tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Screening for lung cancer: time for large-scale screening by chest computed tomography
Authors: Dekel Shlomi, Ronny Ben-Avi, Gingy Ronen Balmor, Amir Onn, Nir Peled
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Age and smoking are the primary risk factors for lung cancer. Treatment based on surgical removal in the early stages of the disease results in better survival. Screening programmes for early detection that used chest radiography and sputum cytology failed to attain reduction of lung cancer mortality. Screening by low-dose computed tomography (CT) demonstrated high rates of early-stage lung cancer detection in a high-risk population. Nevertheless, no mortality advantage was manifested in small randomised control trials. A large randomised control trial in the USA, the National Lung Screening Trial (NLST), showed a significant relative reduction of 20% in lung cancer mortality and 6.7% reduction in total mortality, yet no reduction was evidenced in the late-stage prevalence. Screening for lung cancer by low-dose CT reveals a high level of false-positive lesions, which necessitates further noninvasive and invasive evaluations. Based primarily on the NLST eligible criteria, new guidelines have recently been developed by major relevant organisations. The overall recommendation coming out of this collective work calls for lung cancer screening by low-dose CT to be performed in medical centres manned by specialised multidisciplinary teams, as well as for a mandatory, pre-screening, comprehensive discussion with the patient about the risks and advantages involved in the process. Lung cancer screening is on the threshold of a new era, with ever more questions still left open to challenge future studies.
Leukocytosis in Appendicitis in Older Persons
Authors: David S. Hubbell
Journal: JAMA (1961)

IT HAS been shown that older persons with appendicitis are apt to show variations from the classical disease patterns.<sup>1,2,3</sup>The total leukocytic blood count has long been among the most reliable adjunctive data used in making the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.<sup>4</sup>This is often a factor in deciding between immediate surgery or observation. The present study was undertaken to determine what diagnostic and prognostic value could be ascribed to this laboratory test when done on older patients. The generally accepted limits of the normal total leukocyte count are 5,000 to 10,000 per cubic millimeter for adults, including the aged.<sup>5</sup>Physiological variations and a small number of the normal population will have counts up to 11,000. On the other hand, a count of 5,000 to 10,000 may exist in a patient with acute inflammatory disease, although usually with circulating immature neutrophilic granulocytes and an altered hemogram.<sup>6</sup>Yet,
High-Dose β-Blockers and Tight Heart Rate Control Reduce Myocardial Ischemia and Troponin T Release in Vascular Surgery Patients
Authors: Harm H.H. Feringa, Jeroen J. Bax, Eric Boersma, Miklos D. Kertai, Simon H. Meij, Wael Galal, Olaf Schouten, Ian R. Thomson, Peter Klootwijk, Marc R.H.M. van Sambeek, Jan Klein, Don Poldermans
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Adverse perioperative cardiac events occur frequently despite the use of beta (beta)-blockers. We examined whether higher doses of beta-blockers and tight heart rate control were associated with reduced perioperative myocardial ischemia and troponin T release and improved long-term outcome.In an observational cohort study, 272 vascular surgery patients were preoperatively screened for cardiac risk factors and beta-blocker dose. Beta-blocker dose was converted to a percentage of maximum recommended therapeutic dose. Heart rate and ischemic episodes were recorded by continuous 12-lead electrocardiography, starting 1 day before to 2 days after surgery. Serial troponin T levels were measured after surgery. All-cause mortality was noted during follow-up. Myocardial ischemia was detected in 85 of 272 (31%) patients and troponin T release in 44 of 272 (16.2%). Long-term mortality occurred in 66 of 272 (24.2%) patients. In multivariate analysis, higher beta-blocker doses (per 10% increase) were significantly associated with a lower incidence of myocardial ischemia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.51 to 0.75), troponin T release (HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.80), and long-term mortality (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.76 to 0.97). Higher heart rates during electrocardiographic monitoring (per 10-bpm increase) were significantly associated with an increased incidence of myocardial ischemia (HR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.79 to 3.48), troponin T release (HR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.16 to 2.03), and long-term mortality (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.76).This study showed that higher doses of beta-blockers and tight heart rate control are associated with reduced perioperative myocardial ischemia and troponin T release and improved long-term outcome in vascular surgery patients.
Hypoxaemia and cirrhosis of the liver.
Authors: A Funahashi, A V Kutty, S L Prater
Journal: Thorax (1976)

In order to determine the frequency of hypoxaemia and to evaluate the role of increased closing capacity in producing hypoxaemia in patients with cirrhosis of the liver, 13 patients with well-established cirrhosis were studied. Arterial blood gases, spirometry, lung volume, and closing capacity measurements were made with the patients in the seated and recumbent positions after exclusion of cardiopulmonary dysfunction. Four of 13 and six of 12 patients exhibited significant hypoxaemia in the seated and recumbent positions respectively. Five of 13 patients showed a closing capacity greater than predicted. This frequency of increased closing capacity was not higher than in a group of smokers of the same age. Unlike Ruff et al. (1971), we did not find a consistent relationship between hypoxaemia and closing capacity.
Effect of the gastric balloon versus sham procedure on weight loss in obese subjects.
Authors: E M Ramhamadany, J Fowler, I M Baird
Journal: Gut (1989)

The mechanism by which intragastric balloons induce weight loss is not known, although they may act simply by reducing the amount of food needed to induce satiety. The knowledge that a balloon is present may influence the patients' eating patterns and reduce caloric intake and weight. In order to test whether the balloon or the secondary psychological effect caused weight loss, a double blind balloon versus sham procedure was devised with both groups receiving identical outpatient dietary advice (800 kcal/day). Twenty four obese women with body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 from an obesity clinic were studied. Twelve had the balloon and 12 the sham procedure. The balloon was removed after three months and the patients were followed for a further three months. There was significantly greater weight loss in the balloon group, mean weight loss (SD) of 7.33 (6.12) kg compared with the sham group, mean weight loss (SD) of 3.33 (3.9) kg (p less than 0.05). Weight loss was not maintained in all patients after balloon removal. Side effects were more common in the balloon group (abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting) but resolved by the second week. We conclude that the intragastric balloon is a safe and effective method of inducing weight loss in well motivated obese patients.
Enhancement of intracellular signaling associated with hematopoietic progenitor cell survival in response to SDF-1/CXCL12 in synergy with other cytokines
Authors: Younghee Lee, Akihiko Gotoh, Hyung-Joo Kwon, Minute You, Lisa Kohli, Charlie Mantel, Scott Cooper, Giao Hangoc, Keisuke Miyazawa, Kazuma Ohyashiki, Hal E. Broxmeyer
Journal: Blood (2002)
Incidence of Atherosclerosis by Race in the Dialysis Morbidity and Mortality Study
Authors: Rulan S. Parekh, Lin Zhang, Barbara A. Fivush, Michael J. Klag
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2005)

White individuals who are on dialysis experience much higher overall and cardiovascular mortality rates than black individuals despite a more favorable risk factor profile, but the incidence of nonfatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) to this racial disparity has not been well studied. A longitudinal study of 16,103 people who had ESRD and were enrolled in the United Renal Data System from 1993 to 1996 was conducted. The incidence of new and recurrent atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD) events was determined using Medicare claims for hospitalizations and mortality among blacks and whites, stratified by ASCVD at baseline. ASCVD was defined as coronary heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease. Incidence of new ASCVD in people without ASCVD at baseline was 146.9 per 1000 person-years in whites and 118.7 per 1000 person-years in blacks. Incidence of recurrent ASCVD was 404.1 per 1000 person-years in whites and 317.5 per 1000 person-years in blacks. Whites were 1.35 (95% confidence interval, 1.18 to 1.55) times more likely to develop incident ASCVD compared with blacks and 1.25 (95% confidence interval, 1.14 to 1.36) times more likely to develop recurrent disease after adjusting for traditional CVD and dialysis-related risk factors. Excess risk for recurrent ASCVD in whites compared with blacks was consistently present no matter the duration of dialysis: Hazard ratio 1.42 for 0 to 6 mo and 1.40 for 6 to 12 mo. Whites who are treated with dialysis have a higher incidence of ASCVD than blacks who are on dialysis, both new and recurrent. Although differences in survival before the initiation of dialysis may contribute to the observed difference in ASCVD risk, it is not explained by baseline traditional and dialysis-related ASCVD risk factors.
Expression of hepatocyte growth factor and its receptor c-Met in human pituitary adenomas
Authors: X.-Z. Hou, W. Liu, H.-T. Fan, B. Liu, B. Pang, T. Xin, S.-C. Xu, Q. Pang
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2010)

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor c-Met have been known as key determinants of growth and angiogenesis in some brain tumors like gliomas, meningiomas, and schwannomas.But little is known about their expression in pituitary adenomas.In this study, the expression of HGF and c-Met in pituitary adenomas of different histology types was investigated by immunohistochemistry, and correlative analysis of their expression with microvessel density (MVD), Ki-67 expression, and other clinicopathologic factors was made.The results showed that the expression of HGF and c-Met exists in 98% (64 of 65) and 92% (60 of 65) pituitary adenomas, respectively, and co-expression of them existed in 91% (59 of 65) adenomas.HGF had significant correlation with MVD (Spearman's correlation coefficient, r 5 .31,P 5 .01)and Ki-67 (r 5 .32,P 5 .01).c-Met had significant correlation with MVD (r 5 .30,P 5 .02)and Ki-67 (r 5 .38,P 5 .00).HGF and c-Met expression had no significant correlation with age or extrasellar extension.There were no significant differences in HGF and c-Met expression between pituitary adenomas of different histology types.The results indicate that HGF and c-Met are widely expressed in pituitary adenomas, and their expression correlates with MVD and Ki-67 expression.
Smooth muscle calcium and endothelium-derived relaxing factor in the abnormal vascular responses of acute renal failure.
Authors: J D Conger, J B Robinette, R W Schrier
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1988)

Abnormal renovascular reactivity, characterized by paradoxical vasoconstriction to a reduction in renal perfusion pressure (RPP) in the autoregulatory range, increased sensitivity to renal nerve stimulation (RNS), and loss of vasodilatation to acetylcholine have all been demonstrated in ischemic acute renal failure (ARF). To determine if ischemic injury alters vascular contractility by increasing smooth muscle cell calcium or calcium influx, the renal blood flow (RBF) response to reductions in RPP within the autoregulatory range and to RNS were tested before and after a 90-min intrarenal infusion of verapamil or diltiazem in 7-d ischemic ARF rats. Both calcium entry blockers, verapamil and diltiazem, blocked the aberrant vasoconstrictor response to a reduction in RPP and RNS (both P less than 0.001). In a second series of experiments the potential role of an ischemia-induced endothelial injury and of the absence of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) production were examined to explain the lack of vasodilatation to acetylcholine. Acetylcholine, bradykinin (a second EDRF-dependent vasodilator), or prostacyclin, an EDRF-independent vasodilator, was infused intrarenally for 90 min, and RBF responses to a reduction in RPP and RNS were tested in 7-d ischemic ARF rats. Neither acetylcholine nor bradykinin caused vasodilatation or altered the slope of the relationship between RBF and RPP. By contrast, prostacyclin increased RBF (P less than 0.001), but did not change the vascular response to changes in RPP. It was concluded that the abnormal pressor sensitivity to a reduction in RPP and RNS was due to changes in renovascular smooth muscle cell calcium activity that could be blocked by calcium entry blockers. A lack of response to EDRF-dependent vasodilators, as a result of ischemic endothelial injury, may contribute to the increased pressor sensitivity of the renal vessels.
Myeloid DAP12-associating lectin (MDL)-1 regulates synovial inflammation and bone erosion associated with autoimmune arthritis
Authors: Barbara Joyce-Shaikh, Michael E. Bigler, Cheng-Chi Chao, Erin E. Murphy, Wendy M. Blumenschein, Iannis E. Adamopoulos, Paul G. Heyworth, Svetlana Antonenko, Edward P. Bowman, Terrill K. McClanahan, Joseph H. Phillips, Daniel J. Cua
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2010)

DNAX adaptor protein 12 (DAP12) is a trans-membrane adaptor molecule that transduces activating signals in NK and myeloid cells. Absence of functional Dap12 results in osteoclast defects and bone abnormalities. Because DAP12 has no extracelluar binding domains, it must pair with cell surface receptors for signal transduction. There are at least 15 known DAP12-associating cell surface receptors with distinct temporal and cell type–specific expression patterns. Our aim was to determine which receptors may be important in DAP12-associated bone pathologies. Here, we identify myeloid DAP12-associating lectin (MDL)-1 receptor (also known as CLEC5A) as a key regulator of synovial injury and bone erosion during autoimmune joint inflammation. Activation of MDL-1 leads to enhanced recruitment of inflammatory macrophages and neutrophils to the joint and promotes bone erosion. Functional blockade of MDL-1 receptor via Mdl1 deletion or treatment with MDL-1-Ig fusion protein reduces the clinical signs of autoimmune joint inflammation. These findings suggest that MDL-1 receptor may be a therapeutic target for treatment of immune-mediated skeletal disorders.
Aggressive Cardiovascular Phenotype of Aneurysms-Osteoarthritis Syndrome Caused by Pathogenic SMAD3 Variants
Authors: Denise van der Linde, Ingrid M.B.H. van de Laar, Aida M. Bertoli-Avella, Rogier A. Oldenburg, Jos A. Bekkers, Francesco U.S. Mattace-Raso, Anton H. van den Meiracker, Adriaan Moelker, Fop van Kooten, Ingrid M.E. Frohn-Mulder, Janneke Timmermans, Els Moltzer, Jan M. Cobben, Lut van Laer, Bart Loeys, Julie De Backer, Paul J. Coucke, Anne De Paepe, Yvonne Hilhorst-Hofstee, Marja W. Wessels, Jolien W. Roos-Hesselink
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2012)
Dangers of Spinal Injections Without Proper Diagnosis
Authors: C. Norman Shealy
Journal: JAMA (1966)

A RECENT EDITORIAL has wisely emphasized the advisability that a qualified neurological surgeon perform intraspinal surgery.<sup>1</sup>Of equal importance is a proper diagnosis when surgery is undertaken. There is a growing tendency toward relatively blind injection therapy, often done without standard diagnostic tests.<sup>2-5</sup>Recent problems in patients who have undergone such therapy prompt this report. We have encountered a large intradural extramedullary vascular lesion, grossly having the appearance of pseudoaneurysm, but pathologically shown to be an invasive hemangioendothelioma. This patient had had a chymopapain injection for presumed cervical disk disease at the same level two months earlier at another hospital. While we do not suggest a direct causal relationship between the tumor and previous chymopapain injection for presumed disk rupture, it is important to emphasize the necessity for thorough diagnostic studies before treatment. A second patient had epidural injections of steroids for sciatic pain without significant pretherapy study.
Alcohol content of various beverages: All booze is created equal
Authors: Harold O. Conn
Journal: Hepatology (1990)

After consuming comparable amounts of ethanol, women have higher blood ethanol concentrations than men, even with allowance for differences in size, and are more susceptible to alcoholic liver disease. Recently, we documented significant “first pass metabolism” of ethanol due to its oxidation by gastric tissue. We report a study of the possible contribution of this metabolism to the sex-related difference in blood alcohol concentrations in 20 men and 23 women. Six in each group were alcoholics. The first pass metabolism was determined on the basis of the difference in areas under the curves of blood alcohol concentrations after intravenous and oral administration of ethanol (0.3 g per kilogram of body weight). Alcohol dehydrogenase activity was also measured in endoscopic gastric biopsies. In nonalcoholic subjects, the first pass metabolism and gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity of the women were 23 and 59 percent, respectively, of those in the men, and there was a significant correlation (r8 = 0.659) between first pass metabolism and gastric mucosal alcohol dehydrogenase activity. In the alcoholic men, the first pass metabolism and gastric alcohol dehydrogenase activity were about half those in the nonalcoholic men; in the alcoholic women, the gastric mucosal alcohol dehydrogenase activity was even lower than in the alcoholic men, and first-pass metabolism was virtually abolished. We conclude that the increased bioavailability of ethanol resulting from decreased gastric oxidation of ethanol may contribute to the enhanced vulnerability of women to acute and chronic complications of alcoholism.
Dietary Energy Intake Is Associated With Type 2 Diabetes Risk Markers in Children
Authors: Angela S. Donin, Claire M. Nightingale, Christopher G. Owen, Alicja R. Rudnicka, Susan A. Jebb, Gina L. Ambrosini, Alison M. Stephen, Derek G. Cook, Peter H. Whincup
Journal: Diabetes Care (2013)

OBJECTIVE Energy intake, energy density, and nutrient intakes are implicated in type 2 diabetes risk in adults, but little is known about their influence on emerging type 2 diabetes risk in childhood. We examined these associations in a multiethnic population of children. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 2,017 children predominantly of white European, South Asian, and black African-Caribbean origin aged 9-10 years who had a detailed 24-h dietary recall and measurements of body composition and provided a fasting blood sample for measurements of plasma glucose, HbA1c, and serum insulin; homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance was also derived. RESULTS Energy intake was positively associated with insulin resistance. After the removal of 176 participants with implausible energy intakes (unlikely to be representative of habitual intake), energy intake was more strongly associated with insulin resistance and was also associated with glucose and fat mass index. Energy density was also positively associated with insulin resistance and fat mass index. However, in mutually adjusted analyses, the associations for energy intake remained while those for energy density became nonsignificant. Individual nutrient intakes showed no associations with type 2 diabetes risk markers. CONCLUSIONS Higher total energy intake was strongly associated with high levels of insulin resistance and may help to explain emerging type 2 diabetes risk in childhood. Studies are needed to establish whether reducing energy intake produces sustained favorable changes in insulin resistance and circulating glucose levels.
T cell populations primed by hapten sensitization in contact sensitivity are distinguished by polarized patterns of cytokine production: interferon gamma-producing (Tc1) effector CD8+ T cells and interleukin (Il) 4/Il-10-producing (Th2) negative regulatory CD4+ T cells.
Authors: H Xu, N A DiIulio, R L Fairchild
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1996)

Contact hypersensitivity (CHS) is a T cell-mediated response to hapten sensitization of the epidermis. The roles of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CHS have remained unclear, however, as studies to define either subset as the T cells mediating CHS have provided conflicting results. The goal of this study was to correlate the in vivo function of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in CHS with the cytokines produced by each T cell population. Antibody-mediated depletion of CD4+ T cells before sensitization of BALB/c mice with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) or oxazolone (Ox) resulted in increased and prolonged CHS responses, indicating CD4+ T cells as negative regulators of the response. Depletion of CD8+ T cells resulted in low or abrogated responses, indicating CD8+ T cells as the effector cells in CHS. Sensitization with DNFB or Ox induced lymph node cell populations of CD8+ T cells producing interferon (IFN)-gamma and no interleukin (Il) 4 or Il-10, and CD4+ T cells producing Il-4 and Il-10 and no or little detectable IFN-gamma. The polarized patterns of cytokine production were stimulated by culture of hapten-primed lymph node cells either on anti-T cell receptor antibody-coated wells or with semipurified Langerhans cells isolated from hapten-sensitized mice. Stimulation of cytokine production during culture of hapten-primed CD4+ or CD8+ T cells with Langerhans cells was hapten specific and restricted to class II or class I major histocompatibility complex, respectively. The induction of the CD4+ and CD8+ T cells producing the polarized patterns of cytokines was not restricted to BALB/c mice, as cells from Ox sensitized C57B1/6 and B10.D2 mice produced the same patterns. Collectively, these results expose the induction of two polarized and functionally opposing populations of T cells by hapten sensitization to induce CHS: IFN-gamma-producing effector CD8+ T cells and Il-4/Il-10-producing CD4+ T cells that negatively regulate the response.
Time to treatment with intravenous alteplase and outcome in stroke: an updated pooled analysis of ECASS, ATLANTIS, NINDS, and EPITHET trials
Authors: Kennedy R Lees, Erich Bluhmki, Rüdiger von Kummer, Thomas G Brott, Danilo Toni, James C Grotta, Gregory W Albers, Markku Kaste, John R Marler, Scott A Hamilton, Barbara C Tilley, Stephen M Davis, Geoffrey A Donnan, Werner Hacke
Journal: The Lancet (2010)
THE EFFECT OF SOME OF THE CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS OF TUBERCLE BACILLI ON THE PROTOPLASM OF AMOEBA DUBIA
Authors: Paul Reznikoff
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1928)

1. Protein fractions derived from tubercle bacilli are toxic to the interior of Amœba dubia but have no action on the plasmalemma. 2. Phosphatide fractions dissolve the plasmalemma but have no effect on the internal cytoplasm. 3. The fatty acid fraction has a marked solvent action on the plasmalemma when brought in contact with the surface of the cell. When injected it may slowly penetrate the cytoplasm to dissolve the contiguous plasmalemma. 4. The polysaccharide fraction has no effect upon the surface membrane or upon the internal cytoplasm of Amœba dubia.