tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Health Care–Associated Native Valve Endocarditis: Importance of Non-nosocomial Acquisition
Authors: Natividad Benito, José M. Miró, Elisa de Lazzari, Christopher H. Cabell, Ana del Río, Javier Altclas, Patrick Commerford, Francois Delahaye, Stefan Dragulescu, Helen Giamarellou, Gilbert Habib, Adeeba Kamarulzaman, A. Sampath Kumar, Francisco M. Nacinovich, Fredy Suter, Christophe Tribouilloy, Krishnan Venugopal, Asuncion Moreno, Vance G. Fowler
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Background: The clinical profile and outcome of nosocomial and non-nosocomial health care–associated native valve endocarditis are not well defined. Objective: To compare the characteristics and outcomes of community-associated and nosocomial and non-nosocomial health care–associated native valve endocarditis. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: 61 hospitals in 28 countries. Patients: Patients with definite native valve endocarditis and no history of injection drug use who were enrolled in the ICE-PCS (International Collaboration on Endocarditis Prospective Cohort Study) from June 2000 to August 2005. Measurements: Clinical and echocardiographic findings, microbiology, complications, and mortality. Results: Health care–associated native valve endocarditis was present in 557 (34%) of 1622 patients (303 with nosocomial infection [54%] and 254 with non-nosocomial infection [46%]). Staphylococcus aureus was the most common cause of health care–associated infection (nosocomial, 47%; non-nosocomial, 42%; P = 0.30); a high proportion of patients had methicillin-resistant S. aureus (nosocomial, 57%; non-nosocomial, 41%; P = 0.014). Fewer patients with health care–associated native valve endocarditis had cardiac surgery (41% vs. 51% of community-associated cases; P < 0.001), but more of the former patients died (25% vs. 13%; P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis confirmed greater mortality associated with health care–associated native valve endocarditis (incidence risk ratio, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.02 to 1.59]). Limitations: Patients were treated at hospitals with cardiac surgery programs. The results may not be generalizable to patients receiving care in other types of facilities or to those with prosthetic valves or past injection drug use. Conclusion: More than one third of cases of native valve endocarditis in non–injection drug users involve contact with health care, and non-nosocomial infection is common, especially in the United States. Clinicians should recognize that outpatients with extensive out-of-hospital health care contacts who develop endocarditis have clinical characteristics and outcomes similar to those of patients with nosocomial infection. Primary Funding Source: None.
Anti-viral treatment of warts
Authors: WARWICK L. MORISON
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2006)

Several anti-DNA agents have been tested for their value in the treatment of warts in humans. A pilot study was carried out on patients with warts resistant to other forms of treatment. The agents used were hydroxyurea, idoxuridine and photodynamic inactivation. Idoxuridine 20% in a cream base appears to offer some possibilities as a treatment when other measures have failed.
Is metabolic syndrome a significant comorbidity in mustard lung patients
Authors: Alireza Samadi, Shahrzad Mohammadzadeh Lari, Davood Attaran, Omid Shadkam, Abbas Asadi, Majid Ghayour-Mobarhan, Hossein Ayatollahi, Mohammad Khajehdaluee
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction : Chronic obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) due to Sulfur Mustard (SM) poisoning, known as “Mustard Lung”, is one the serious late pulmonary complications of SM exposure. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an important systemic comorbidity of COPD. We performed this study to evaluate the frequency of metabolic syndrome in mustard lung patients.   Methods and Materials : Thirty mustard lung patients with mean age 46.93± 6.8 were enrolled in this study. The following parameters were studied in patients: spirometry, 6-min walk distance (6MWD), BODE index (body mass index, obstruction, dyspnea and exercise capacity), health- related quality of life. Blood pressure, BMI and serum TG, HDL and FBS were measured. Also 32 COPD patients and 56 healthy persons were considered as control groups who were matched to mustard lung patients based on age and BMI.   Results : There was statistically significant difference in frequency of MetS between patients and healthy group (p=0.04).Also there was statistically significant differences in mean HDL levels among groups(p=   Conclusion : Our results showed that metabolic syndrome is frequent in mustard lung patients and especial attention in mild to moderate stages of disease is recommended.
Dynamic cumulative activity of transcription factors as a mechanism of quantitative gene regulation
Authors: Feng He, Jan Buer, An-Ping Zeng, Rudi Balling
Journal: Genome biology (2007)

The regulation of genes in multicellular organisms is generally achieved through the combinatorial activity of different transcription factors. However, the quantitative mechanisms of how a combination of transcription factors controls the expression of their target genes remain unknown. By using the information on the yeast transcription network and high-resolution time-series data, the combinatorial expression profiles of regulators that best correlate with the expression of their target genes are identified. We demonstrate that a number of factors, particularly time-shifts among the different regulators as well as conversion efficiencies of transcription factor mRNAs into functional binding regulators, play a key role in the quantification of target gene expression. By quantifying and integrating these factors, we have found a highly significant correlation between the combinatorial time-series expression profile of regulators and their target gene expression in 67.1% of the 161 known yeast three-regulator motifs and in 32.9% of 544 two-regulator motifs. For network motifs involved in the cell cycle, these percentages are much higher. Furthermore, the results have been verified with a high consistency in a second independent set of time-series data. Additional support comes from the finding that a high percentage of motifs again show a significant correlation in time-series data from stress-response studies. Our data strongly support the concept that dynamic cumulative regulation is a major principle of quantitative transcriptional control. The proposed concept might also apply to other organisms and could be relevant for a wide range of biotechnological applications in which quantitative gene regulation plays a role.
Identification of a Quantitative <i>MINT</i> Locus Methylation Profile Predicting Local Regional Recurrence of Rectal Cancer
Authors: Michiel F.G. de Maat, Cornelis J.H. van de Velde, Anne Benard, Hein Putter, Hans Morreau, J. Han J.M. van Krieken, Elma Meershoek Klein-Kranenbarg, Eelco J. de Graaf, Rob A.E.M. Tollenaar, Dave S.B. Hoon
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2010)

Risk assessment for locoregional disease recurrence would be highly valuable in preoperative treatment planning for patients undergoing primary rectal tumor resection. Epigenetic aberrations such as DNA methylation have been shown to be significant prognostic biomarkers of disease outcome. In this study, we evaluated the significance of a quantitative epigenetic multimarker panel analysis of primary tumors to predict local recurrence in rectal cancer patients from a retrospective multicenter clinical trial.Primary tumors were studied from patients enrolled in the trial who underwent total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer (n=325). Methylation levels of seven methylated-in-tumor (MINT) loci were assessed by absolute quantitative assessment of methylated alleles. Unsupervised random forest clustering of quantitative MINT methylation data was used to show subclassification into groups with matching methylation profiles.Variable importance parameters [Gini-Index (GI)] of the clustering algorithm indicated MINT3 and MINT17 (GI, 20.2 and 20.7, respectively) to be informative for patient grouping compared with the other MINT loci (highest GI, 12.2). When using this two-biomarker panel, four different patient clusters were identified. One cluster containing 73% (184 of 251) of the patients was at significantly increased risk of local recurrence (hazard ratio, 10.23; 95% confidence interval, 1.38-75.91) in multivariate analysis, corrected for standard prognostic factors of rectal cancer. This group showed a significantly higher local recurrence probability than patients receiving preoperative radiation (P<0.0001).Quantitative epigenetic subclassification of rectal cancers has clinical utility in distinguishing tumors with increased risk for local recurrence and may help tailor treatment regimens for locoregional control.
Apocynin reduces H2O2 and NO2- concentrations in exhaled breath condensate of COPD patients
Authors: Joanna Stefanska, Agata Sarniak, Anna Wlodarczyk, Milena Sokolowska, Zbigniew Doniec, Dariusz Nowak, Rafal Pawliczak
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

It is well known that COPD is a preventable and treatable disease, characterized by not fully reversible airflow limitation. In individuals with COPD, there is a marked exacerbation of the inflammatory response, which increases with the progression of the disease. The molecular mechanism of exacerbations remains unknown; however, prolonged oxidative stress have been reported as potentially responsible for the exacerbation. Apocynin is an agent that inhibits activation of an enzyme responsible for ROS generation and thus – probably, alleviate inflammatory process.  Therefore, we investigated the effect of nebulized apocynin in fourteen COPD patients in placebo-controlled, cross-over design study. Exhaled breath condensate was collected in three timepoints (30, 60 and 120 min.) after apocynin/placebo application and H 2 O 2  NO 2  -  and NO 3  -  concentrations have been evaluated. Moreover, safety parameters have been controlled throughout the study.  Apocynin reduced hydrogen peroxide concentration in exhaled breath condensate 60 and 120 minutes after apocynin nebulization comparing to placebo (0.43 μM vs. 0.59 μM and 0.41 μM vs. 0.58 μM respectively, p 2  -  concentration 30, 60 and 120 minutes after apocynin inhalation (3.9 μM vs. 4.5 μM, 3.8 μM vs. 4.5 μM and 3.7 μM vs. 4,4 μM respectively, p 3  -  in any timepoint (p>0.05). No influence of apocynin on safety parameters, and no adverse effects has been observed.  Our findings suggest that apocynin might be a promising agent to soothe locally inflammatory process and improve life quality of patients suffering from COPD.
Metabolic profiles and treatment gaps in young-onset type 2 diabetes in Asia (the JADE programme): a cross-sectional study of a prospective cohort
Authors: Roseanne O Yeung, Yuying Zhang, Andrea Luk, Wenying Yang, Leorino Sobrepena, Kun-Ho Yoon, S R Aravind, Wayne Sheu, Thy Khue Nguyen, Risa Ozaki, Chaicharn Deerochanawong, Chiu Chi Tsang, Wing-Bun Chan, Eun Gyoung Hong, Trung Quan Do, Yu Cheung, Nicola Brown, Su Yen Goh, Ronald C Ma, Monojitketan Mukhopadhyay, Arvind Kumar Ojha, Shaibal Chakraborty, Alice P Kong, Winnie Lau, Weiping Jia, Wenhui Li, Xiaohui Guo, Rongwen Bian, Jianping Weng, Linong Ji, Mercedes Reyes-dela Rosa, Ronaldo M Toledo, Thep Himathongkam, Soon-Jib Yoo, C C Chow, Larry LT Ho, Lee-Ming Chuang, Greg Tutino, Peter C Tong, Wing-Yee So, Troels Wolthers, Gary Ko, Greg Lyubomirsky, Juliana C N Chan
Journal: The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology (2014)
Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration
Authors: None Morrison
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1989)

In the article Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality in the Breast Cancer Detection Demonstration Project by Morrison et al. published in Vol. 80, No. 19, December 7, 1988, the end of the first sentence in the fourth paragraph (page 1543) should read “…reason for being screened as ‘routine’ only.” The first footnote in Table 3 should read “…from breast cancer (per 100,000)…”. The last footnote in Table 3 should read “…cumulative mortality (per 100,000).” In the Appendix (page 1546), the value of Pa−1 should read:
Th2-like CD8+ T cells showing B cell helper function and reduced cytolytic activity in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.
Authors: E Maggi, M G Giudizi, R Biagiotti, F Annunziato, R Manetti, M P Piccinni, P Parronchi, S Sampognaro, L Giannarini, G Zuccati, S Romagnani
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1994)

We analyzed at clonal level the functional profile of circulating or skin-infiltrating T lymphocytes from two individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), suffering from a Job's-like syndrome (eczematous dermatitis, recurrent skin and sinopulmonary infections, and hypergammaglobulinemia E) and showing virtually no circulating CD4+ T cells. Most of the CD3+ T cell clones generated from both patients were CD4- CD8+ TCR alpha beta +. The others were CD4- CD8- TCR alpha beta + which exhibited reduced mRNA expression for the CD8 molecule or no mRNA expression for either CD4 or CD8 molecules. The great majority of both CD4- CD8+ and CD4- CD8- did not produce interferon (IFN) gamma and exhibited reduced cytolytic activity. Rather, most of them produced large amounts of both interleukin (IL) 4 and IL-5 and provided B cell helper function for IgE synthesis. These data suggest that a switch of cytolytic CD8+ T cells showing a Th1-like cytokine secretion profile to cells that make Th2-type cytokines, exhibit reduced cytolytic potential, and provide B cell helper function can occur in the course of HIV-1 infection. These cells may contribute to the reduced defense against viral infections and intracellular parasites and account for the elevated IgE serum levels, eosinophilia, and the allergic-like clinical manifestations seen in a proportion of HIV-1-infected individuals.
Comparison of a multiplexed MassARRAY system with real-time allele-specific PCR technology for genotyping of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: M.W. Syrmis, R.J. Moser, D.M. Whiley, V. Vaska, G.W. Coombs, M.D. Nissen, T.P. Sloots, G.R. Nimmo
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2011)
A 24-Month Randomized, Controlled Trial Of An Automated Speech Recognition Program To Improve Adherence In Pediatric Asthma
Authors: Bruce G. Bender, Peter Cvietusa, Glenn Goodrich, C. Ryan Lowe, Heather Nuanes, Susan Shetterly, Cathy R. Tacinas, Nicole Wagner, Frederick S. Wamboldt, Stan Xu, David Magid
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2014)
Quality Measurement in Healthcare
Authors: Eliot J. Lazar, Peter Fleischut, Brian K. Regan
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (2012)

Measurement is the basis for assessing potential improvements in healthcare quality. Measures may be classified into four categories: volume, structure, outcome, and process (VSOP). Measures of each type should be used with a full understanding of their cost and benefit. Although volume and structure measures are easily collected, impact on healthcare results is not always clear. Process measures are generally more difficult and expensive to collect, and the relationship between process and outcomes is only recently being explored. Knowledge of measure types and relationships among them, as well as emerging evidence on the role of patient satisfaction, must be used to guide improvements and ultimately for demonstrating value in healthcare.
Gene Conversion Is a Frequent Mechanism of Inactivation of the Wild-Type Allele in Cancers from <i>MLH1/MSH2</i> Deletion Carriers
Authors: Jian Zhang, Annette Lindroos, Saara Ollila, Anna Russell, Giancarlo Marra, Hansjakob Mueller, Paivi Peltomaki, Martina Plasilova, Karl Heinimann
Journal: Cancer Research (2006)

Abstract Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) is an autosomal dominantly inherited cancer predisposition syndrome caused by germ line mutations in DNA mismatch repair genes, predominantly MLH1 and MSH2, with large genomic rearrangements accounting for 5% to 20% of all mutations. Although crucial to the understanding of cancer initiation, little is known about the second, somatic hit in HNPCC tumorigenesis, commonly referred to as loss of heterozygosity. Here, we applied a recently developed method, multiplex ligation–dependent probe amplification, to study MLH1/MSH2 copy number changes in 16 unrelated Swiss HNPCC patients, whose cancers displayed microsatellite instability and loss of MLH1 or MSH2 expression, but in whom no germ line mutation could be detected by conventional screening. The aims of the study were (a) to determine the proportion of large genomic rearrangements among Swiss MLH1/MSH2 mutation carriers and (b) to investigate the frequency and nature of loss of heterozygosity as a second, somatic event, in tumors from MLH1/MSH2 germ line deletion carriers. Large genomic deletions were found to account for 4.3% and 10.7% of MLH1 and MSH2 mutations, respectively. Multiplex ligation–dependent probe amplification analysis of 18 cancer specimens from two independent sets of Swiss and Finnish MLH1/MSH2 deletion carriers revealed that somatic mutations identical to the ones in the germ line occur frequently in colorectal cancers (6 of 11; 55%) and are also present in extracolonic HNPCC-associated tumors. Chromosome-specific marker analysis implies that loss of the wild-type allele predominantly occurs through locus-restricted recombinational events, i.e., gene conversion, rather than mitotic recombination or deletion of the respective gene locus. (Cancer Res 2006; (66)2: 659-64)
Stem cell markers characterise familial adenomatous polyposis
Authors: Tingting Wang, Khay Guan Yeoh, Manuel Salto-Tellez
Journal: Gut (2011)

We read with great interest the paper by Lewis et al 1 on the association between increased expression of stem cell markers, including leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), Musashi-1, Bmi1 and CD44, and the severity of intestinal polyposis in Apc1322T mice, …
Four-month outbreak of invasive meningococcal disease caused by a rare serogroup B strain, identified through the use of molecular PorA subtyping, England, 2013
Authors: C Chatt, R Gajraj, J Hawker, K Neal, M Tahir, M Lawrence, S J Gray, J Lucidarme, A D Carr, S A Clark, T Fowler
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2014)

Molecular PorA subtyping provides information that increasingly requires the adaptation of standard public health approaches to outbreak management. We report an outbreak of a rare subtype of meningococcal infection not previously identified in the United Kingdom (UK). The outbreak occurred in the Warwickshire area in England between February and June 2013. Molecular subtyping allowed the identification of additional cases, prompting an enhanced public health response that included efforts to identify potential social networks that might benefit from chemoprophylaxis. It also prompted swabbing to define nasopharyngeal carriage in the focal nursery and helped explain the unusual epidemiological pattern. Without subtyping to identify a link, the additional cases would have been managed as sporadic cases in accordance with current UK guidance.
Thiol-Mediated Redox Regulation of Intestinal Lamina Propria T Lymphocytes
Authors: Bernd Sido, Jutta Braunstein, Raoul Breitkreutz, Christian Herfarth, Stefan C. Meuer
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2000)

Intestinal lamina propria T lymphocytes (LP-Ts) have a markedly low proliferative potential both in vivo and in vitro. Here, we have identified that the capacity of antigen-presenting cells to release cysteine upon receptor–ligand interactions represents a critical parameter for proliferation of LP-Ts. The availability of cysteine is limiting for the intracellular production of glutathione, which in turn is essential for cell cycle progression. When cysteine is provided either directly or by addition of the reducing agent 2-mercaptoethanol to cystine-containing culture medium, proliferation of LP-T is fully restored. Importantly, coculture with peripheral blood monocytes that easily take up cystine, reduce cystine, and secrete cysteine also restores reactivity of LP-Ts to T cell receptor/CD3 stimulation. In marked contrast, lamina propria macrophages lack this capacity to elaborate cysteine, and thereby secure physiological unresponsiveness to antigen exposure in the intestinal microenvironment. The well-documented local recruitment of blood monocytes in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may thus represent an important parameter underlying hyperresponsiveness of T cells, an essential component of the pathogenesis of IBD.
Transcriptional Upregulation of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Rostral Ventrolateral Medulla by Angiotensin II
Authors: Samuel H.H. Chan, Chih-Wei J. Wu, Alice Y.W. Chang, Kuei-Sen Hsu, Julie Y.H. Chan
Journal: Circulation Research (2010)

Oxidative stress in rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), where sympathetic premotor neurons for the maintenance of neurogenic vasomotor tone are located, contributes to neural mechanisms of hypertension. Emerging evidence suggests that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) manifests "nontrophic" actions.We assessed the hypothesis that BDNF plays an active role in oxidative stress-associated neurogenic hypertension by maintaining superoxide anion (O⁻(.)₂) homeostasis in RVLM.In Wistar-Kyoto rats, microinjection of angiotensin II (Ang II) bilaterally into RVLM upregulated BDNF mRNA and protein and induced cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. The Ang II-induced BDNF upregulation in RVLM was attenuated by coadministration of the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin; the superoxide dismutase mimetic tempol; or an antisense oligonucleotide against CREB. Intracisternal infusion of Ang II elicited phosphorylation of p47(phox) subunit of NADPH oxidase, suppression of mitochondrial electron coupling capacity, and augmentation in mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP)2 expression in RVLM. The former 2 cellular events were enhanced, whereas UCP2 upregulation was attenuated by gene knockdown of BDNF or depletion of tropomyosin receptor kinase (Trk)B ligands with recombinant human TrkB-Fc fusion protein. The same treatments also significantly potentiated both Ang II-induced (O⁻(.)₂) production in RVLM and chronic pressor response.Ang II induces (O⁻(.)₂) -dependent upregulation of BDNF in RVLM via phosphorylation of CREB. The Ang II-activated BDNF/TrkB signaling, in turn, exerts negative-feedback regulation on tissue (O⁻(.)₂) level in RVLM through inhibition of p47(phox) phosphorylation, preservation of mitochondrial electron transport capacity, and upregulation of mitochondrial UCP2, resulting in protection against Ang II-induced oxidative stress and long-term pressor response.
Superior mesenteric vein stenosis complicating Crohn’s disease
Authors: R S Hodgson, J E Jackson, S D Taylor-Robinson, J R F Walters
Journal: Gut (1999)

BACKGROUND Superior mesenteric vein stenosis as a consequence of mesenteric fibrosis, causing the development of small bowel varices, is an unrecognised association of Crohn’s disease. CASE REPORTS Two cases of gastrointestinal bleeding occurring in patients with Crohn’s disease, and a third case, presenting with pain and diarrhoea, are described. In all three patients, visceral angiography showed superior mesenteric vein stenosis with dilatation of draining collateral veins in the small bowel. Overt gastrointestinal bleeding or iron deficiency anaemia resulting from mucosal ulceration is common in Crohn’s disease, but acute or chronic bleeding from small bowel varices as a result of superior mesenteric vein stenosis due to fibrosis has not previously been reported.