), preinvasive lesions (dysplasia II-III and CIS) were detected in 3.9% of the patients. The prevalence of patients with preinvasive lesions in the WLB arm was 2.7% compared with 5.1% in the WLB+AFB arm (p = 0.037). For patients with dysplasia II-III, WLB+AFB increased the detection rate by a factor of 2.1 (p = 0.03), while for CIS the factor was only 1.24 (p = 0.75). The biopsy based sensitivity of WLB alone and WLB+AFB for detecting dysplasia II-III and CIS was 57.9% compared with 82.3% (1.42-fold increase). The corresponding specificity was 62.1% compared with 58.4% (0.94-fold decrease).This first randomised study of AFB showed that the combination of WLB+AFB was significantly superior to WLB alone in detecting preneoplastic lesions. Our findings do not support the general use of AFB as a screening tool for lung cancer, but suggest that it may be of use in certain groups. The precise indications await further study.
The natural history of acute rheumatism.
Authors: C B Perry
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1969)

This paper presents an analysis of 1,033 cases of acute rheumatism and chorea followed until death or for 5 to 40 years after the onset. 56of the patients died within 5 years of the onset, but of the remaining 977 the average follow-up was nearly 12 years; 451 were traced for more than 10 and 108 for more than 20 years.The majority of the first attacks (644/ 1033) occurred between the ages of 6 and 10.In 163 cases the age at onset was 5 or under and in 215 it was 11 to 15 years.These features are in accordance with previous observations. Clinical Features of the First AttackAccurate information was available in 1,006 cases (406 boys and 600 girls).This male to female ratio of 1 1 5 is higher than in some other recorded series.For instance, Roth, Lingg, and Whittemore (1937) in the U.S. A. reported almost equal numbers, and Wilson (1940) and Ash (1948) both reported carditis 1 3 2 Total with carditis 74 71 72 Other Nodules 11 6 8 Erythema marginatum
Impact of Diabetes on Physical Function in Older People
Authors: Alan J. Sinclair, Simon P. Conroy, Antony J. Bayer
Journal: Diabetes Care (2008)

To explore the nature of functional impairment in older people with diabetes.A population-based case-control study with detailed assessment of diabetes and functional status was undertaken.Altogether, 403 case subjects and 403 matched control subjects were studied (median age 75 years, 51% female). Subjects with diabetes had more comorbidities than control subjects (mean 2.5 vs. 1.9, P < 0.0001) and were more likely to have severe functional impairment (4 vs. 1%, Barthel score <5, P < 0.001). Health status pertaining to physical function was reduced in case subjects (SF36 60 vs. 40, P < 0.0001). In a multivariate model controlling for age, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, osteoarthritis, and dementia, diabetes remained significantly associated with mobility limitation (odds ratio 2.1, P < 0.001).Older people with diabetes have considerable functional impairment associated with reduced health status. This population may benefit from comprehensive geriatric assessment and tailored diabetes management.