tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Comparison of high-resolution endoluminal sonography to video endoscopy in the detection and evaluation of esophageal varices
Authors: L S Miller, T D Schiano, A Adrain, M Cassidy, J Liu, H Ter, S V Bellary, M A Dabezies, M Black
Journal: Hepatology (1996)

High-resolution endoluminal sonography (HRES) was used to image and measure esophageal varices in control subjects and patients with portal hypertension and compared with endoscopic findings. Nine control patients and 68 patients with known cirrhosis or noncirrhotic portal hypertension underwent videotaped HRES and videotaped esophagoscopy (EGD). Two blinded investigators reviewed the videotapes to determine the presence and size of the largest esophageal varix in each patient. The largest varix by HRES was measured with the esophagus at rest at a point where the varix appeared most circular. The largest varix seen on EGD was graded on a 5-point scale. All nine of the control patients were correctly identified by both EGD and HRES as grade I (no varices). Eight of the 10 patients with no varices seen on EGD had varices identified by HRES. The interobserver correlation for HRES was r = .88 and for EGD was r = .79. The correlation between EGD and HRES was r = .50. High resolution endoluminal sonography allows quantitative measurement of variceal size, is a more sensitive and reproducible imaging modality than esophagoscopy for the detection and sizing of esophageal varices. There is poor correlation between monographic measurement and endoscopic grading of esophageal varices. Assessment of esophageal variceal presence and the measurement of variceal size by high resolution endoluminal sonography is an accurate, reproducible method of determining the size of esophageal varices.
Success and safety of sputum induction in the clinical setting
Authors: H Vlachos-Mayer, R Leigh, RF Sharon, P Hussack, FE Hargreave
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2000)

It has previously been reported that sputum induction is successful and safe in the clinical research setting. The authors examined the success and safety of sputum induction in routine clinical practice in patients with asthma or chronic airflow limitation of varying severity. Records of 304 patients with asthma and 25 with smoking related chronic airflow limitation were examined retrospectively. All had sputum induced as part of their routine clinical evaluation. When the baseline post salbutamol forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was &gt; or =70% predicted, the inductions consisted of inhalation of an aerosol of 3%, 4% and 5% saline, each given for 7 min. If the FEV1 was &lt;70%, or there were other reasons for concern, the inductions were initiated with normal saline for shorter periods. Inhalations were discontinued when sputum was obtained or when there was a fall in FEV1 &gt; or =20%. Success was identified by obtaining nonsquamous total and differential cell counts containing macrophages, and safety by the fall in FEV1. The overall success was 93%. The procedure was safe even amongst patients with an FEV1 of &lt;60% and &lt;1 L. Of 77 patients with an FEV1 between 40-59%, 8% fell by &gt; or =20% and of 35 patients with an FEV1 &lt;40%, 6% fell by 20%. Carefully standardized sputum induction can be successful and safe in patients with asthma or chronic airflow limitation in clinical practice, even when moderate or severe airflow limitation is present.
Cost effectiveness analysis of strategies to combat malaria in developing countries
Authors: Chantal M Morel, Jeremy A Lauer, David B Evans
Journal: BMJ (2005)

To determine the cost effectiveness of selected malaria control interventions in the context of reaching the millennium development goals for malaria.Generalised cost effectiveness analysis.Efficacy data came from the literature and authors' calculations supported by expert opinion. Quantities for resource inputs came from the literature and from expert opinion; prices came from the WHO-CHOICE database.Costs were assessed in year 2000 international dollars, and effects were assessed as disability adjusted life years averted by a 10 year implementation programme. Analysis was restricted to sub-Saharan regions where the most deadly form of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, is most prevalent. The impact on population health for various interventions, and their combinations, was evaluated at selected coverage levels by using a state-transition model. Sensitivity analysis was done for age weights and discounting.High coverage with artemisinin based combination treatments was found to be the most cost effective strategy for control of malaria in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa.A much larger infusion of resources than those currently available is needed to make headway in the fight to roll back malaria. On cost effectiveness grounds, in most areas in sub-Saharan Africa greater coverage with highly effective combination treatments should be the cornerstone of malaria control. However, treatment alone can achieve less than half the total benefit obtainable through a combination of interventions-scaling up the use of impregnated mosquito nets or indoor spraying with insecticides is also critical. Intermittent presumptive treatment of pregnant women can bring a small but important additional health gain at relatively low cost.
Regulation of azophenylarsonate-specific repertoire expression. 1. Frequency of cross-reactive idiotype-positive B cells in A/J and BALB/c mice.
Authors: N H Sigal
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1982)

A large proportion of p-azophenylarsonate (ARS)-specific antibodies from A/J mice share a cross-reactive idiotype (CRIA) that comprises a family of closely related but nonidentical clonotypes. I determined that only 2.6 % (7 out of 267) A/J ARS-specific monoclonal antibodies generated in the splenic focus system possess the predominant CRIA. Because ARS-specific B cells are present at a frequency of 1/68,000 B cells, the frequency of the entire idiotype family is 1 per 2.8 X 10(6) splenic B cells. Thus, there is a striking discrepancy between the representation of this idiotype at the clonal precursor cell level and the serum antibody response. In addition, BALB/c mice have the potential to generate CRIA-positive precursor cells within their nonimmune repertoire. When A/J mice are immunized with ARS-protein conjugates, the serum antibody response and precursor cell population are both dominated by CRIA. The frequency of CRIA-positive B cells increases over 100-fold after immunization, whereas CRIA-negative precursor cells may initially decrease, followed by a later rise in frequency. Finally, although ARS-specific precursor cells are present in high frequency at birth, CRIA-positive monoclonal anti-ARS antibodies are not observed during the early neonatal period. These data provide evidence to suggest that complex regulatory networks influence precursor cell and serum antibody expression.
Impact of Incident Diabetes and Incident Nonfatal Cardiovascular Disease on 18-Year Mortality
Authors: Lynn E. Eberly, Jerome D. Cohen, Ronald Prineas, Lingfeng Yang
Journal: Diabetes Care (2003)

OBJECTIVE— To report long-term risks for total, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality associated with incident diabetes (using current diagnostic criteria) and with incident nonfatal CVD (NF-CVD). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS— A total of 11,645 participants without diabetes or CVD at baseline from the Multiple Risk Factor Intervention Trial who survived to the end of the trial were grouped by during-trial incident diabetes and/or NF-CVD events: neither diabetes nor NF-CVD, diabetes only, NF-CVD only, or both diabetes and NF-CVD. Incident diabetes was defined by use of hypoglycemic agents or fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dl at any time over the 6 trial years. Proportional hazards models tested group differences in mortality over 18 post-trial years. RESULTS— Among 3,859 total deaths were 1,846 from CVD and 1,277 from CHD, with death rates per 10,000 person-years of 203, 97, and 67, respectively. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for total mortality were 2.75 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) for those with NF-CVD and diabetes both, 1.92 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) for those with NF-CVD only, and 1.49 (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) for those with diabetes only, relative to neither diabetes nor NF-CVD. NF-CVD was associated with a higher hazard of death than diabetes for total (HR 1.29, P = 0.0004), CVD (HR 1.76, P &amp;lt; 0.0001), and CHD (HR 1.88, P &amp;lt; 0.0001) mortality. Only the subgroup of participants on hypoglycemic agents showed an equivalent risk of total mortality relative to participants with NF-CVD (HR 0.93, P = 0.54). CONCLUSIONS— Current diabetes diagnostic criteria conferred significantly increased total, CVD, and CHD mortality risks independent of the impact of NF-CVD. NF-CVD was more strongly predictive of mortality.
Randomized Phase Ib/II Study of Gemcitabine Plus Placebo or Vismodegib, a Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitor, in Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Daniel V.T. Catenacci, Melissa R. Junttila, Theodore Karrison, Nathan Bahary, Margit N. Horiba, Sreenivasa R. Nattam, Robert Marsh, James Wallace, Mark Kozloff, Lakshmi Rajdev, Deirdre Cohen, James Wade, Bethany Sleckman, Heinz-Josef Lenz, Patrick Stiff, Pankaj Kumar, Peng Xu, Les Henderson, Naoko Takebe, Ravi Salgia, Xi Wang, Walter M. Stadler, Frederic J. de Sauvage, Hedy L. Kindler
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2015)

Sonic hedgehog (SHH), an activating ligand of smoothened (SMO), is overexpressed in > 70% of pancreatic cancers (PCs). We investigated the impact of vismodegib, an SHH antagonist, plus gemcitabine (GV) or gemcitabine plus placebo (GP) in a multicenter phase Ib/randomized phase II trial and preclinical PC models.
Dissection of the <i>FCGR3A</i> association with RA: increased association in men and with autoantibody positive disease
Authors: James I Robinson, Jennifer H Barrett, John C Taylor, Marc Naven, Diane Corscadden, Anne Barton, Anthony G Wilson, Paul Emery, John D Isaacs, Ann W Morgan
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2009)

Objectives Genome-wide association studies in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have failed to examine the FCGR gene cluster because of the confounding effects of segmental duplication. This study aimed to replicate previous candidate gene studies that had identified a significant association between the FCGR3A -158V allele and RA and then sought to estimate specific subgroup effects. Methods FCGR3A -158F/V genotyping was undertaken in a UK Caucasian replication cohort comprising 2049 patients with RA and 1156 controls. Subgroup analyses assessing the magnitude of association according to gender and autoantibody (rheumatoid factor (RF) and cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP)) status were undertaken in a pooled cohort of 2963 patients with RA and 1731 controls. Logistic regression was used to test for interaction between FCGR3A and HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles. Results In the combined RA cohort, borderline association with homozygosity was found for the FCGR3A -158V allele (OR 1.2, p=0.05), which was stronger in men (OR 1.7, p=0.01). Stratification by autoantibody status showed an increased risk in RF and CCP positive RA. Analysis of the FCGR3A-158V and HLA-DRB1 SE interaction revealed roles for both genes in susceptibility to autoantibody positive RA, with no evidence of interaction. Conclusions FCGR3A is a risk factor for the development of autoantibody positive RA, particularly in men, with evidence of a multiplicative effect with HLA-DRB1 SE.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma in the southwestern part of The Netherlands
Authors: T van Gelder, HC Hoogsteden, MA Versnel, EJ van Hezik, JP Vandenbroucke, HT Planteydt
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1989)

This report is the result of an analysis of the medical records of 124 patients presenting with a malignant pleural mesothelioma. Information about asbestos exposure was available in 104 of them, which appeared to be positive in 95 (91%). The median duration of exposure was 34 yrs. The median latent period was 41 yrs. The median survival was 11 months while different ways of treatment could not prolong survival. The most common radiologic findings were pleural effusions, while in some patients contralateral effusions or pleural thickening was found. Pleural plaques or asbestosis were seen in a minority of the patients. In this series a relatively high percentage of mixed type mesotheliomas was found (56%). Large biopsies will often show both epithelial and connective tissue type elements. Concerning diagnostic procedures we recommend beginning with cytology of pleural fluid, which can easily be obtained together with an Abrams biopsy. If this does not give a definite diagnosis thoracoscopy or thoracotomy will be indicated.
Pretreatment With Angiotensin Receptor Blockade Prevents Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Blunts Left Ventricular Remodeling Associated With Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Hoang Thai, Lisa Castellano, Elizabeth Juneman, Huy Phan, Rose Do, Mohamed A. Gaballa, Steven Goldman
Journal: Circulation (2006)

This study was designed to determine the effects of pretreatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker on left ventricular (LV) function and remodeling during acute myocardial infarction (MI).Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated with candesartan (10 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)) for 2 weeks and studied at 1, 3, and 6 minutes after MI. Compared with untreated rats, pretreatment with candesartan lowered (P<0.05) LV systolic pressure and the first derivative of LV pressure with respect to time but did not change LV end-diastolic pressure or improve LV regional function. With candesartan pretreatment, LV fractional shortening and ejection fraction increased (P<0.05) by 37% and 28%, and LV chamber dilation was attenuated (P<0.05). At 6 minutes after MI, LV endothelial nitric oxide synthase decreased in the infarcted and noninfarcted wall 47% (P=0.04) and 70% (P=0.002), and constitutive microtubulin increased 260% (P=0.0005) and 111% (P=0.003). Candesartan had no effect on LV tissue endothelial nitric oxide synthase levels but attenuated the increase in constitutive microtubulin by 77% (P=0.004) and 37% (P<0.05).Pretreatment with candesartan before an acute MI improves global LV function, prevents LV dilation, and blunts the increase in constitutive microtubulin, with minimal effects on LV hemodynamics, regional function, or tissue endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Thus, candesartan given before an MI attenuates LV remodeling and alters the cytoskeleton matrix of the left ventricle.
The influence of steroid hormone metabolites on the in vitro development of erythroid colonies derived from human bone marrow.
Authors: A Urabe, S Sassa, A Kappas
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1979)

Certain C19 and C21 steroid metabolites, when incubated with normal human bone marrow cells in culture, increased the number of erythroid colonies in the presence of erythropoietin. Among a number of pairs of C5 epimeric steroids tested, most 5beta (A:B cis) steroids stimulated the growth of both early erythroid progenitor cells (BFU-E) and late erythroid progenitor cells (CFU-E), whereas only a few 5alpha-(A:B trans) steroids stimulated the growth of CFU-E. No 5alpha-compounds of six pairs of steroids studied were found to stimulate BFU-E formation. This structure-activity relationship conforms with that previously observed in studies of steroid induction of ALA-synthase in avian embryo liver cells and hemoglobin synthesis in the cultured avian blastoderm. When human bone marrow cells were preincubated with the steroids for 2 d, followed by incubation with erythropoietin, only the 5 beta-compounds stimulated the growth of BFU-E. Similarly, when addition of steroids was delayed in relation to erythropoietin in the culture, only the 5 beta-derivative of a pair of C5 epimeric compounds displayed an enhancing effect on the growth of BFU-E. This effect required that the steroid addition be made no later than 48 h after initiation of the culture. These data demonstrate that certain natural steroid metabolites significantly stimulate erythropoiesis in normal human bone marrow cells in culture. They also indicate that 5 beta-compounds are more stimulatory than their 5 alpha-epimers, and they suggest that these 5 beta-steroids act preferentially on very primitive erythroid progenitor cells, probably on BFU-E.
Renal Medulla and Renoprival Hypertension
Authors: E. E. Muirhead, Mary Kosinski
Journal: Circulation Research (1962)

A crude extract of renal medulla (medullorenal extract) has been studied in relation to a crude extract of renal cortex which possessed potent renin pressor activity. The medullorenal extract either effected no immediate change in the arterial pressure or caused a mild to moderate pressor effect. The latter was thought to be due to contamination with renin, since precise separation of cortex and medulla may not have been consistent. The medullorenal extract did not display a sustained, acute depressor effect. The extract was not pyrogenic in rabbits. The production of renin pressor effect in nephrectomized dogs did not alter the evolution of renoprival hypertension. The mixture of renin and nonrenal extracts did not alter the evolution of renoprival hypertension in the dog. The medullorenal extract, on the other hand, prevented renoprival hypertension in the presence of daily renin pressor responses. The latter results were similar to those obtained when renin was infused in normal dogs. The results suggest that the medullorenal extract protected against renoprival hypertension by a route other than one directly related to the renin-angiotensin system. Such a route could be due to an effect on small arteries and arterioles. The results also are consistent with an active principle in the medullorenal extract which reproduces the function of intact renal tissue.
Responsibility of the practitioner in martial prepration and problems
Authors: G. B. Carruthers
Journal: BMJ (1956)

The serious increase in the breakdown of the marriage relationship has led to the development of the concept of marriage guidance.There are two main objectives:(1) through pre-marital advice, to give couples a clear understanding of the various relationships withinx mar- riage, and to help to avoid some of the difficulties which may arise; and (2) if difficulties should occur, to help the partners towards achieving a solution.The general practitioner is often approached for advice, either before marriage or, later, when difficulties have arisen.He may also be in a position to realize that marital discord is the basic cause of the numerous symptoms of preoccupation with minor ailments which many of his neurotic patients show.The time he can devote to assisting them is often restricted, but by his initial attitude and advice, and in appropriate cases by the suitable reference of a case, he can do much to give the couple a chance of solving their difficulties.Unfortunately, young couples often have difficulty in finding a sympathetic and understanding adviser to whom they can turn for guidance.The Church has lost much of its influence as a counsellor, and parental intervention in these problems is now unfashionable and is looked upon as interference.The young couple couild undoubtedly often gain much from the experience of their elders, who would themselves benefit from the realization that they still have an important part to play after their children have married.As a result of this parental indifference the young couple often have nowhere to turn, and a sympathetic and understanding general practitioner can render great assistance.
Diaphragm pacing restores olfaction in tetraplegia
Authors: D. Adler, J. Gonzalez-Bermejo, A. Duguet, A. Demoule, F. Le Pimpec-Barthes, A. Hurbault, C. Morélot-Panzini, T. Similowski
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2009)

High cervical spinal cord injuries induce extreme handicap and tactile isolation. Tracheotomised tetraplegic patients are also bound to be olfaction deprived. By restoring negative pressure inspiration, diaphragm pacing (DP) should improve olfaction. We tested olfaction in 10 consecutive tetraplegics during positive pressure mechanical ventilation and DP, using the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT). Quality of life was assessed using the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS). Self-perceived benefits of DP were studied using an in-house questionnaire. Olfaction was very poor during positive pressure mechanical ventilation (UPSIT, mean± sd 17.1±6.4, anosmia or severe microsmia). It improved during DP (35.2±1.9, normosmia or mild microsmia; p&lt;0.0001) and SWLS was 18.5±4.2. Nine patients stated that DP had improved their quality of life. This was driven by better mobility (ranked first), improved self-image and relationships with others (ranked second), improved olfaction and better feeling of security (both ranked third). Improved olfaction is among the benefits of DP and should be mentioned to patients considered for this therapy. Furthermore, attention to olfaction is warranted in tracheotomised ventilator-dependent patients, as a putative path towards improvement of quality of life.
β-Adrenergic signal transduction following carvedilol treatment in hypertensive cardiac hypertrophy
Authors: M Böhm
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1998)

Objective: Treatment with the β-blocker carvedilol leads to an improvement of outcome and ejection fraction in heart failure. These effects occur without affecting the number of β-adrenergic receptors, as determined in right ventricular biopsies from patients with heart failure. This study was aimed at investigating the effects of carvedilol on β-adrenergic signal transduction alterations in a model of left ventricular pressure overload, which is characterized by sympathetic activation and a desensitized β-adrenergic signal transduction. Methods: Transgenic rats with overexpression of renin [TG(mREN2)27] were treated with carvedilol (30 μg/kg) or held under control conditions and were compared with Sprague-Dawley rats. Myocardial β-adrenoceptors (125I-labeled iodocyanopindolol binding), Giα (pertussis toxin labeling), Gsα-activity (reconstitution into cyc−S49 membranes) and adenylyl cyclase activity were measured. Blood pressure and heart rate, increase in heart rate during sacrifice and pressure rate products were determined. Results: β-Adrenoceptors were downregulated and Giα-protein levels were significantly increased, producing a desensitization of basal, isoprenaline- and guanine nucleotide-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity compared to controls. Carvedilol reduced heart rate, blood pressure and pressure rate product in TG(mREN2)27. Carvedilol did not restore biochemical alterations, but even further reduced β-adrenoceptor numbers and adenylyl cyclase. It exhibited a two affinity state, guanine nucleotide-sensitive binding to cardiac β-adrenergic receptors similar to isoprenaline but different from metoprolol. Conclusions: Carvedilol did not restore β-adrenergic signal transduction at concentrations producing antiadrenergic effects in vivo. This effect might be due to an atypical guanine nucleotide-dependent interaction with β-adrenergic receptors. Thus, ancillary properties could explain the recently reported beneficial effects in patients with heart failure independent from an upregulation of β-adrenergic receptors.
Monocyte and Macrophage Heterogeneity in the Heart
Authors: Matthias Nahrendorf, Filip K. Swirski
Journal: Circulation Research (2013)

Monocytes and macrophages are innate immune cells that reside and accumulate in the healthy and injured heart. The cells and their subsets pursue distinct functions in steady-state and disease, and their tenure may range between hours and months. Some subsets are highly inflammatory, whereas others support tissue repair. This review discusses current concepts of lineage relationships and crosstalk of systems, highlights open questions, and describes tools for studying monocyte and macrophage subsets in the murine and human heart.