tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Reliability and Validity of Mobile Teledermatology in Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Positive Patients in Botswana
Authors: Rahat S. Azfar, Robert A. Lee, Leslie Castelo-Soccio, Martin S. Greenberg, Warren B. Bilker, Joel M. Gelfand, Carrie L. Kovarik
Journal: JAMA Dermatology (2014)

Mobile teledermatology may increase access to care.To determine whether mobile teledermatology in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients in Gaborone, Botswana, was reliable and produced valid assessments compared with face-to-face dermatologic consultations.Cross-sectional study conducted in outpatient clinics and public inpatient settings in Botswana for 76 HIV-positive patients 18 years and older with a skin or mucosal condition that had not been evaluated by a dermatologist.We calculated the κ coefficient for diagnosis, diagnostic category, and management for test-retest and interrater reliability. We also determined sensitivity and specificity for each diagnosis.The κ coefficient for test-retest reliability ranged from 0.47 (95% CI, 0.35 to 0.59) to 0.78 (0.67 to 0.88) for the primary diagnosis, 0.29 (0.18 to 0.42) to 0.73 (0.61 to 0.84) for diagnostic category, and 0.17 (-0.01 to 0.36) to 0.54 (0.38 to 0.70) for management. The κ coefficient for interrater reliability ranged from 0.41 (95% CI, 0.31 to 0.52) to 0.51 (0.41 to 0.61) for the primary diagnosis, 0.22 (0.14 to 0.31) to 0.43 (0.34 to 0.53) for diagnostic category, and 0.08 (0.02 to 0.15) to 0.12 (0.01 to 0.23) for management. Sensitivity and specificity for the top 10 diagnoses varied from 0 to 0.88 and 0.84 to 1.00, respectively.Our results suggest that while the use of mobile teledermatology technology in HIV-positive patients in Botswana has significant potential for improving access to care, additional work is needed to improve the reliability and validity of this technology on a larger scale in this population.
Intravital imaging of donor allogeneic effector and regulatory T cells with host dendritic cells during GVHD
Authors: Kaifeng Lisa Lin, LeShara M. Fulton, Matthew Berginski, Michelle L. West, Nicholas A. Taylor, Timothy P. Moran, James M. Coghill, Bruce R. Blazar, James E. Bear, Jonathan S. Serody
Journal: Blood (2014)
Birth order, gestational age, and risk of delivery related perinatal death in twins: retrospective cohort study
Authors: G. C S Smith
Journal: BMJ (2002)

<h3>Abstract</h3> <b>Objective:</b> To determine whether twins born second are at increased risk of perinatal death because of complications during labour and delivery. <b>Design:</b> Retrospective cohort study. <b>Setting:</b> Scotland, 1992 and 1997. <b>Participants:</b> All twin births at or after 24 weeks9 gestation, excluding twin pairs in which either twin died before labour or delivery or died during or after labour and delivery because of congenital abnormality, non-immune hydrops, or twin to twin transfusion syndrome. <b>Main outcome measure:</b> Delivery related perinatal deaths (deaths during labour or the neonatal period). <b>Results:</b> Overall, delivery related perinatal deaths were recorded for 23 first twins only and 23 second twins only of 1438 twin pairs born before 36 weeks (preterm) by means other than planned caesarean section (P&gt;0.99). No deaths of first twins and nine deaths of second twins (P=0.004) were recorded among the 2436 twin pairs born at or after 36 weeks (term). Discordance between first and second twins differed significantly in preterm and term births (P=0.007). Seven of nine deaths of second twins at term were due to anoxia during the birth (2.9 (95% confidence interval 1.2 to 5.9) per 1000); five of these deaths were associated with mechanical problems with the second delivery following vaginal delivery of the first twin. No deaths were recorded among 454 second twins delivered at term by planned caesarean section. <b>Conclusions:</b> Second twins born at term are at higher risk than first twins of death due to complications of delivery. Previous studies may not have shown an increased risk because of inadequate categorisation of deaths, lack of statistical power, inappropriate analyses, and pooling of dataabout preterm births and term births. <h3>What is already known on this topic</h3> It is difficult to assess the wellbeing of second twins during labour Deliveries of second twins are at increased risk of mechanical problems, such as cord prolapse and malpresentation, after vaginal delivery of first twins Increased risks of perinatal death in second twins have not been shown, but the methods of these studies were flawed <h3>What this study adds</h3> Second twins delivered at term are at increased risk of delivery relatedperinatal deaths Intrapartum anoxia caused 75% of these deaths in second twins, and most of these resulted from mechanical problems after vaginal delivery of first twins Planned caesarean section of twins at term may prevent perinatal deaths
Widespread evidence for horizontal transfer of transposable elements across Drosophila genomes
Authors: Carolina Bartolomé, Xabier Bello, Xulio Maside
Journal: Genome biology (2009)

Horizontal transfer (HT) could play an important role in the long-term persistence of transposable elements (TEs) because it provides them with the possibility to avoid the checking effects of host-silencing mechanisms and natural selection, which would eventually drive their elimination from the genome. However, despite the increasing evidence for HT of TEs, its rate of occurrence among the TE pools of model eukaryotic organisms is still unknown. We have extracted and compared the nucleotide sequences of all potentially functional autonomous TEs present in the genomes of Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans and D. yakuba - 1,436 insertions classified into 141 distinct families - and show that a large fraction of the families found in two or more species display levels of genetic divergence and within-species diversity that are significantly lower than expected by assuming copy-number equilibrium and vertical transmission, and consistent with a recent origin by HT. Long terminal repeat (LTR) retrotransposons form nearly 90% of the HT cases detected. HT footprints are also frequent among DNA transposons (40% of families compared) but rare among non-LTR retroelements (6%). Our results suggest a genomic rate of 0.04 HT events per family per million years between the three species studied, as well as significant variation between major classes of elements. The genome-wide patterns of sequence diversity of the active autonomous TEs in the genomes of D. melanogaster, D. simulans and D. yakuba suggest that one-third of the TE families originated by recent HT between these species. This result emphasizes the important role of horizontal transmission in the natural history of Drosophila TEs.
The SWI/SNF Chromatin-Remodeling Complex and Glucocorticoid Resistance in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Nicolas Pottier, Wenjian Yang, Mahfoud Assem, John C. Panetta, Deqing Pei, Steven W. Paugh, Cheng Cheng, Monique L. Den Boer, Mary V. Relling, Rob Pieters, William E. Evans, Meyling H. Cheok
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2008)

BackgroundGlucocorticoids are used in the curative treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Resistance to glucocorticoids is an important adverse prognostic factor in newly diagnosed ALL patients but its mechanism is unknown. Because SWI/SNF complex–mediated chromatin remodeling is required for glucocorticoid transcriptional activity in vitro, we investigated whether expression of subunits of the SWI/SNF complex was related to glucocorticoid resistance in ALL.
Biliary malignancies in primary sclerosing cholangitis: Timing for liver transplantation
Authors: B Nashan, H J Schlitt, G Tusch, K J Oldhafer, B Ringe, S Wagner, R Pichlmayr
Journal: Hepatology (1996)

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated in 10% to 36% of those with hepatobiliary malignancies, which are, in the majority of cases, not known prior to transplantation. Diagnosis of carcinomas in a PSC setting at an early stage has not yet been achieved, because there are no differences in the age of patients or clinical course, particularly with regard to the time between diagnosis of PSC and detection of carcinomas. To assess optimal timing for transplantation in patients with PSC, we applied the Mayo survival model to 48 patients receiving transplants for that disease in our center between 1972 and 1994. Of these patients, 10 had a biliary malignancy, which was incidental in 9. According to the Mayo model, low-, moderate-, and high-risk groups of patients could be formed. The actuarial patient survivals at 1 and 7 years were 100% and 100% (low risk), 68.6% and 68.6% (moderate risk), and 54.6% and 46.8% (high risk), respectively. Patients with a biliary malignancy had a 30% survival at 1 year; none survived 6 years. Local recurrence of the tumor was found in 3 patients, 2 of them with low tumor stages at the time of transplantation. Analysis of the Mayo Model risk scores demonstrated a marked increase in the incidence of biliary malignancies at a score above 4.4. All patients with tumors were found to have a score above 4. Moreover, the prevalence rate rose from 14.3% in the low-risk group to 33.3% in the moderate-risk group. There was no difference in the clinical courses at 6 to 12 months prior to transplantation; in particular, the bilirubin levels (PSC alone, 250 +/- 230 mumol/L; PSC with carcinoma, 288 +/- 182 mumol/L) did not differ significantly (P > .05) between both patient groups. Because the outcome after transplantation is poor even in patients with low-grade malignancies, early timing of transplantation in patients with PSC is suggested to prevent formation of biliary malignancies. Therefore, regular scoring of patients with the Mayo Model risk score is suggested, and transplantation should be taken into consideration at scores above 4.
Dog ownership and contact during childhood and later allergy development
Authors: C-M. Chen, V. Morgenstern, W. Bischof, O. Herbarth, M. Borte, H. Behrendt, U. Krämer, A. von Berg, D. Berdel, C. P. Bauer, S. Koletzko, H-E. Wichmann, J. Heinrich
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2008)

The effect of dog ownership during childhood on the development of allergy has been investigated in few studies with conflicting results. The association between dog contact and indoor endotoxin exposure during infancy and the development of allergic sensitisation and atopic disease up to age 6 yrs was investigated. Two ongoing birth cohorts, the German Infant Nutrition Intervention Programme (GINI; n = 1,962) and the Influences of Lifestyle Related Factors on the Human Immune System and Development of Allergies in Children (LISA; n = 1,193), were analysed. In both studies, information on children's contact with dogs and their allergic symptoms and doctor-diagnosed allergic disease were collected during follow-up using questionnaires. Specific immunoglobulin E to common aeroallergens was measured at age 6 yrs. House dust samples were collected at age 3 months and the amount of endotoxin was determined. Dog ownership in early childhood was associated with a significantly lower rate of mixed pollen and inhalant sensitisation but not with dog sensitisation or allergic symptoms and diseases up to age 6 yrs. Regular contact with dogs, without ownership, during childhood was not associated with those health outcomes. No associations were found between house dust endotoxin exposure during infancy and sensitisation outcomes. In conclusion, dog ownership in early childhood protects against the development of inhalant sensitisation and this effect cannot be attributed to the simultaneous exposure to endotoxin.
Natural history of Crohn's disease in a population-based cohort from Cardiff (1986-2003): a study of changes in medical treatment and surgical resection rates
Authors: A. V. Ramadas, S. Gunesh, G. A. O. Thomas, G. T. Williams, A. B. Hawthorne
Journal: Gut (2010)

<h3>Introduction</h3> Benefits of immunosuppressive therapy in Crohn9s disease have been demonstrated in controlled trials; however, it is unclear whether these drugs alter the longer-term natural history of this condition. <h3>Aims and Methods</h3> To assess changes in disease outcomes in a population-based cohort of patients diagnosed in Cardiff from 1986 to 2003. Case notes from Crohn9s disease incidence studies in Cardiff were reviewed retrospectively for disease characteristics and follow-up information on drug therapy, and the need for surgery for Crohn9s disease. The study population was divided into three groups by year of diagnosis (Group A=1986–1991, Group B=1992–1997 and Group C=1998–2003). <h3>Results</h3> 341 patients were included. Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis showed increasing use of immunosuppressants over time. At 5 years after diagnosis this was 11% in Group A, 28% in Group B, and 45% in Group C (p=0.001) and the median time to start of thiopurines was 77, 21 and 11 months in Group A, B and C respectively. There was a significant reduction in long-term steroid use at 5 years post diagnosis: 45 (44%), 31 (31%) and 24 (19%) patients in Group A, B and C respectively (p=0.001). KM analysis showed a significant reduction in the cumulative probability of intestinal surgery: At 5 years this was 59% (Group A), 37% (Group B) and 25% (Group C) (p=0.001). In a multivariate Cox analysis, year of diagnosis, disease location, oral corticosteroids within 3 months of diagnosis and early thiopurine use (within the first year of diagnosis) were all independent factors affecting likelihood of intestinal surgery. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This population-based cohort shows marked changes in rates of surgery, and the reduction is independently associated with year of diagnosis, and associated temporally with increased and earlier thiopurine use.
Treatment Satisfaction and Quality of Life With Insulin Glargine Plus Insulin Lispro Compared With NPH Insulin Plus Unmodified Human Insulin in Individuals With Type 1 Diabetes
Authors: Simon G. Ashwell, Clare Bradley, James W. Stephens, Elke Witthaus, Philip D. Home
Journal: Diabetes Care (2008)

The purpose of this study was to compare quality of life (QoL) and treatment satisfaction using insulin glargine plus insulin lispro with that using NPH insulin plus unmodified human insulin in adults with type 1 diabetes managed with multiple injection regimens.As part of a 32-week, five-center, two-way crossover study in 56 individuals with type 1 diabetes randomized to evening insulin glargine plus mealtime insulin lispro or to NPH insulin (once or twice daily) plus mealtime unmodified human insulin, the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) and the Audit of Diabetes Dependent Quality of Life questionnaire were completed at baseline and at weeks 16 and 32, with additional interim DTSQ measurements.For all patients combined, the mean baseline present QoL score was 1.3, reflecting "good" QoL. Present QoL improved with glargine + lispro but did not change with NPH + human insulin (1.6 +/- 0.1 [mean +/- SEM] vs. 1.3 +/- 0.1, difference 0.3 [95% CI 0.1-0.6]; P = 0.014). Baseline mean average weighted impact score (AWI) of diabetes on QoL was -1.8, indicating a negative impact of diabetes on QoL. The AWI score at end point improved significantly with glargine + lispro but changed little with NPH + human insulin (-1.4 +/- 0.1 vs. -1.7 +/- 0.1, 0.3 [0.0-0.6]; P = 0.033). Treatment satisfaction (DTSQ 36-0 scale score) at end point was markedly greater with glargine plus lispro compared with that for NPH plus human insulin (32.2 +/- 3.4 vs. 23.9 +/- 7.2, 8.6 [6.5-10.6]; P < 0.001).Insulin glargine plus insulin lispro improves treatment satisfaction, reduces the negative impact of diabetes on QoL, and improves QoL in comparison with NPH insulin plus unmodified human insulin in type 1 diabetes.
Posterior Musculofascial Reconstruction After Radical Prostatectomy: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Bernardo Rocco, Gabriele Cozzi, Matteo G. Spinelli, Rafael F. Coelho, Vipul R. Patel, Ashutosh Tewari, Peter Wiklund, Markus Graefen, Alex Mottrie, Franco Gaboardi, Inderbir S. Gill, Francesco Montorsi, Walter Artibani, Francesco Rocco
Journal: European Urology (2012)
Reversibility of histological and immunohistological abnormalities in sublabial salivary gland biopsy specimens following treatment with corticosteroids in Sjogren's syndrome
Authors: M M Zandbelt
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2001)

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterised by specific lesions in exocrine glands, so sublabial minor salivary gland biopsy (SLGB) plays an important part in its diagnosis. The extent and composition of the lymphocytic infiltrate in SLGB specimens can be considered as target organ specific parameters. They are quantified after histological and immunohistological examination by a focus score (describing the extent of the infiltrate) and IgA% score (describing the composition of the infiltrate), respectively. However, little is known about the factors that contribute to the extent and composition of the infiltrate and whether these features are reversible as repeated SLGBs are rarely performed. A patient with SS is described who underwent SLGBs before and after treatment with high dose corticosteroids. After treatment there was not only clinical improvement, but also improvement in the histological and immunohistological parameters. Although these findings need to be confirmed in further studies, this suggests that histopathological changes may be reversible in SS. Furthermore, it shows that the potential effects of corticosteroid use should be taken into account when interpreting SLGB specimens. When clinical changes do parallel histological changes, repeated SLGBs might offer a marker for disease activity in patients with SS.
Cyclic Mechanical Stretch Induces Cardiomyocyte Orientation and Polarization of the Gap Junction Protein Connexin43
Authors: Aida Salameh, Anne Wustmann, Sebastian Karl, Katja Blanke, Daniel Apel, Diana Rojas-Gomez, Heike Franke, Friedrich W. Mohr, Jan Janousek, Stefan Dhein
Journal: Circulation Research (2010)

Cyclic mechanical stretch (CMS) is an important physiological and pathological factor in the heart.We examined whether CMS can affect localization of gap junctions with regard to the cell axis.Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were cultured (7 days) on flexible 6-well plates. Thereafter, cells were kept static or stimulated with CMS (1 Hz; 0, 10, 20% elongation) for 0, 24, or 48 hours (with or without 10 micromol/L PD98059, 5 micromol/L BIM I (bisindolylmaleimide I), 2 micromol/L H8 [N-(2-methlyamino-ethyl)-5-isoquinoline-sulfonamid], or 0.1 micromol/L angiotensin II. Additionally, cells were exposed to 24 hours of CMS followed by 24 hours of static recovery. CMS (24 hour, 10%) induced elongation of the cardiomyocytes and orientation 79+/-8 degrees toward the stretch direction. Moreover, the distribution of connexin (Cx)43 together with N-cadherin changed, so that both proteins were accentuated at the cell poles, whereas in nonstretched cells, they were distributed around the cell without preferential localization. Additional angiotensin II reduced polar Cx43 accentuation. The CMS-induced changes in Cx43 were reversible within 24 hours after end of stretch, and could be completely prevented by the MEK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 but not by BIM I or H8. Moreover, stretch resulted in Cx43 protein and Cx43-mRNA upregulation and in a significant upregulation of the phosphorylated forms of ERK1/2, glycogen synthase kinase 3beta and AKT. Furthermore, CMS resulted in a significant increase of the transcription factors activator protein 1 and CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) in the nucleus.CMS results in self-organization of cardiomyocytes leading to elongated cells orientated transverse to the stretch axis, enhanced Cx43 expression and Cx43 accentuation at the cell poles. The Cx43-changes seem to depend on the ERK1/2 signaling cascade.
Compulsory Treatment of Addicts
Authors: H. D. Beckett
Journal: BMJ (1967)

appeared disorientated and could not communi- cate.She was quite unable to stand or sit without falling over, and could not hold a cup to feed herself owing to frequent and repeated myoclonic jerks of her head and limbs.No other neurological abnormalities were found and general examination was normal.Lumbar puncture revealed no abnormality.Twenty-four hours after admission she was perfectly well.
Damage to health from hormone disrupting chemicals warrants investigation, say WHO and UN
Authors: A. O'Dowd
Journal: BMJ (2013)

<h3>Practical Applications Summary</h3> In <b>Cryptocurrency: <i>A New Investment Opportunity?</i></b> from the winter 2018 issue of <b><i>The Journal of Alternative Investments</i></b>, authors <b>David LEE Kuo Chuen</b>, <b>Yu Wang</b> (both of <b>Singapore Management University</b>) and <b>Li Guo</b> (of <b>Singapore Management University</b>) provide an in-depth introduction to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, and explore their potential as an alternative investment class. Their results show that the return correlations between cryptocurrencies and traditional assets are low, and that adding the Cryptocurrency Index (CRIX) to a traditional asset portfolio helps diversify risk, and, under some circumstances, may improve overall performance. Given the difficulty of valuation in the cryptocurrency market, however, the authors explore the possibility of generating positive risk-adjusted profits with a “sentiment” strategy that evaluates each cryptocurrency individually. <b>TOPICS:</b>Currency, risk management, performance measurement, mutual funds/passive investing/indexing
Dissociation of chronic vascular cell proliferation and vascular contractility after chronic cigarette smoke exposure
Authors: J.L. Wright, J-P. Sun
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1999)

In guinea pigs, chronic cigarette smoke exposure produces physiological and structural alterations in the pulmonary vasculature via unknown mechanisms. This study aimed to determine whether chronic cigarette smoke exposure can induce altered pulmonary vascular reactivity, and whether chronic smoke exposure would be associated with a continued increase in vascular cell deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis, indicative of cell proliferation. Guinea-pigs were therefore exposed to two regimens of smoke. In the first experiment, animals were exposed once to the smoke of seven cigarettes, and sacrificed 24 h post-smoke, while in the second experiment, the guinea-pigs were exposed for 5 days each week for 4 months. Control animals were exposed to air. Lung explant preparations and computer linked image photography were utilized to determine vascular reactivity, and DNA synthesis was assessed using the 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine technique. Neither acute nor chronic smoke exposure affected vascular reactivity, although the older animals had lesser reactivity. In the chronically smoked animals, evidence was found of ongoing vascular DNA synthesis, and evidence of structural alterations with increased muscularization of the arterioles (34.7+/-7.6% of arterioles in control versus 62.7+/-5.5% after smoke exposure). Despite evidence of continued deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the peribronchiolar vessels, the alterations of vascular physiology previously found in this model cannot be ascribed to increased reactivity at this site. Instead, the chronic deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the arterioles adjacent to the alveolar ducts, culminating in an increased number of fully muscularized vessels, would suggest this compartment as the most probable source.