tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Creatine supplementation does not affect clinical health markers in football players
Authors: P Cancela, C Ohanian, E Cuitiño, A C Hackney
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2008)

To study the effects of 8-week creatine monohydrate (CrM) supplementation on blood and urinary clinical health markers in football players. 14 football players were randomly assigned in a double-blinded fashion to Cre (n = 7) or Pla (n = 7) group. The Cre group ingested 15 g/day of CrM for 7 days and 3 g/day for the remaining 49 days, whereas the Pla group ingested maltodextrin following the same protocol. Football-specific training was performed during the study. Total body mass was determined and blood and urine samples were analysed for metabolic, hepatic, renal and muscular function markers, before and after supplementation. A gain of total body mass was observed after CrM intake, but not with placebo. Blood and urinary markers remained within normal reference values. There were no significant changes in renal and hepatic markers after CrM intake. However, total creatine kinase (CK) activity significantly increased, and uric acid level tended to decrease after CrM use. Likewise, serum glucose decreased in the Cre group following supplementation. No significant differences in urine parameters were found in either group after supplementation. 8 weeks of CrM supplementation had no negative effects on blood and urinary clinical health markers in football players. Properties of CrM may, however, be associated with an increase in CK activity, improving the efficiency for ATP resynthesis, a phenomenon indirectly confirmed by the decreasing tendency in uric acid concentration. Furthermore, CrM seems to slightly influence glucoregulation in trained subjects.
Acute Kidney Injury Increases Risk of ESRD among Elderly
Authors: Areef Ishani, Jay L. Xue, Jonathan Himmelfarb, Paul W. Eggers, Paul L. Kimmel, Bruce A. Molitoris, Allan J. Collins
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2008)

Risk for ESRD among elderly patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) has not been studied in a large, representative sample. This study aimed to determine incidence rates and hazard ratios for developing ESRD in elderly individuals, with and without chronic kidney disease (CKD), who had AKI. In the 2000 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries, clinical conditions were identified using Medicare claims; ESRD treatment information was obtained from ESRD registration during 2 yr of follow-up. Our cohort of 233,803 patients were hospitalized in 2000, were aged > or = 67 yr on discharge, did not have previous ESRD or AKI, and were Medicare-entitled for > or = 2 yr before discharge. In this cohort, 3.1% survived to discharge with a diagnosis of AKI, and 5.3 per 1000 developed ESRD. Among patients who received treatment for ESRD, 25.2% had a previous history of AKI. After adjustment for age, gender, race, diabetes, and hypertension, the hazard ratio for developing ESRD was 41.2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 34.6 to 49.1) for patients with AKI and CKD relative to those without kidney disease, 13.0 (95% CI 10.6 to 16.0) for patients with AKI and without previous CKD, and 8.4 (95% CI 7.4 to 9.6) for patients with CKD and without AKI. In summary, elderly individuals with AKI, particularly those with previously diagnosed CKD, are at significantly increased risk for ESRD, suggesting that episodes of AKI may accelerate progression of renal disease.
Reply to the article “Editorial comment on ‘Reduction of chemotherapy-induced febrile leucopenia by prophylactic use of ciprofloxacin and roxithromycin in small-cell lung cancer patients: an EORTC double-blind placebo-controlled phase III study’”, by P. A. Bunn Jr (Ann Oncol 2001; 12: 1339–1340)
Authors: V.C.G. Tjan-Heijnen, P.E. Postmus, A. Ardizzoni
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2002)
Efficacy and safety of oral alitretinoin (9-cis retinoic acid) in patients with severe chronic hand eczema refractory to topical corticosteroids: results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicentre trial
Authors: T. Ruzicka, C.W. Lynde, G.B.E. Jemec, T. Diepgen, J. Berth-Jones, P.J. Coenraads, A. Kaszuba, R. Bissonnette, E. Varjonen, P. Holló, F. Cambazard, M. Lahfa, P. Elsner, F. Nyberg, A. Svensson, T.C. Brown, M. Harsch, J. Maares
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2008)

Background Patients with severe chronic hand eczema (CHE) refractory to topical corticosteroids currently have limited treatment options suited for chronic use, and few controlled clinical studies have investigated new therapies in this setting. Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of oral alitretinoin (9-cis retinoic acid) taken at 10 mg or 30 mg once daily for up to 24 weeks, compared with placebo control, in the treatment of severe CHE refractory to topical corticosteroids. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospective, multicentre trial was conducted in 111 dermatology outpatient clinics in Europe and Canada. A total of 1032 patients with severe refractory CHE were randomized in a 1 : 2 : 2 ratio to placebo, or 10 mg or 30 mg of oral alitretinoin once daily for up to 24 weeks. Safety was assessed for all patients during a follow-up period of 4 weeks, and responders were observed for relapse for 24 weeks after the end of therapy. The primary efficacy parameter was Physician Global Assessment of overall CHE severity, with response defined as clear or almost clear hands. Results Responses, defined as clear or almost clear hands, were achieved in up to 48% of patients treated with alitretinoin, compared with 17% for placebo (P < 0·001), with up to 75% median reduction in disease signs and symptoms. Treatment was well tolerated, with dose-dependent adverse effects comprising headache, mucocutaneous events, hyperlipidaemia, and decreased free thyroxine and thyroid-stimulating hormone. The median time to relapse, defined as recurrence of 75% of initial signs and symptoms, was 5·5–6·2 months in the absence of anti-eczema medication. Conclusions Alitretinoin given at well-tolerated doses induced clearing of CHE in a substantial proportion of patients with severe disease refractory to standard therapy.
The Generation of Neuronal Diversity in the Central Nervous System
Authors: S K McConnell
Journal: Annual Review of Neuroscience (1991)

The brain's default mode network consists of discrete, bilateral and symmetrical cortical areas, in the medial and lateral parietal, medial prefrontal, and medial and lateral temporal cortices of the human, nonhuman primate, cat, and rodent brains. Its ...Read More
THE DIRECT CULTIVATION OF TREPONEMA PALLIDUM PATHOGENIC FOR THE MONKEY
Authors: Hideyo Noguchi
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1912)

A method for the direct cultivation of Treponema pallidum from human syphilitic lesions, by the employment of a solid medium, has been described. By means of it, three of the four strains worked with were successfully cultivated. The several pure cultures agree in morphological and cultural characters, grow only in the presence of sterile tissue under anaerobic conditions, and do not produce putrefactive odors. The morphology is typical under optimum cultural conditions; it becomes atypical when the conditions are unfavorable. In cultures, Treponema pallidum multiplies by longitudinal division. The process is usually symmetrical but occasionally appears to be asymmetrical. Inoculation of the pure cultures into the skin of two species of lower monkeys was followed by the production of lesions resembling the primary syphilitic lesion occurring in man and those caused in the monkey by inoculation of spirochætæ-containing serum from human sources. During the course of the positive inoculation in the monkey, the blood develops the property of giving a positive Wassermann reaction. Thus the relation of Treponema pallidum to this reaction is supported, and the identity of the cultivated strains with the species found in human syphilitic lesions established.
Miliary tuberculosis with hypercalcaemia and raised vitamin D concentrations.
Authors: R D Isaacs, G I Nicholson, I M Holdaway
Journal: Thorax (1987)

Hypercalcaemia is associated with granulomatous disorders, including sarcoidosis' and tuberculosis.2'-Theexact inci- dence of hypercalcaemia in tuberculosis is not known.We report a case of miliary tuberculosis and severe hypercalcaemia in which measurements of serum vitamin D3 con- centrations were made.The probable mechanism of the hypercalcaemia is discussed. Case reportA 44 year old man, a Cook Islander and a non-smoker, presented with an eight month history of lethargy and mal- aise, a three month history of ascites, and a one month his- tory of polyuria and polydipsia.Abdominal paracentesis had been performed at another hospital but the results of this were not available.Histological examination of a right cervical lymph node showed caseating granulomas typical of tuberculosis.Subsequent cultures of the lymph node, sputum, resting gastric juices, and early morning urine samples grew Mycobacterium tuberculosis, sensitive in vitro to iso- niazid, rifampicin, and pyrazinamide.Initial biochemical investigation of the blood revealed hyponatraemia, hypercalcaemia (figure), and no evidence of abnormal renal function.An adrenocorticotrophic hormone stimulation test yielded normal results, as did tests of thyroid function.The serum parathyroid hormone concen- tration was 20-6 pmol/l, measured in a mid molecule radio- immunoassay (normal 6-0-315 pmol/l).Alkaline phosphatase activity was normal and a technetium-99m bone scan showed nothing to suggest malignant disease.A chest radiograph showed miliary shadowing with no focal changes.A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen revealed mesenteric lymphadenopathy, thickened omentum, and the presence of ascites.The liver, spleen, adrenal glands, and kidneys were unremarkable.An intravenous urogram was normal.There was no evidence of lymphoreticular malignancy.
Structural analysis of the variable major proteins of Borrelia hermsii.
Authors: A G Barbour, O Barrera, R C Judd
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1983)

Borrelia hermsii undergoes spontaneous antigenic variation in vivo and in vitro. Serotype specificity is associated with expression of one of a family of molecular weight-variable proteins, the pI proteins. We studied the structure of the pI proteins as well as the molecular weight-invariable pII proteins of three serotypes of B. hermsii HS1: C, 7, and 21. The techniques used were one-dimensional (1-D) mapping of Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease-generated peptides and two-dimensional (2-D) mapping of alpha-chymotrypsin-generated peptides. The pI and pII proteins were isolated by excision of polypeptides from stained polyacrylamide gel electropherograms. The 1-D peptide patterns were visualized by fluorography of intrinsically [14C]leucine-labeled proteins or by silver stain. Before 2-D mapping, polypeptides in excised gel fragments were labeled with 125I in the presence of chloramine-T. We also compared the 2-D peptide maps of pI proteins, pI7 and pI21, after their surface-exposed portions were radioiodinated using 1,3,4,6-tetrachloro-3 alpha,6 alpha-diphenylglycoluril (Iodogen). The I-D and 2-D peptide maps demonstrated the following: (a) pI proteins of the three serotypes have few V8 protease- or chymotrypsin-generated peptides in common, and (b) pI proteins of each serotype appear to be identical. The findings suggest that pI protein variability derives from extensive differences in the amino acid sequences of these proteins.
Parallel RNAi screens across different cell lines identify generic and cell type-specific regulators of actin organization and cell morphology
Authors: Tao Liu, David Sims, Buzz Baum
Journal: Genome biology (2009)

In recent years RNAi screening has proven a powerful tool for dissecting gene functions in animal cells in culture. However, to date, most RNAi screens have been performed in a single cell line, and results then extrapolated across cell types and systems.Here, to dissect generic and cell type-specific mechanisms underlying cell morphology, we have performed identical kinome RNAi screens in six different Drosophila cell lines, derived from two distinct tissues of origin. This analysis identified a core set of kinases required for normal cell morphology in all lines tested, together with a number of kinases with cell type-specific functions. Most significantly, the screen identified a role for minibrain (mnb/DYRK1A), a kinase associated with Down's syndrome, in the regulation of actin-based protrusions in CNS-derived cell lines. This cell type-specific requirement was not due to the peculiarities in the morphology of CNS-derived cells and could not be attributed to differences in mnb expression. Instead, it likely reflects differences in gene expression that constitute the cell type-specific functional context in which mnb/DYRK1A acts.Using parallel RNAi screens and gene expression analyses across cell types we have identified generic and cell type-specific regulators of cell morphology, which include mnb/DYRK1A in the regulation of protrusion morphology in CNS-derived cell lines. This analysis reveals the importance of using different cell types to gain a thorough understanding of gene function across the genome and, in the case of kinases, the difficulties of using the differential gene expression to predict function.
Endoscopic evaluation for cytomegalovirus enterocolitis after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Authors: Y Kakugawa
Journal: Gut (2006)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease and graft versus host disease (GVHD) are serious complications after allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT).1 As clinical manifestations overlap,2 it is difficult to make an early and accurate diagnosis of CMV enterocolitis in patients with gastrointestinal GVHD. This study aimed to estimate the usefulness of endoscopic examination for CMV enterocolitis after allo-SCT.

Between 1999 and 2003, 425 patients received allo-SCT at the National Cancer Centre Hospital. Eighty seven patients with gastrointestinal symptoms underwent colonoscopy, and gastrointestinal GVHD was diagnosed in 75 patients. Thirty three of these patients with a median age of 46 years (range 4–67) who had persistent diarrhoea and/or abdominal pain despite optimal treatment underwent repeat colonoscopy. After informed consent was obtained, we examined from the terminal ileum to the rectum by colonoscopy. Biopsy …
The utility of PET scanning in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of the anus
Authors: D. Nagle, D. Henry, A. Iagaru, J. Mastoris, L. Chmielewski, J. Rosenstock
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

4152 Background: PET scanning is an established modality that is useful in the clinical management of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck and esophagus. This study evaluates the usefulness of PET scans in the management of anal SCC. Methods: Prospective case series of all patients treated for SCC of the anus between 2002 and 2006 in a multi-disciplinary oncology practice group. All patients had staging studies at diagnosis of anal SCC that included CT scan of the chest/abdomen/pelvis and PET scan. All patients with palpable inguinal adenopathy or PET scans positive for inguinal adenopathy underwent fine needle aspiration (FNA) of inguinal nodes. All patients were evaluated by physical exam (PE) and biopsy (Bx), when appropriate, within 3 months of completing treatment. All patients who completed combined chemoradiation for anal SCC and had a post-treatment PET scan were included in this study. Results: 14 of 20 treated patients met criteria for this study. Sensitivity of pre-treatment PET scan was 100% for primary tumor. Extra-pelvic sites with PET SUV&lt;4.0 were uniformly negative for tumor. 66% of inguinal nodes identified by PET scan were FNA positive for metastatic disease. Post-treatment, combined PE and Bx accurately predicted presence or absence of disease in 93%. Post-treatment scans were obtained a mean of 7.6 months after chemoradiation (range 1 to 42 months). In these patients, PET scan sensitivity = 50%, specificity = 72%, predictive value positive (PVP) = 50%, predictive value negative = 80%. 64% of scans were performed within 6 months of treatment; in these, PVP = 33% and PVN = 66%. Conclusions: PET scanning for anal SCC provides accurate staging of disease at presentation and may alter treatment planning by identifying inguinal node involvement not apparent on clinical examination. In this series, PET scan results did not change post-chemoradiation management in any case. Importantly, resolution of primary tumor defined by PET scan was accurate only 80% of the time. PE and Bx within 3 months of treatment were more accurate than PET scan in assessing disease. Post-treatment evaluation of anal SCC should continue to include careful PE, CT scan and Bx when appropriate. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
M. Kansasii pulmonary disease in idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia
Authors: G Anzalone, M Cei, A Vizzaccaro, B Tramma, A Bisetti
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1996)

Cases of patients with markedly depressed CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts, with or without opportunistic infections, in the absence of any evidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been described in recent years. In 1992, the definition of "idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia" was formulated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of Atlanta (USA). The present case illustrates the occurrence of an unexplained Mycobacterium kansasii pneumonia in a white HIV-negative subject with a persistent depletion of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and suppression of cell-mediated immunity. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of idiopathic CD4+ T-lymphocytopenia with pulmonary mycobacteriosis due to Mycobacterium kansasii, and the sixth case of this kind of immunodeficiency described in Italy.
Epithelial Protein Lost in Neoplasm α (Eplin-α) is transcriptionally regulated by G-actin and MAL/MRTF coactivators
Authors: Laura Leitner, Dmitry Shaposhnikov, Arnaud Descot, Reinhard Hoffmann, Guido Posern
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2010)

Abstract Epithelial Protein Lost in Neoplasm α is a novel cytoskeleton-associated tumor suppressor whose expression inversely correlates with cell growth, motility, invasion and cancer mortality. Here we show that Eplin-α transcription is regulated by actin-MAL-SRF signalling. Upon signal induction, the coactivator MAL/MRTF is released from a repressive complex with monomeric actin, binds the transcription factor SRF and activates target gene expression. In a transcriptome analysis with a combination of actin binding drugs which specifically and differentially interfere with the actin-MAL complex (Descot et al., 2009), we identified Eplin to be primarily controlled by monomeric actin. Further analysis revealed that induction of the Eplin-α mRNA and its promoter was sensitive to drugs and mutant actins which stabilise the repressive actin-MAL complex. In contrast, the Eplin-β isoform remained unaffected. Knockdown of MRTFs or dominant negative MAL which inhibits SRF-mediated transcription impaired Eplin-α expression. Conversely, constitutively active mutant actins and MAL induced Eplin-α. MAL and SRF were bound to a consensus SRF binding site of the Eplin-α promoter; the recruitment of MAL to this region was enhanced severalfold upon induction. The tumor suppressor Eplin-α is thus a novel cytoskeletal target gene transcriptionally regulated by the actin-MAL-SRF pathway, which supports a role in cancer biology.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a leuprorelin-treated patient with prostate carcinoma
Authors: A. Wiechert, T. Tüting, T. Bieber, G. Haidl, J. Wenzel
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2008)

Journal Article Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus in a leuprorelin‐treated patient with prostate carcinoma Get access A. Wiechert, A. Wiechert Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Sigmund‐Freud‐Strasse 25, D 53105 Bonn, Germany E‐mail: andreas.wiechert@ukb.uni‐bonn.de Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar T. Tüting, T. Tüting Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Sigmund‐Freud‐Strasse 25, D 53105 Bonn, Germany E‐mail: andreas.wiechert@ukb.uni‐bonn.de Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar T. Bieber, T. Bieber Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Sigmund‐Freud‐Strasse 25, D 53105 Bonn, Germany E‐mail: andreas.wiechert@ukb.uni‐bonn.de Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar G. Haidl, G. Haidl Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Sigmund‐Freud‐Strasse 25, D 53105 Bonn, Germany E‐mail: andreas.wiechert@ukb.uni‐bonn.de Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar J. Wenzel J. Wenzel Department of Dermatology, University of Bonn, Sigmund‐Freud‐Strasse 25, D 53105 Bonn, Germany E‐mail: andreas.wiechert@ukb.uni‐bonn.de Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 159, Issue 1, 1 July 2008, Pages 231–233, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2008.08587.x Published: 01 July 2008
Enhanced Smooth Muscle Cell Coverage of Microvessels Exposed to Increased Hemodynamic Stresses In Vivo
Authors: Eric J. Van Gieson, Walter L. Murfee, Thomas C. Skalak, Richard J. Price
Journal: Circulation Research (2003)

During vascular remodeling in adult organisms, new capillary growth is often coupled with the adaptation of arterioles and venules, a process that requires the recruitment and differentiation of precursor cells into smooth muscle. We studied the in vivo adaptation of microvessels in the presence of elevated pressure and circumferential wall stress using a ligation strategy for mesenteric microvascular networks. Acute pressure increases of 42.6±18% and 17.1±2.3% were respectively elicited in the 25- to 30-μm-diameter venules and arterioles supplying the networks. Wall shear rates were not significantly changed; however, diameters were increased in &gt;10-μm-diameter venules and &gt;20-μm-diameter arterioles. Smooth muscle cell contractile phenotype was determined in all microvessels by observing the expression of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain (SM-MHC; a marker of fully differentiated smooth muscle) and smooth muscle α-actin (a marker for all smooth muscle, including immature smooth muscle of fibroblast/pericyte lineage). The ratio of SM-MHC positive vessel length to smooth muscle α-actin–positive vessel length increased &gt;2-fold after 5 and 10 days of the ligation treatment. Smooth muscle proliferation was studied by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, and the increase in SM-MHC–labeled microvessel length density was accompanied by no measurable change in proliferation of SM-MHC–labeled cells 5 and 10 days after ligation. These results indicate that after a period of 5 or 10 days, mesenteric microvessels &lt;40 μm in diameter exposed to elevated pressure and wall strain exhibit an enhanced coverage of mature, fully differentiated smooth muscle cells.