tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Assessment of non-vertebral fracture risk in postmenopausal women
Authors: C. Roux, K. Briot, S. Horlait, A. Varbanov, N. B Watts, S. Boonen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2007)

<b>Background:</b> Non-vertebral (NV) fractures are responsible for a great amount of morbidity, mortality and cost attributable to osteoporosis. <b>Objectives:</b> To identify risk factors for NV fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, and to design an assessment tool for prediction of these fractures. <b>Methods:</b> 2546 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis included in the placebo groups of three risedronate controlled trials were included (mean age 72 years, mean femoral T-score −2.5; 60% and 53% of patients with prevalent vertebral and NV fractures, respectively). Over 3 years, 222 NV fractures were observed. Baseline data on 14 risk factors were included in a logistic regression analysis. <b>Results:</b> 6 risk factors were associated with NV fracture risk: prevalent NV fracture (p = 0.004), number of prevalent vertebral fractures (p&lt;0.001), femoral T-score (p = 0.031), serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (p&lt;0.001), age (p = 0.012) and height (p = 0.037). An NV risk index was developed by converting the multivariate logistic equation into an additive score. In the group of women with a score ⩾2.1, the incidence of NV fracture was 13.2% (95% CI 11.1 to 15.3), 1.5 times higher than that of the general population. <b>Conclusions:</b> The NV risk index is a convenient tool for selection of patients with osteoporosis with a high risk for NV fractures, and may help to choose from available treatments those with a proven efficacy for reduction of NV fracture risk.
Targeted transfection increases siRNA uptake and gene silencing of primary endothelial cells in vitro — A quantitative study
Authors: Sigridur A. Ásgeirsdóttir, Eduard G. Talman, Inge A. de Graaf, Jan A.A.M. Kamps, Simon C. Satchell, Peter W. Mathieson, Marcel H.J. Ruiters, Grietje Molema
Journal: Journal of Controlled Release (2009)
eHealth as a challenge to ‘expert’ power: a focus group study of internet use for health information and management
Authors: Louise S Donnelly, Rachel L Shaw, Olga BA van den Akker
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2008)

Summary Objective To investigate current use of the internet and eHealth amongst adults. Design Focus groups were conducted to explore participants' attitudes to and reasons for health internet use. Main outcome measures The focus group data were analysed and interpreted using thematic analysis. Results Three superordinate themes exploring eHealth behaviours were identified: decline in expert authority, pervasiveness of health information on the internet and empowerment. Results showed participants enjoyed the immediate benefits of eHealth information and felt empowered by increased knowledge, but they would be reluctant to lose face-to-face consultations with their GP. Conclusions Our findings illustrate changes in patient identity and a decline in expert authority with ramifications for the practitioner–patient relationship and subsequent implications for health management more generally.
Hematopoietic thymocyte precursors: II. Properties of the precursors.
Authors: R S Basch, J L Kadish
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1977)

The properties of hematopoietic cells which serve as the precursors of cortical thymocytes in irradiated reconstituted mice have been described. These cells have been termed "prothymocytes." They are 10- to 15-mum diameter cells of low buoyant density. They are nonadherent to glass wool and more resistant to the lytic effects of steroids and gamma-irradiation than their progeny. They lack detectable amounts of the surface markers associated with either B or T cells but do bear at least two antigens recognized by antisera to mouse brain.
Genetic testing for polyposis: practical and ethical aspects
Authors: H J Jarvinen
Journal: Gut (2003)

The three autosomal dominant inherited polyposis syndromes, familial adenomatous polyposis, juvenile polyposis, and Peutz-Jeghers polyposis predispose to colorectal cancer as does hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome. Uncovering the genetic background of these four cancer traits provides the possibility for genetic testing of the family members of an affected patient. Before testing identification of the underlying family specific pathogenic mutation is mandatory. This is possible in about 60% to 95% of families. Endoscopic surveillance can be safely discontinued in mutation negative family members and surveillance or prophylactic surgery can be targeted to mutation positive members alone. Testing requires genetic counselling and written informed consent to prevent misunderstanding and to minimise untoward effects such as anxiety. Permanent surveillance and adequate prophylactic treatment for all mutation positive subjects and families is best ensured in national or regional polyposis registries with the capacity to take care of long term follow up from generation to generation.
The pulmonary circulation in cystic fibrosis.
Authors: D Ryland, L Reid
Journal: Thorax (1975)

The hearts and lungs of 36 patients dying of cystic fibrosis have been studied to establish the relationship between right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), pathological changes in the pulmonary circulation, and the clinical features. The presence and degree of RVH were measured by Fulton's technique of weighing the ventricles separately. Of the subjects who died after the age of 3 years, one in six had no RVH, although the mean age of this group was not significantly different from that of the remainder. There was no correlation between duration of cyanosis, haemoglobin levels, and RVH. Although not statistically significant, the cases without RVH tended to have had clubbing of the finger-nails for longer periods before death. The electrocardiogram was useful in the diagnosis of RVH. Right ventricular hypertrophy was common in children with lungs of large volume as judged by the radiographic centile of lung length. Cases with RVH show reduced background haze in the arteriogram and fewer arteries per unit area of lung. For the first time thickening of the medial muscle layer proportional to the degree of RVH has been demonstrated, only in the smaller arteries. Arterial subintimal fibrosis is more common in cases with RVH, as is thickening of the walls of small pulmonary veins. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Tuberculosis: are we making it incurable?
Authors: José A. Caminero, Alberto Matteelli, Robert Loddenkemper
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Tuberculosis (TB) is most probably the disease that has caused more damage to the human species throughout its history in terms of number of patients and, above all, death toll. There have been thousands of years spent fighting against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in which the human species could only rely on the efficiency of the immune system [1]. We must recall its importance as, in the pre-antibiotic era, the immune system alone could ensure important achievements such as: 1) only 50% of the people exposed to M. tuberculosis contract the infection [2]); 2) only 10% of those infected progress to active disease; and 3) up to 30% of patients with advanced TB disease heal spontaneously (fig. 1]) [3, 4]. In spite of this, the fate of TB patients in the pre-chemotherapy period was very bleak, with a mortality of >50% within 5 years after the onset of disease [3, 4]. For centuries, several empirical treatments were attempted to trying to change this fateful prognosis. Additionally, sanatoriums were built throughout the world for many decades (fig. 2]). However, all these interventions were not really effective, and none of them contributed significantly to improve the doom of TB patients [4]. Then, fortunately, their fate changed dramatically with the advent of the antibiotic era. The two decades from the discovery of streptomycin in 1943 to that of rifampicin in 1963 changed a devastating disease into a relatively easy to cure one. Not only were up to 11 different drugs with activity against M. tuberculosis discovered (streptomycin, p-aminosalicylate (PAS), thiacetazone, isoniazid (H), pyrazinamide, cycloserine, kanamycin, ethionamide, ethambutol, capreomycin and rifampicin (R)), but, based on multiple randomised clinical trials, the basic fundamentals of TB treatment were also established [4, 5 …
The Coordination of Breathing and Swallowing in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Roxann Diez Gross, Charles W Atwood, Sheryl B Ross, Joan W Olszewski, Kimberly A Eichhorn
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2009)

During deglutition, a strongly preferred exhale-swallow-exhale pattern has been shown in healthy adults. Disruption of this pattern can provoke prandial aspiration. Impaired coordination of breathing and swallowing has been measured in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) during the exacerbated state, but no reports describe the coordination of breathing and swallowing in stable patients with COPD during oral intake.To test the hypothesis that persons with moderate to severe COPD would show disordered coordination of breathing and swallowing during oral intake when compared with a matched, healthy control group.This study used a prospective, repeated measures design using 25 subjects with COPD and 25 control subjects. Respiratory inductance plethysmography and nasal thermistry were used simultaneously to track respiratory signals. Submental surface EMG was used to mark the presence of each swallow within the respiratory cycle. Data were recorded while participants randomly and spontaneously swallowed solids and semi-solids.Logistic regression showed that participants with COPD swallowed solid food during inhalation more frequently than normal subjects (P = 0.002) and had a significantly higher rate of inhaling after swallowing semi-solid material (P < 0.001). Subjects with COPD also swallowed pudding at low Vt significantly more often than they did the cookie (P = 0.006). Conversely, the control subjects swallowed cookie at low Vt significantly more often than pudding (P = 0.034). Significant differences in deglutitive apnea durations were also found.Patients with COPD exhibit disrupted coordination of the respiratory cycle with deglutition. Disrupted breathing-swallowing coordination could increase the risk of aspiration in patients with advanced COPD and may contribute to exacerbations.
Changing prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren in Israel
Authors: AI Goren, S Hellmann
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1997)

This survey was part of a health monitoring system operated in the vicinity of a new power plant in Israel. The aim of this analysis was to determine whether a temporal trend of increased prevalence of asthma can be observed among cohorts of same-aged children, between 1980 and 1989. Schoolchildren were followed up between 1980 and 1989. They performed pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and their parents filled out American Thoracic Society-National Heart and Lung Institute (ATS-NHLI) health questionnaires. This report deals with the changes in the prevalence of asthma, related respiratory conditions and PFT in four cross-sectional data sets gathered among eighth-grade schoolchildren (aged 13-14 yrs). A highly significant (p=0.0005) increase in the prevalence of asthma (from 5.6% in 1980 to 11.2% in 1989), and of wheezing accompanied by shortness of breath (p=0.0009) could be observed. A similar trend could not be found for the prevalence of bronchitis among these children. PFTs of children suffering from asthma or from wheeze accompanied by shortness of breath were lower than those of healthy children. Changes in prevalence of background variables over time could not explain these findings. The significant rise in the prevalence of asthma coupled with reduced pulmonary function test results among asthmatic children, seems to reflect a true increase in morbidity. Temporal changes in the prevalence of background variables as well as proximity to the power plant could not explain this trend.
Normal myocardial contractile state in the presence of quinidine.
Authors: W Markiewicz, R Winkle, G Binetti, R Kernoff, D C Harrison
Journal: Circulation (1976)

Since quinidine is one of the few agents available to treat and prevent ventricular arrhythmias in ambulatory patients, its hemodynamic effects have been reevaluated. When given in therapeutic doses to anesthetized mongrel dogs, quinidine significantly reduced heart rate, aortic pressure and flow, but it did not significantly change the first derivative of the left ventricular pressure curve (left ventricular dp/dt) in nine dogs. A subsequent group of dogs was studied after vagotomy and practolol administration to block cardiac reflexes. This group showed significant reductions in heart rate, aortic pressure and left ventricular dp/dt, with the latter returning to predrug control values when preload, afterload and heart rate were maintained constant. These studies suggest that quinidine does not directly affect myocardial contractility when given in therapeutic doses. Furthermore, the reduction in heart rate in these animals provides support for a direct depressant effect of quinidine on the sinus node. The adverse effects of quinidine on cardiac function previously reported may be due to the use of toxic doses or are secondary to quinidine peripheral circulatory effects, rather than due to a direct reduction in cardiac contractile state.
Global hepatitis, migration and its impact on Western healthcare
Authors: F. Ahmed, G. R. Foster
Journal: Gut (2010)

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 350 million people are infected with the hepatitis B virus (HBV)1 and that over 170 million individuals are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV).2 The majority of those who are infected live in the developing world and, although the incidence of these infections is declining in many Western countries,3 these viruses continue to spread in many countries. For example in Egypt, parenteral therapy for schistosomiasis administered between 1961 and 1986 led to an epidemic of chronic hepatitis C4 and recent reports suggest that the incidence is increasing once again in Egypt due to the reuse of needles for medical injections and other iatrogenic causes.5 6 It is therefore probable that the current discrepancy between disease burden in developed and developing nations will continue to widen and here we argue that the reduction in disease burden in the developed world should not lead to a reduction in engagement with these viruses.

Migration is one of the defining issues of our times. For example, more than 5 million Canadians were born outside the country and approximately 250 000 new immigrants arrive in Canada each year. With an increasingly interconnected world due to travel and migration, health trends in one location have both local and global implications since infectious diseases do not remain geographically isolated. There is a paucity of data on many migration related health issues but there is a growing body of data demonstrating an increase in the burden of migration-related chronic viral hepatitis in Western societies. The UK Hepatitis Foundation estimated in 2007 that the number of hepatitis B cases in the UK doubled in the previous 6 years chiefly due to migration of infected people,7 many from the new member states of the European Union where …
Parts of visual shape as primitives for categorization
Authors: Manish Singh, Barbara Landau
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1998)

Converging psychophysical evidence suggests that the human visual system parses shapes into component parts for the purposes of object recognition. We examine the Schyns et al. claim of “creation” of features in light of recent work on part-based representations of visual shape, particularly the perceptual rules that human vision uses to parse shapes.
Development of Pancreatic Hyperplasia in Female SHN Mice Receiving Ectopic Pituitary Isografts&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: T Mori, H Nagasawa, H Namiki, K Niki
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1986)

The long-term effects on pancreas of ectopic pituitary grafting at various sites were studied in female SHN mice. Hyperprolactinemia induced by pituitary grafting resulted in an increase in the pancreatic weights, mainly due to hyperplastic proliferation of the pancreatic acinar glands. In addition, islet-cell hyperplasia and adenoma were found in the pituitary-grafted mice. Hyperplastic nodules resembling adenoma of the pancreatic acinar cells were also induced by pituitary grafting. The pancreata of mice with pituitary grafts frequently adhered to the uterus, ovary, and other organs; some of the pancreata further invaded these organs. Control mice bearing no pituitary grafts showed no pancreatic lesions. These results indicate the participation of prolactin in pancreatic tumorigenesis.
Pitfalls in scoring MR images of rheumatoid arthritis wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints
Authors: F McQueen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2005)

This paper outlines the most important pitfalls which are likely to be encountered in the assessment of magnetic resonance images of the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Imaging artefacts and how these can be recognised using various sequences and views are discussed. Normal structures such as interosseous ligaments and nutrient foramina may appear prominent on certain images and need to be identified correctly. Pathological change in the rheumatoid hand involves many tissues and when substantial damage has occurred, it may be difficult to identify individual structures correctly. Bone erosion, bone oedema, synovitis, and tenosynovitis frequently occur together and in close proximity to each other, potentially leading to false positive scoring of any of these. Examples are given to illustrate the various dilemmas the user of this atlas may face when scoring the rheumatoid hand and suggestions are made to assist correct interpretation of what can be very complex images.
Contribution of Metabolic and Anthropometric Abnormalities to Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors
Authors: Carl Grunfeld, Donald P. Kotler, Donna K. Arnett, Julian M. Falutz, Steven M. Haffner, Paul Hruz, Henry Masur, James B. Meigs, Kathleen Mulligan, Peter Reiss, Katherine Samaras
Journal: Circulation (2008)
Activators of protein kinase A and of protein kinase C inhibit MDCK cell myo-inositol and betaine uptake.
Authors: A S Preston, A Yamauchi, H M Kwon, J S Handler
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1995)

Amino acid sequences of the myo-inositol and betaine cotransporters that are induced in MDCK cells by hypertonicity include consensus sequences for phosphorylation by protein kinase A and by protein kinase C. To test for the effect of activation of protein kinases A and C on the activity of those cotransporters, MDCK cells were exposed to activators of each kinase and the activity of both cotransporters was assayed. Incubation with 8-bromoadenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (8Br-cAMP) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX), activators of protein kinase A, and incubation with an active phorbol ester or with an active diacylglycerol, activators of protein kinase C, inhibited the activity of both cotransporters by about 30%. The relative effect of the activation of protein kinase A and of protein kinase C was similar in hypertonic and isotonic cells. The effects of activators of protein kinase A and of protein kinase C were not additive. The two cotransporters behaved differently when protein kinase C activity was down-regulated by prolonged incubation with a higher concentration of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. There was a doubling of activity of the myo-inositol cotransporter and no change in the activity of the betaine cotransporter in hypertonic and isotonic cells. Although the mechanisms of the effects of activation of the two kinases remain to be established, it is clear that the kinases can mediate post-translational regulation of the uptake of compatible osmolytes.
Impact of <i>KRAS</i> and <i>BRAF</i> Gene Mutation Status on Outcomes From the Phase III AGITG MAX Trial of Capecitabine Alone or in Combination With Bevacizumab and Mitomycin in Advanced Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Timothy J. Price, Jennifer E. Hardingham, Chee K. Lee, Andrew Weickhardt, Amanda R. Townsend, Joseph W. Wrin, Ann Chua, Aravind Shivasami, Michelle M. Cummins, Carmel Murone, Niall C. Tebbutt
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

Mutations affecting the KRAS gene are established predictive markers of outcome with anti-epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) antibodies in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). The relevance of these markers for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy is controversial. This analysis was performed to assess the predictive and prognostic impact of KRAS and BRAF gene mutation status in patients receiving capecitabine with bevacizumab (CG) or capecitabine without bevacizumab in the phase III AGITG MAX (Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group MAX) study.Mutation status was determined for 315 (66.9%) of the original 471 patients. Mutation status was correlated with efficacy outcomes (response rate, progression-free survival [PFS], and overall survival [OS]), and a predictive analyses was undertaken.Mutations in KRAS and BRAF genes were observed in 28.8% and 10.6% of patients, respectively. KRAS gene mutation status (wild type [WT] v mutated [MT]) had no prognostic impact for PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.89; CI, 0.69 to 1.14) or OS (HR, 0.97; CI, 0.73 to 1.28). BRAF mutation status (WT v MT) was not prognostic for PFS (HR, 0.80; CI, 0.54 to 1.18) but was prognostic for OS (HR, 0.49; CI, 0.33 to 0.73; P = .001). By using the comparison of capecitabine versus capecitabine and bevacizumab (CB) and CB plus mitomycin (CBM), KRAS gene mutation status was not predictive of the effectiveness of bevacizumab for PFS or OS (test for interaction P = .95 and 0.43, respectively). Similarly, BRAF gene mutation status was not predictive of the effectiveness of bevacizumab for PFS or OS (test for interaction P = .46 and 0.32, respectively).KRAS gene mutation status was neither prognostic for OS nor predictive of bevacizumab outcome in patients with advanced CRC. BRAF gene mutation status was prognostic for OS but was not predictive of outcome with bevacizumab.