tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Intracardiac flow patterns in early embryonic life. A reexamination.
Authors: H Yoshida, F Manasek, R A Arcilla
Journal: Circulation Research (1983)

Microangiography, using methylene blue injected at eight vitelline vein sites, was performed on 156 developing chick embryos at Hamburger-Hamilton stages 14-22. Two stream patterns were observed. Type A coursed sequentially through the dorsal portion of the sinus venosus, the cranial segments of the primitive atrium and atrioventricular canal, the ventral parts of the primitive ventricle and conus cordis, and, finally, the left branchial arches. Type B coursed through the ventral portion of the sinus venosus, the caudal segments of the primitive atrium and atrioventricular canal, the dorsal parts of the primitive ventricle and conus cordis, and, finally, the right branchial arches. Both streams flowed in parallel fashion in the conus cordis. At Hamburger-Hamilton stages 17-18, the dye stream from the right lateral vitelline vein was chiefly type A, whereas that from the left lateral vitelline vein was type B. At Hamburger-Hamilton stages 19-22, those patterns reversed, i.e., the right lateral vitelline vein stream ran as type B, whereas the left lateral vitelline vein stream assumed type A pattern. The cranial-caudal relationship of the two streams at the primitive atrium and atrioventricular canal is not consistent with the hypothesis that these streams separately expand the future right atrium and left atrium. Their parallel direction at the conus cordis does not support the theory that spiral septation is initiated by two spiral streams. The longitudinal separation of the two streams at and beyond the branchial arches also argues against aortico-pulmonary septation as a consequence of flow streaming. Our observations do not support the traditional flow-molding theory.
Self assessment in continuous professional development: a valuable tool for individual physicians and scientific societies
Authors: C Beyeler
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2004)

<b>Objectives:</b> To assess the appreciation of self assessment (SA) by multiple choice question (MCQ) tests during continuous professional development (CPD) meetings and to evaluate the attitude towards the option of recertification. <b>Methods:</b> A questionnaire was completed at a meeting of the Swiss Societies of Rheumatology and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2003 (response rate 94.9% (223/235)). <b>Results:</b> 60.9% of members found SA useful to assess rheumatological knowledge by MCQ tests; 71.3% thought it motivating to receive an anonymous feedback; 47.2% wanted an additional individualised feedback; 70.8% asked for SA to be continued every 2 years during CPD sessions; 26.3% favoured the option of recertification with identical standards to the Swiss certifying examination in rheumatology. Physicians in private practice less often chose the option of recertification than physicians employed by hospitals (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 1.03 to 4.18). No correlations between the type and duration of specialisation, personal reading time, frequency of attendance at CPD meetings, sex of the members, and the choices made were found. <b>Conclusions:</b> SA by MCQ tests during CPD meetings is highly accepted by Swiss rheumatologists. This reliable, valid, and economic method of learning needs assessment enables individual physicians and scientific societies to plan educational with specific goals in mind.
Laparoscopic Features of the Budd-Chiari Syndrome
Authors: D. K. Bhargava, A. Arora, S. Dasarathy
Journal: Endoscopy (1991)

Twenty-three patients with Budd-Chiari Syndrome were examined by laparoscopy. The characteristic findings were a purple to dusky-blue lobulated surface of the liver, which was covered with whitish bead-like cysts and newly formed tortuous dilated veins. The rich network of blood vessels was also visible over the falciform ligament and peritoneal surface in the majority of patients. Ascites and splenomegaly were an added although non-specific diagnostic feature.
Childhood asthma in South London: trends in prevalence and use of medical services 1991-2002
Authors: B K Butland
Journal: Thorax (2006)

<b>Background:</b> Hospital admission rates for asthma in Britain rose during the 1980s and fell during the 1990s, but less is known about recent trends in the prevalence of asthma. <b>Methods:</b> In 1991 and 2002 the same questionnaire was distributed to parents of all school pupils in year 3 (aged 7–8 years) in the London borough of Croydon. Parents of currently wheezy children were then invited for home interview (100% targeted in 1991, 66% in 2002). <b>Results:</b> The prevalence of wheeze during the previous year increased from 12.9% in 1991 to 17.8% in 2002 (prevalence ratio 1.39 (95% CI 1.23 to 1.56)). Increases were observed in frequent (1.54 (95% CI 1.16 to 2.03)) and infrequent attacks, severe speech limiting episodes (2.25 (95% CI 1.34 to 3.77)), and night waking (1.36 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.72)), and in the reported use of steroids (19.9% <i>v</i> 64.1% of currently wheezy children). Nevertheless, the proportions reporting a visit to the GP at his/her surgery for wheeze in the previous year (prevalence ratio 1.15 (95% CI 0.91 to 1.45)) or an outpatient visit (0.98 (95% CI 0.49 to 1.94)) changed little and an increase in reported casualty attendance (1.66 (95% CI 0.89 to 3.07)) was non-significant. <b>Conclusions:</b> There is evidence of an increase in the prevalence of asthma among British primary school children between 1991 and 2002. The absence of a corresponding increase in health service utilisation data may reflect more widespread prophylactic treatment and/or changes in the use and provision of medical services.
Renal Insufficiency and Mortality in Patients with Known or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Ron T. van Domburg, Sanne E. Hoeks, Gijs M.J.M. Welten, Michel Chonchol, Abdou Elhendy, Don Poldermans
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2008)

It remains unclear whether mild renal dysfunction is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcome. We investigated whether estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was associated with mortality and cardiac death among 6447 patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease over a mean follow-up of 7 yr. Cumulative 5- and 10-yr survival rates decreased in a graded fashion from 88% and 70%, respectively, for those with normal renal function to 43% and 33% for those with eGFR <30 ml/min. Compared with patients with normal renal function, the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality among patients with mild, moderate, and severe renal impairment were 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21–1.48), 1.67 (95% CI, 1.44–1.93), and 3.38 (95% CI, 2.73–4.19), respectively. Similar relationships between cardiac death and decreasing renal function were found. In conclusion, renal function is a graded and independent predictor of long-term mortality in patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Intense treatment and close surveillance of these patients is encouraged.
Screening for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: Are the Criteria Proposed by the International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups Cost-Effective?
Authors: Erika F. Werner, Christian M. Pettker, Lisa Zuckerwise, Michael Reel, Edmund F. Funai, Janice Henderson, Stephen F. Thung
Journal: Diabetes Care (2012)

The International Association of the Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) recently recommended new criteria for diagnosing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study was undertaken to determine whether adopting the IADPSG criteria would be cost-effective, compared with the current standard of care.
Importance of Solvent Drag and Diffusion in Bile Acid-Dependent Bile Formation: Ion Substitution Studies in Isolated Perfused Rat Liver
Authors: Sawkat M. ANWER, Dietmar Hegner
Journal: Hepatology (1982)

Ion substitution studies were carried out in the isolated perfused rat liver to define the importance of solvent drag and diffusion in bile acid–dependent bile formation. Two different methods, namely single injection (20 μmoles) and continuous infusions at 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, and 1.6 μmoles per min taurocholate (TC), were used to determine the bile acid–dependent bile flow (BADF). Both methods gave essentially the same results. Replacement of Na + (146 m M ) by 120 or 146 m M Li + and Cl - (127 m M ) by 120 m M NO 3 - increased BADF significantly. On the other hand, replacement of Na + by 120 m M choline and Cl - by 120 m M isethionate decreased the BADF. The osmolarity of TC solution was not different when Na + was replaced by 120 m M Li + or choline and TC did not affect the osmotic activity of NaCl, LiCl, and choline–Cl differently. Thus, the observed effect of Na + replacement on BADF is not due to any change in the osmotic activity of the secreted TC. Substitution of HCO 3 - by equimolar tricine also decreased BADF. Under this condition, BADF increased when NaCl was replaced by equimolar NaN0 3 . Thus, HCO 3 ” does not seem to be essential for TC choleresis. Since Li + and NO 3 ” are more permeable, and choline and isethionate are less permeable than Na + and Cl - , respectively, these results suggest that the BADF is dependent on the permeability of the substituting cations and anions and thus support the hypothesis that solvent drag and diffusion play an important role in BADF.
Self-perception and participation in school sports
Authors: L. Santos, H. Gomes, S. Sequeira, C. Cruz, A. Marques
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2011)

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationship between students9 participation in school sports (SS) and their self-perception. A total of 2535 students (1290 boys, 1245 girls) aged ranged 10 and 18 years old participated in this study. Data was collected using a questionnaire related to students9 self-perception, more particularly questions linked with their perception of competence, elegance, healthy, physical appearance and participation in SS. To analyse if the participation in SS was different according to the variables of self-perceptions, we used the t-test. 18% of students mentioned they took part in SS. Among these participants, 82% said that they trained twice a week. On a scale of 1–5, students generally considered themselves as being elegant (M=3.4±1), fit (M=3.5±0.7) and showed they were quite satisfied with their physical appearance (3.7±1.1). Regarding their perception of health, they answered that they were healthy (M=3.1±0.1, on a scale from 1 to 4). Comparing their participation in SS according with the variables of self-perceptions, there were not significant differences in their perception of health (<i>p</i>=0.746), elegance (<i>p</i>=0.367) and physical appearance (<i>p</i>=0.804). Regarding perception of competence there were significant differences (<i>p</i>=0.007), and it is possible to conclude that those who revealed more physical abilities were those who were involved in SS. Based upon the results the participation in SS was independent of their perception of elegance, health and satisfaction with body image. However it was observed that students with higher levels of self-perception participated more than those with lower levels. This may suggest that if correctly stimulated by teachers, students9 participation in SS could increase.
Child versus adult analogy: The role of systematicity and abstraction in analogy models
Authors: Angela Schwering, Kai-Uwe Kühnberger
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2008)

Abstract The target article develops a computational connectionist model for analogy-making from a developmental perspective and evaluates this model using simple analogies. Our commentary critically reviews the advantages and limits of this approach, in particular with respect to its expressive power, its capability to generalize across analogous structure and analyze systematicity in analogies.
Effect on peer review of telling reviewers that their signed reviews might be posted on the web: randomised controlled trial
Authors: S. van Rooyen, T. Delamothe, S. J. W. Evans
Journal: BMJ (2010)

To see whether telling peer reviewers that their signed reviews of original research papers might be posted on the BMJ's website would affect the quality of their reviews.Randomised controlled trial.A large international general medical journal based in the United Kingdom.541 authors, 471 peer reviewers, and 12 editors.Consecutive eligible papers were randomised either to have the reviewer's signed report made available on the BMJ's website alongside the published paper (intervention group) or to have the report made available only to the author-the BMJ's normal procedure (control group). The intervention was the act of revealing to reviewers-after they had agreed to review but before they undertook their review-that their signed report might appear on the website.The main outcome measure was the quality of the reviews, as independently rated on a scale of 1 to 5 using a validated instrument by two editors and the corresponding author. Authors and editors were blind to the intervention group. Authors rated review quality before the fate of their paper had been decided. Additional outcomes were the time taken to complete the review and the reviewer's recommendation regarding publication.558 manuscripts were randomised, and 471 manuscripts remained after exclusions. Of the 1039 reviewers approached to take part in the study, 568 (55%) declined. Two editors' evaluations of the quality of the peer review were obtained for all 471 manuscripts, with the corresponding author's evaluation obtained for 453. There was no significant difference in review quality between the intervention and control groups (mean difference for editors 0.04, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.17; for authors 0.06, 95% CI -0.09 to 0.20). Any possible difference in favour of the control group was well below the level regarded as editorially significant. Reviewers in the intervention group took significantly longer to review (mean difference 25 minutes, 95% CI 3.0 to 47.0 minutes).Telling peer reviewers that their signed reviews might be available in the public domain on the BMJ's website had no important effect on review quality. Although the possibility of posting reviews online was associated with a high refusal rate among potential peer reviewers and an increase in the amount of time taken to write a review, we believe that the ethical arguments in favour of open peer review more than outweigh these disadvantages.
Goodpasture's Syndrome Response to Mercaptopurine and Prednisone
Authors: E. Dale Everett
Journal: JAMA (1970)

Two patients with Goodpasture's syndrome with severe pulmonary involvement and mild renal disease were treated with mercaptopurine and prednisone for seven to eight months. Each was followed up closely with serial renal function studies and renal biopsies. In both patients, the Addis counts became normal and in patient 1 proteinuria cleared. Follow-up renal biopsies disclosed focal glomerular fibrosis in patient 1 and unchanged mild proliferative glomerulonephritis in the second. There was no further pulmonary involvement.
The Effect of Routine, Early Invasive Management on Outcome for Elderly Patients with Non–ST-Segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndromes
Authors: Richard G. Bach, Christopher P. Cannon, William S. Weintraub, Peter M. DiBattiste, Laura A. Demopoulos, H. Vernon Anderson, Paul T. DeLucca, Elizabeth M. Mahoney, Sabina A. Murphy, Eugene Braunwald
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2004)

Background: Although increasing age is an important risk factor for adverse outcome among patients with acute coronary syndromes, elderly patients are more often managed conservatively. Objective: To examine outcome according to age and management strategy for patients with unstable angina and non–ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (MI). Design: Randomized, controlled trial conducted from December 1997 to June 2000. Setting: 169 community and tertiary care hospitals in 9 countries. Patients: 2220 patients hospitalized with unstable angina and non–ST-segment elevation MI who were randomly assigned to an early invasive or conservative management strategy. Interventions: Medical therapy and coronary angiography at 4 to 48 hours versus medical therapy and predischarge exercise testing. Measurements: Rates of 30-day and 6-month mortality, nonfatal MI, rehospitalization, stroke, and hemorrhagic complications. Results: Among patients 65 years of age and older, the early invasive strategy compared with the conservative strategy yielded an absolute reduction of 4.8 percentage points (8.8% vs. 13.6%; P = 0.018) and a relative reduction of 39% in death or MI at 6 months. Outcomes of the 2 strategies were similar, however, among patients younger than 65 years of age (6.1% vs. 6.5%; P > 0.2). Among patients older than 75 years of age, the early invasive strategy conferred an absolute reduction of 10.8 percentage points (10.8% vs. 21.6%; P = 0.016) and a relative reduction of 56% in death or MI at 6 months. The additional cost per death or MI prevented with the early invasive strategy was lower for elderly patients, but major bleeding rates were higher with this strategy in patients older than 75 years of age (16.6% vs. 6.5%; P = 0.009). Limitations: Because this study involved patients in the Treat Angina with Aggrastat and Determine Cost of Therapy with an Invasive or Conservative Strategy–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TACTICS–TIMI) 18 trial, its generalizability to elderly patients with excluded comorbid conditions is unknown. Conclusion: Despite an increased risk for major bleeding in patients older than 75 years of age, a routine early invasive strategy can significantly improve ischemic outcomes in elderly patients with unstable angina and non–ST-segment elevation MI.
Integration of High-Resolution Methylome and Transcriptome Analyses to Dissect Epigenomic Changes in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Stephan Busche, Bing Ge, Ramon Vidal, Jean-François Spinella, Virginie Saillour, Chantal Richer, Jasmine Healy, Shu-Huang Chen, Arnaud Droit, Daniel Sinnett, Tomi Pastinen
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pre-B ALL) is the most common pediatric cancer. Although the genetic determinants underlying disease onset remain unclear, epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation are suggested to contribute significantly to leukemogenesis. Using the Illumina 450K array, we assessed DNA methylation in matched tumor-normal samples of 46 childhood patients with pre-B ALL, extending single CpG-site resolution analysis of the pre-B ALL methylome beyond CpG-islands (CGI). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of CpG-site neighborhood, gene, or microRNA (miRNA) gene-associated methylation levels separated the tumor cohort according to major pre-B ALL subtypes, and methylation in CGIs, CGI shores, and in regions around the transcription start site was found to significantly correlate with transcript expression. Focusing on samples carrying the t(12;21) ETV6–RUNX1 fusion, we identified 119 subtype-specific high-confidence marker CpG-loci. Pathway analyses linked the CpG-loci–associated genes with hematopoiesis and cancer. Further integration with whole-transcriptome data showed the effects of methylation on expression of 17 potential drivers of leukemogenesis. Independent validation of array methylation and sequencing-derived transcript expression with Sequenom Epityper technology and real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, respectively, indicates more than 80% empirical accuracy of our genome-wide findings. In summary, genome-wide DNA methylation profiling enabled us to separate pre-B ALL according to major subtypes, to map epigenetic biomarkers specific for the t(12;21) subtype, and through a combined methylome and transcriptome approach to identify downstream effects on candidate drivers of leukemogenesis. Cancer Res; 73(14); 4323–36. ©2013 AACR.
Randomized Multicenter Phase II Trial of Oxaliplatin Plus Irinotecan Versus Raltitrexed as First-Line Treatment in Advanced Colorectal Cancer
Authors: W. Scheithauer
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2002)

PURPOSE: Irinotecan and oxaliplatin are two new agents with promising activity in advanced colorectal cancer. Based on preclinical and clinical evidence that both drugs act synergistically, a randomized phase II study was initiated to investigate the therapeutic potential and tolerance of this combination in the front-line setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-two patients with previously untreated, measurable disease were randomized to receive biweekly oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 plus irinotecan 175 mg/m2 or raltitrexed 3 mg/m2 given on day 1 every 3 weeks. Upon development of progressive disease, second-line treatment with the opposite arm was effected. RESULTS: Patients allocated to oxaliplatin/irinotecan had a significantly better radiologically confirmed response rate (43.5% v 19.6%; P = .0025) and longer progression-free survival (median, 7.1 v 5.0 months; P = .0033). Improvement in overall survival, however, did not reach the level of significance (median, 16.0 v 16.5 months; P = .3943). The response rate after cross-over was 33.3% (eight of 24) for assessable patients treated with oxaliplatin/irinotecan compared with 14.2% (three of 21) for those treated with second-line raltitrexed. Oxaliplatin/irinotecan caused more hematologic and gastrointestinal toxicities, necessitating dose reductions in 10 of the first 20 patients. After adjustment of the irinotecan starting dose from 175 to 150 mg/m2, tolerance of treatment was acceptable; the most commonly encountered events (all grades) were neutropenia (81%), alopecia (65%), nausea/emesis (62%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (62%), and diarrhea (46%). CONCLUSION: Oxaliplatin/irinotecan seems beneficial as first-line therapy in advanced colorectal cancer, with an acceptable toxicity profile at the reduced irinotecan dose level. Its promising therapeutic potential is supported by the high response activity noted in the raltitrexed control arm after cross-over, which may also explain the lack of a difference in overall survival.
Escape of metastasizing clonal tumor cell variants from tumor-specific cytolytic T lymphocytes.
Authors: K Bosslet, V Schirrmacher
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1981)

A metastasizing variant of a chemically induced lymphoma from a DBA/2 mouse is shown to carry a distinct tumor-associated transplantation antigen (TATA), which can be recognized by syngeneic secondary anti-tumor cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL). During metastasis of twice-cloned cell lines of this tumor, variants develop that are specifically immunoresistant to lysis by anti-tumor CTL. The variants are detected in the spleen of normal syngeneic mice. They remain stable over long-term passage in tissue culture. The high frequency with which these immunoresistant metastatic variants develop was found to explain the relative ineffectiveness of specific immunization against this metastatic tumor. Compared with organ-selective metastatic variants, the immunoresistant tumor variants seem to arise with a much higher frequency. The change in TATA expression described here differs from antibody-induced antigenic modulation in that it is more stable and genetically transmitted.
Cardiovascular Research speeds up—Even more
Authors: H PIPER, E MARTINSON, T OPTHOF
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2006)

In these days of information technology, the speed of the flow of information is of the essence. Since mid-2005, Cardiovascular Research 's articles-in-press have been accessible via the PubMed database and Science Direct a few weeks after being accepted for publication. However, the Journal has decided to go one step further: starting soon, our articles-in-press will be available online within four days of acceptance by the Journal's Editorial Team. These articles will be in the form of the accepted PDF version provided by the author that will be immediately citable using the digital object identifier (DOI) … 

*CVR{at}physiologie.med.uni-giessen.de