tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Microbiology of infected poison ivy dermatitis
Authors: I. Brook, E.H. Frazier, J.K. Yeager
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2000)

We report the aerobic and anaerobic microbiology of secondarily infected poison ivy dermatitis. The study involved retrospective review of clinical and microbiology laboratory records of patients with secondarily infected poison ivy lesions. Bacterial growth was noted in 33 specimens. Aerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria only were present in 18 (55%) patients, anaerobic bacteria only in seven (21%), and mixed anaerobic-aerobic bacteria in eight (24%). Forty-five isolates were recovered (1.4 per specimen): 27 aerobic or facultative anaerobic bacteria, and 18 strict anaerobes. The predominant aerobic and facultative anaerobic bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus (13 isolates) and group A beta-haemolytic streptococci (six). The predominant anaerobes were Peptostreptococcus spp. (seven isolates), pigmented Prevotella and Porphyromonas spp. (four) and Fusobacterium spp. (two). Single bacterial isolates were recovered in 18 (55%) patients, eight of which were S. aureus. Nineteen of the organisms isolated from 16 (48%) patients produced the enzyme beta-lactamase. Organisms that resided in the mucous membranes close to the lesions predominated in those infections. Enteric gram-negative rods and Bacteroides fragilis group predominated in leg and buttock lesions. Group A beta-haemolytic streptococci, pigmented Prevotella and Porphyromonas and Fusobacterium spp. were most frequently recovered from lesions of the finger, face and neck. The polymicrobial aetiology of secondarily infected poison ivy lesions, and the association of bacterial flora with the anatomical site of the lesions, are demonstrated.
Jejunal motility in patients with functional abdominal pain.
Authors: J G Kingham, R Bown, R Colson, M L Clark
Journal: Gut (1984)

A radiotelemetric system using dual pressure pills was used to record the jejunal motility in man. Prolonged recordings were made under relatively physiological conditions. Six patients with functional abdominal pain and six age/sex matched normal subjects were studied. Motility patterns varied markedly both within and between subjects. No differences were detected between the two groups. In particular, the occurrence of characteristic pain in the patients bore no relation to the recorded motor activity. The wide range of jejunal motility patterns in normal subjects needs to be appreciated before conclusions can be drawn about possible abnormalities in gut diseases or disorders.
That impish TIMP: the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3
Authors: J F Woessner
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2001)

untrammeled digestion does not destroy critical tissues. Most MMPs are made only upon demand and in low levels; they are secreted as proenzymes in which a cysteine residue of the propeptide binds to and inactivates the active-site zinc. Most importantly, there is a group of five TIMPs (tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases) that are each capable of inhibiting almost every member of the MMP family. The TIMPs are small proteins of about 21,000 Da that contain two domains: N-terminal and C-terminal. Each domain contains three disulfide bridges, making the TIMPs quite stable. Most of the biological functions discovered so far reside in the N-terminal domain of about 125 residues (5). Normally, the TIMPs are in delicate balance with the MMPs and matrix is digested in a highly regulated fashion. However, there are many disease processes in which MMP levels are elevated without a concomitant increase in TIMPs, leading to an imbalance and the resultant destruction of tissues. Some wellknown examples include the loss of cartilage matrix in osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis, the rupture of the plaque cap in atherosclerosis, and the invasion and metastasis of tumor cells (6). A surprising feature of the TIMPs is
Leptin in human reproduction
Authors: I E Messinis, S D Milingos
Journal: Human Reproduction Update (1999)

The recent discovery of the obese (ob) gene has provided new insight into the mechanism which controls body fat mass. Leptin, a product of the ob gene, serves as the link between fat and the brain. This protein, by acting at the level of the hypothalamus, decreases food intake and increases energy expenditure. Animals that lack leptin (ob/ob mice) develop profound obesity and become infertile. Treatment of these animals with leptin reduces food intake and restores normal fertility. Although leptin is important for the control of fat stores in certain species, the role of this substance in the development of human obesity remains obscure. However, it has been speculated that, in humans, obesity is related to leptin resistance. The relationship between fat and reproduction has been recognized for >20 years. This article discusses the relationship between leptin and human reproduction. In particular, recent knowledge about the possible role of leptin in various conditions such as puberty, polycystic ovary syndrome and pregnancy is reviewed. Also, the article discusses the possible role of leptin in ovarian function and the relationship of this protein with gonadal steroids. It is expected that future research will clarify the physiological importance of leptin in human reproductive function. Keywords:leptin/obesity/ovary/pregnancy/puberty
Chaos in the cardiovascular system: an update
Authors: C Wagner
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1998)

Rhythmic changes of blood pressure, heart rate, and other cardiovascular measures have drawn the attention of several investigators, since these oscillations can shed light onto the activity of the underlying control network. The overwhelming proportion of circulatory variations, however, are not linear, i.e., they do not consist of perfectly rhythmic components. Thus, these fluctuations are more adequately analysed by non-linear techniques, most of which are adopted from chaos theory. A spotlight issue of 'Cardiovascular Research' (Vol. 31, 1996), focused on chaos in the cardiovascular system. This current review outlines today's understanding of this field by presenting the major discoveries and developments which have taken place since then.
Proxy for suicide attempts was inappropriate in study of changes in antidepressant use after FDA warnings
Authors: R. O. Bartlett
Journal: BMJ (2014)

Lu and colleagues used poisoning by psychotropic agents (international classification of diseases, 9th revision (ICD-9) code 969) as their “proxy for population level suicide attempts.”1 They state that non-fatal poisoning by psychotropic drugs has a positive predictive value of 79.7% for suicide attempts. This is based …
Is there a place for corticosteroids or immune modulation in treating Reiter's syndrome and ankylosing spondylitis?
Authors: M Rosenthal
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1979)

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of receptor/G-protein (R:G) stoichiometry on constitutive activity and the efficacy of agonists, partial agonists, and inverse agonists at human (h) 5-hydroxytryphamine 1B (5-HT<sub>1B</sub>) receptors. Two Chinese hamster ovary cell lines were used; they expressed 8.5 versus 0.4 pmol h5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptors/mg (determined by [<sup>3</sup>H]GR125,743 saturation analysis) and 3.0 versus 1.5 pmol receptor-activated G-proteins/mg [determined by guanosine-5′-<i>O</i>-(3-[<sup>35</sup>S]thio)-triphosphate ([<sup>35</sup>S]GTPγS) isotopic dilution], respectively. Thus, they displayed R:G ratios of ∼3.0 (RGhigh) and ∼0.3 (RGlow), respectively. In competition-binding experiments, the agonists, 5-HT and sumatriptan, displayed fewer high-affinity (HA)-binding sites and the partial agonists, BMS181,101 and L775,606, displayed decreased affinity in RGhigh versus RGlow membranes. In contrast, the inverse agonists, SB224,289 and, to a lesser extent, methiothepin, showed increased affinity. In G-protein activation experiments, both basal and 5-HT-activated [<sup>35</sup>S]GTPγS binding were higher in RGhigh than in RGlow membranes. Constitutive activity (determined by inhibition of basal [<sup>35</sup>S]GTPγS binding with GTPγS in the absence of receptor ligands) was more pronounced in RGhigh versus RGlow membranes, as revealed by the &gt;5-fold greater proportion of HA sites. Correspondingly, the negative efficacy of inverse agonists was strikingly augmented, inasmuch as they suppressed approximately two-thirds of HA [<sup>35</sup>S]GTPγS binding in RGhigh membranes, but only approximately one-third in RGlow membranes. Furthermore, the efficacy of partial agonists was greater at RGhigh versus RGlow membranes, as estimated by their ability to enhance [<sup>35</sup>S]GTPγS binding. In conclusion, an increase in R:G ratios at h5-HT<sub>1B</sub> receptors was associated with an increase in relative efficacy of partial agonists and, most notably, an increase in both constitutive G-protein activation and negative efficacy of inverse agonists.
Abstract 2192: Genomic amplification and drug-resistance roles of the KDM5A histone demethylase gene in breast cancer
Authors: Jinling Hou, Jack Wu, Alan Dombkowski, Julie L. Boerner, Stephen Ethier, Zeng-Quan Yang
Journal: Cancer Research (2012)

Abstract Interconnected genetic and epigenetic events control both the initiation and progression of cancer. Specifically, genetic alterations, such as amplification, and the subsequent over-expression of genes encoding ‘epigenetic modifying enzymes’ can directly lead to histone code changes that may be critical for cancer progression. KDM5A (lysine (K)-specific demethylase 5A, also known as RBP2 and JARID1A) was originally identified as the retinoblastoma-binding protein (RBP) implicated in the regulation of retinoblastoma target genes. Recently, several groups discovered that KDM5A is a member of a set of newly identified histone demethylases that control the chromatin-mediated regulation of gene expression. Specifically, KDM5A can function as a transcriptional repressor through the demethylation of tri- and dimethylated histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4) active marks. In this study, we observed a significant amplification and over-expression of the KDM5A gene in various tumors, including breast cancer. We found that breast cancer cells with KDM5A gene amplification had intrinsic drug resistance properties and knocking down KDM5A with shRNAs improved the efficacy of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors against these breast cancer cells. Further, up-regulation of KDM5A modified the histone methylation status and altered the expression of a subset of key genes, including the tumor suppressor p21 and the apoptotic effector BAK1, in breast cancer. Our findings suggest that alteration of the KDM5A gene may have a critical role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2192. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2192
Epidemiology of heart failure
Authors: Amy Groenewegen, Frans H. Rutten, Arend Mosterd, Arno W. Hoes
Journal: European Journal of Heart Failure (2020)

The heart failure syndrome has first been described as an emerging epidemic about 25 years ago. Today, because of a growing and ageing population, the total number of heart failure patients still continues to rise. However, the case mix of heart failure seems to be evolving. Incidence has stabilized and may even be decreasing in some populations, but alarming opposite trends have been observed in the relatively young, possibly related to an increase in obesity. In addition, a clear transition towards heart failure with a preserved ejection fraction has occurred. Although this transition is partially artificial, due to improved recognition of heart failure as a disorder affecting the entire left ventricular ejection fraction spectrum, links can be made with the growing burden of obesity‐related diseases and with the ageing of the population. Similarly, evidence suggests that the number of patients with heart failure may be on the rise in low‐income countries struggling under the double burden of communicable diseases and conditions associated with a Western‐type lifestyle. These findings, together with the observation that the mortality rate of heart failure is declining less rapidly than previously, indicate we have not reached the end of the epidemic yet. In this review, the evolving epidemiology of heart failure is put into perspective, to discern major trends and project future directions.
Time Course Evolution of Ventilatory Responses to Inspiratory Unloading in Patients
Authors: JEAN PAUL VIALE, SERGE DUPERRET, PHILIPPE MAHUL, BERTRAND DELAFOSSE, CLAUDE DELPUECH, DIETER WEISMANN, GUY ANNAT
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1998)

Inspiratory muscle unloading decreases ventilatory drive. In this study, we examined the time course of this effect in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease receiving two modes of ventilatory support: pressure support ventilation (PSV), during which each cycle was assisted, and biphasic positive airway pressure (BIPAP), set up in such a manner that one spontaneous breath took place between two consecutive pressure-assisted breaths. The first breath following the switch from spontaneous breathing to PSV was associated with an increase in tidal volume (VT) and a drop in mean transdiaphragmatic pressure (mean Pdi) and inspiratory work (WI) performed per liter but with unchanged values of esophageal occlusion pressure at 100 ms (Pes 0.1), diaphragmatic electrical activity (EMGdi), and WI performed by breath. The same phenomena were observed for the assisted breath of BIPAP as compared with the preceding spontaneous breath. During the subsequent breaths of PSV, Pes 0.1, EMGdi, and WI performed per breath decreased progressively up to the sixth to eighth breaths, and VT returned to pre-PSV values. We conclude that in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the decrease in ventilatory drive associated with PSV takes place from the first breath onwards but requires six to eight breaths to be fully achieved. During BIPAP, as a consequence of the kinetics of the PSV-induced downregulation of ventilatory drive, assisted breaths following spontaneous breaths are characterized by an enhanced inspiratory efficiency.
Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research Recommendations for Cancer Prevention Is Associated With Better Health-Related Quality of Life Among Elderly Female Cancer Survivors
Authors: Maki Inoue-Choi, DeAnn Lazovich, Anna E. Prizment, Kim Robien
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

Purpose The 2007 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) diet and physical activity guidelines encourage cancer survivors to follow its cancer prevention recommendations. We evaluated whether adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations was associated with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among elderly female cancer survivors. Patients and Methods A total of 2,193 women with a confirmed cancer diagnosis (1986 through 2002) in the Iowa Women's Health Study were identified. We calculated a WCRF/AICR recommendation adherence score (range, 0 to 7), assigning one point each for seven recommendations. Physical and mental component summary scores (PCS, MCS) from the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form–36 Health Survey were compared by recommendation adherence scores. Results Mean adherence score was 4.0 ± 1.2. Overall, higher adherence to the WCRF/AICR guidelines was significantly associated with better PCS and MCS after adjustment for age, education, marital status, number of comorbidities, smoking, cancer stage, and current cancer treatment (P trend &lt; .001 for both). PCS was 43.5 versus 37.0 and MCS was 54.2 versus 52.0 among women with adherence scores ≥ 5 compared with women scoring ≤ 3. Adherence to the physical activity recommendation was associated with higher PCS and MCS after adjusting for demographic and medical confounders, body mass index, and dietary recommendation adherence. For the body weight recommendation, adherence was associated with higher PCS but lower MCS, whereas adherence to the dietary recommendations was associated with higher MCS only. Conclusion Following the lifestyle guidelines for cancer prevention may improve HRQOL among elderly female cancer survivors. Physical activity may be a key lifestyle factor to improve HRQOL.
hZip2 and hZip3 zinc transporters are down regulated in human prostate adenocarcinomatous glands
Authors: Mohamed M Desouki, Joseph Geradts, Beatrice Milon, Renty B Franklin, Leslie C Costello
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2007)

Abstract Background The normal human prostate glandular epithelium has the unique function of accumulating high levels of zinc. In prostate cancer this capability is lost as an early event in the development of the malignant cells. The mechanism and factors responsible for the ability of the normal epithelial cells to accumulate zinc and the loss of this capability in the malignant cells need to be identified. We previously reported that Zip1 is an important zinc uptake transporter in prostate cells and is down regulated in the malignant cells in situ along with the depletion of zinc levels. In this report we investigated the expression of two other Zip family zinc transporters, Zip2 and Zip3 in malignant versus nonmalignant (normal and BPH) glands. Zip2 and Zip3 relative protein levels were determined by immunohistochemistry analysis of human prostate tissue sections. Results Normal and BPH glandular epithelium consistently exhibited the strong presence of both Zip 2 and Zip3; whereas both transporters consistently were essentially non-detectable in the malignant glands. This represents the first report of the expression of Zip3 in human prostate tissue; and more importantly, reveals that ZiP2 and Zip3 are down regulated in malignant cells in situ as we also had demonstrated for Zip1. Zip2 and Zip3 transporter proteins were localized predominantly at the apical cell membrane, which is in contrast to the Zip1 localization at the basolateral membrane. Zip2 and Zip3 seemingly are associated with the re-uptake of zinc from prostatic fluid. Conclusion These results coupled with previous reports implicate Zip2 and Zip3 along with Zip1 as important zinc uptake transporters involved in the unique ability of prostate cells to accumulate high cellular zinc levels. Zip1 is important for the extraction of zinc from circulation as the primary source of cellular zinc. Zip 2 and Zip3 appear to be important for retention of the zinc in the cellular compartment. The down regulation of all three transporters in the malignant cells is consistent with the loss of zinc accumulation in these cells. Since zinc imposes tumor suppressor effects, the silencing of the gene expression for these transporters is a required event for the manifestation of the malignant activities of the neoplastic cells. This now provides new insights into the genetic/molecular events associated with the development of prostate cancer; and supports our concept of Zip1, and now Zip2 and Zip3, as tumor suppressor genes and zinc as a tumor suppressor agent.
Cancer Vaccines: Moving Beyond Current Paradigms
Authors: Jeffrey Schlom, Philip M. Arlen, James L. Gulley
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2007)

Abstract The field of cancer vaccines is currently in an active state of preclinical and clinical investigations. Although no therapeutic cancer vaccine has to date been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, several new paradigms are emerging from recent clinical findings both in the use of combination therapy approaches and, perhaps more importantly, in clinical trial design and end point analyses. This article will review recent clinical trials involving several different cancer vaccines from which data are emerging contrasting classic “tumor response” (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) criteria with “patient response” in the manifestation of increased patient survival post-vaccine therapy. Also described are several strategies in which cancer vaccines can be exploited in combination with other agents and therapeutic modalities that are quite unique when compared with “conventional” combination therapies. This is most likely due to the phenomena that (a) cancer vaccines initiate a dynamic immune process that can be exploited in subsequent therapies and (b) both radiation and certain chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to alter the phenotype of tumor cells as to render them more susceptible to T-cell–mediated killing. Consequently, evidence is emerging from several studies in which patient cohorts who first receive a cancer vaccine (as contrasted with control cohorts) benefit clinically from subsequent therapies.
Incidence and characteristics of viral community-acquired pneumonia in adults
Authors: L C Jennings, T P Anderson, K A Beynon, A Chua, R T R Laing, A M Werno, S A Young, S T Chambers, D R Murdoch
Journal: Thorax (2007)

<h3>Background:</h3> In adults, viral causes of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) are poorly characterised. The aims of this study were to characterise the viral aetiology of CAP in adults by using an extensive array of viral diagnostic tests and to compare the characteristics of viral pneumonia with those of pneumococcal pneumonia. <h3>Methods:</h3> Adults admitted to Christchurch Hospital over a 1-year period with CAP were included in the study. Microbiological testing methods included blood and sputum cultures, urinary antigen testing for <i>Streptococcus pneumoniae</i> and <i>Legionella pneumophila</i>, antibody detection in paired sera and detection of respiratory viruses in nasopharyngeal swabs by immunofluorescence, culture and PCR. <h3>Results:</h3> Of 304 patients with CAP, a viral diagnosis was made in 88 (29%), with rhinoviruses and influenza A being the most common. Two or more pathogens were detected in 49 (16%) patients, 45 of whom had mixed viral and bacterial infections. There were no reliable clinical predictors of viral pneumonia, although several variables were independently associated with some aetiologies. The presence of myalgia was associated with pneumonia caused by any respiratory virus (OR 3.62, 95% CI 1.29 to 10.12) and influenza pneumonia (OR 190.72, 95% CI 3.68 to 9891.91). Mixed rhinovirus/pneumococcal infection was associated with severe disease. <h3>Conclusions:</h3> Virus-associated CAP is common in adults. Polymicrobial infections involving bacterial and viral pathogens are frequent and may be associated with severe pneumonia.
Antibodies to the endoplasmic reticulum-resident chaperones calnexin, BiP and Grp94 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: C K Weber, M Haslbeck, M Englbrecht, B Sehnert, D Mielenz, D Graef, J H Distler, H Burkhardt, G Schett, R E Voll, B G Furnrohr
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010)

To investigate the presence of autoantibodies against mammalian heat shock proteins (Hsps) of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (Ssc) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Sera from 40 healthy donors, 63 SLE patients, 22 Ssc patients, 14 patients with …