tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
A review of decision support technologies for amniocentesis
Authors: M.A. Durand, J. Boivin, G. Elwyn
Journal: Human Reproduction Update (2008)

There is an increasing interest in designing decision tools [decision support technologies (DSTs)] that support patients when they have to decide about health matters. The purpose of this review was to describe and evaluate existing DSTs for amniocentesis testing.Ten medical and psychological databases were searched up to January 2008 and key authors and organizations contacted to identify DSTs for amniocentesis (published or otherwise). DSTs that described amniocentesis testing were included.Six DSTs met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated using the International Patient Decision Aids Standards Instrument. The evaluation suggested that most DSTs provided a satisfactory level of information on the index decision and, on the specific features of a diagnostic test; provided structured guidance in making a decision; were based on scientific evidence and disclosed the funding sources and authors' credentials. However, most DSTs failed to communicate probabilistic information, to clarify patient values and use plain language. The majority of DSTs did not use a systematic development process. Furthermore, the DSTs' evaluation often lacked scientific rigour. In most cases, neither the quality nor the effectiveness of the DST could be inferred from the evaluations.The review highlights variations in the development, evaluation and quality of existing DSTs for amniocentesis. We do not know what impact DSTs may have when implemented in clinical settings. Decisions in this context have high stakes and strong emotional impacts. It is important to ensure that DSTs achieve high standards.
Observations on the rare association between portal and pulmonary hypertension.
Authors: G Kibria, P Smith, D Heath, S Sagar
Journal: Thorax (1980)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension with severe pulmonary vascular disease is a rare association of portal hypertension in man, be it the result of cirrhosis of the liver or obstruction of the portal vein. We induced portal hypertension in 23 rats by partially ligating the portal vein or by totally occluding it in two stages. The rats were killed between one and 15 months after operation. A collateral circulation of varicose, anastomotic vessels was established, and in six animals well-marked oesophageal varices developed. Despite this evidence of sustained portal hypertension, hypertrophy did not develop in the right ventricle or in the media of the pulmonary trunk or muscular pulmonary arteries in any of the animals. This suggests that mechanical obstruction of the portal vein per se is not responsible for the development of pulmonary hypertension. Other factors, perhaps of a humoral nature, appear to be required to induce this rare association of portal hypertension but we have been unable to identify these. In particular, blood levels of oestrogen were not raised after ligation of the portal vein.
Are Primary Care Physicians More Likely to Record Diabetes on Death Certificates?
Authors: Laura N. McEwen, Nathan E. Pomeroy, Kingsley Onyemere, William H. Herman
Journal: Diabetes Care (2008)

Diabetes is recorded on the death certificate of decedents with known diabetes only 38–48% of the time (1–9). Few studies have examined whether recording of diabetes on death certificates is associated with the antemortem relationship between the decedent and the certifying physician. One study of 292 diabetic decedents with histories of ischemic heart disease found that if the certifying physician was the personal physician, diabetes was recorded 48% of the time, versus 33% for another physician and 8% for a medical examiner (2). Another study found that for 104 patients with diabetes who died in the hospital, there was no relationship between the level of training of the certifying physician and the recording of diabetes (7). Our objective was to examine whether primary care physicians (PCPs) are more likely than other physicians to record diabetes on the death certificates of decedents with known diabetes.

The Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD) study has been described in detail elsewhere (10). This study was limited to the Michigan study site. Patients aged ≥ 18 years were sampled ( n = 1,650). The institutional review board approved the study, and all participants provided informed consent.

A baseline survey was administered to TRIAD participants either by computer-assisted telephone interview or by mail, …
TNF-α drives remodeling of blood vessels and lymphatics in sustained airway inflammation in mice
Authors: Peter Baluk, Li-Chin Yao, Jennifer Feng, Talia Romano, Sonia S. Jung, Jessica L. Schreiter, Li Yan, David J. Shealy, Donald M. McDonald
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2009)

Inflammation is associated with blood vessel and lymphatic vessel proliferation and remodeling. The microvasculature of the mouse trachea provides an ideal opportunity to study this process, as Mycoplasma pulmonis infection of mouse airways induces widespread and sustained vessel remodeling, including enlargement of capillaries into venules and lymphangiogenesis. Although the mediators responsible for these vascular changes in mice have not been identified, VEGF-A is known not to be involved. Here, we sought to determine whether TNF-α drives the changes in blood vessels and lymphatics in M. pulmonis–infected mice. The endothelial cells, but not pericytes, of blood vessels, but not lymphatics, were immunoreactive for TNF receptor 1 (TNF-R1) and lymphotoxin B receptors. Most TNF-R2 immunoreactivity was on leukocytes. Infection resulted in a large and sustained increase in TNF-α expression, as measured by real-time quantitative RT-PCR, and smaller increases in lymphotoxins and TNF receptors that preceded vessel remodeling. Substantially less vessel remodeling and lymphangiogenesis occurred when TNF-α signaling was inhibited by a blocking antibody or was silenced in Tnfr1–/– mice. When administered after infection was established, the TNF-α–specific antibody slowed but did not reverse blood vessel remodeling and lymphangiogenesis. The action of TNF-α on blood vessels is probably mediated through direct effects on endothelial cells, but its effects on lymphangiogenesis may require inflammatory mediators from recruited leukocytes. We conclude that TNF-α is a strong candidate for a mediator that drives blood vessel remodeling and lymphangiogenesis in inflammation.
MicroRNA miR-183 Functions as an Oncogene by Targeting the Transcription Factor<i>EGR1</i>and Promoting Tumor Cell Migration
Authors: Aaron L. Sarver, Lihua Li, Subbaya Subramanian
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

The transcription factor EGR1 is a tumor suppressor gene that is downregulated in many cancer types. Clinically, loss of EGR1 translates to increased tumor transformation and subsequent patient morbidity and mortality. In synovial sarcoma, the SS18-SSX fusion protein represses EGR1 expression through a direct association with the EGR1 promoter. However, the mechanism through which EGR1 becomes downregulated in other tumor types is unclear. Here, we report that EGR1 is regulated by microRNA (miR)-183 in multiple tumor types including synovial sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and colon cancer. Using an integrative network analysis, we identified that miR-183 is significantly overexpressed in these tumor types as well as in corresponding tumor cell lines. Bioinformatic analyses suggested that miR-183 could target EGR1 mRNA and this specific interaction was validated in vitro. miR-183 knockdown in synovial sarcoma, RMS, and colon cancer cell lines revealed deregulation of a miRNA network composed of miR-183-EGR1-PTEN in these tumors. Integrated miRNA- and mRNA-based genomic analyses indicated that miR-183 is an important contributor to cell migration in these tumor types and this result was functionally validated to be occurring via an EGR1-based mechanism. In conclusion, our findings have significant implications in the mechanisms underlying EGR1 regulation in cancers. miR-183 has a potential oncogenic role through the regulation of 2 tumor suppressor genes, EGR1 and PTEN, and the deregulation of this fundamental miRNA regulatory network may be central to many tumor types.
Comparative nuclear and mitochondrial genome diversity in humans and chimpanzees
Authors: C. A. Wise, M. Sraml, D. C. Rubinsztein, S. Easteal
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1997)

Restriction mapping and sequencing have shown that humans have substantially lower levels of mitochondrial genome diversity (d) than chimpanzees. In contrast, humans have substantially higher levels of heterozygosity (H) at protein-coding loci, suggesting a higher level of diversity in the nuclear genome. To investigate the discrepancy further, we sequenced a segment of the mitochondrial genome control region (CR) from 49 chimpanzees. The majority of these were from the Pan troglodytes versus subspecies, which was underrepresented in previous studies. We also estimated the average heterozygosity at 60 short tandem repeat (STR) loci in both species. For a total sample of 115 chimpanzees, d = 0.075 +/0 0.037, compared to 0.020 +/- 0.011 for a sample of 1,554 humans. The heterozygosity of human STR loci is significantly higher than that of chimpanzees. Thus, the higher level of nuclear genome diversity relative to mitochondrial genome diversity in humans is not restricted to protein-coding loci. It seems that humans, not chimpanzees, have an unusual d/H ratio, since the ratio in chimpanzees is similar to that in other catarrhines. This discrepancy in the relative levels of nuclear and mitochondrial genome diversity in the two species cannot be explained by differences in mutation rate. However, it may result from a combination of factors such as a difference in the extent of sex ratio disparity, the greater effect of population subdivision on mitochondrial than on nuclear genome diversity, a difference in the relative levels of male and female migration among subpopulations, diversifying selection acting to increase variation in the nuclear genome, and/or directional selection acting to reduce variation in the mitochondrial genome.
Bone Marrow Is a Reservoir of Repopulating Mesangial Cells during Glomerular Remodeling
Authors: Takahito Ito, Akira Suzuki, Enyu Imai, Masaru Okabe, Masatsugu Hori
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2001)

ABSTRACT. The renal glomerulus, whose cellular components are developmentally derived from the mesenchyme, plays a pivotal role in filtratating plasma. Irretrievable changes of glomerular components are responsible for the initiation and progression of impaired renal function. Recently, it has been shown that functional stem cells exist in the bone marrow of adult bodies and that they can reconstitute damaged tissues of the mesenchymal origin. To examine whether the bone marrow provides stem cells to damaged glomeruli, transgenic rats carrying enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP rat) were established in a systemic and constitutive manner. After transplanting the bone marrow of EGFP rats into wild-type rats, the progeny of the transplanted marrow cells were tracked with a tag of EGFP. Recruitment of bone marrow-derived cells into glomeruli was dramatically facilitated in response to mesangiolysis evoked in anti-Thy1 antibody-mediated glomerulonephritis. In the restored glomeruli, 11% to 12% of glomerular cells were derived from the transplanted bone marrow. The number of bone marrow-derived CD45+ cells transiently increased during the disease process, and CD45-negative cells constantly accounted for more than half of the bone marrow-derived population in glomeruli. Bone marrow-derived Thy1+ cells kept increasing in number until the remodeling ceased and finally made up 7% to 8% of glomerular cells. Laser scanning microscopy displayed that the bone marrow-derived Thy1+ cells provide structural support for glomerular capillaries, which indicates that they are mesangial cells. Although CD45−Thy1− bone marrow-derived cells exist during the remodeling of glomeruli, none of them expressed endothelial markers such as Factor VIII and RECA1 as long as they were tested. The results indicate that the bone marrow can give rise to mesangial cells in vivo.
Nitric Oxide-20–Hydroxyeicosatetraenoic Acid Interaction in the Regulation of K <sup>+</sup> Channel Activity and Vascular Tone in Renal Arterioles
Authors: Cheng-Wen Sun, Magdalena Alonso-Galicia, M. Reza Taheri, John R. Falck, David R. Harder, Richard J. Roman
Journal: Circulation Research (1998)

Abstract —The present study examined whether inhibition of P4504A enzyme activity and the formation of 20-HETE contributes to the activation of K + channels and vasodilator effects of nitric oxide (NO) in renal arterioles. Addition of an NO donor to the P4504A2 enzyme that produces 20-HETE increased visible light absorbance at 440 nm indicating that NO binds to heme in this enzyme. NO donors also dose-dependently inhibited the formation of 20-HETE in microsomes prepared from renal arterioles. In patch-clamp experiments, NO donors increased the open-state probability of a voltage-sensitive, large-conductance (195±9 pS) K + channel recorded with cell-attached patches on renal arteriolar smooth muscle cells. Blockade of guanylyl cyclase with [1H-[1,2,4]Oxadiazolo[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one] (ODQ, 10 μmol/L), or cGMP-dependent kinase with 8 R ,9 S ,11 S -(−)-9-methoxycarbamyl-8-methyl-2,3,9,10-tetrahydro-8,11-epoxy-1 H ,8 H ,11 H -2,7 b ,11 a -trizadibenzo-( a , g )-cy-cloocta-( c , d , e )-trinden-1-one (KT-5823) (1 μmol/L) did not alter the effects of NO on this channel. In contrast, inhibition of the formation of 20-HETE with 17-octadecynoic acid (1 μmol/L) activated this channel and masked the response to NO. Preventing the NO-induced reduction in intracellular 20-HETE levels also blocked the effects of NO on this channel. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) increased the diameter of renal interlobular arteries preconstricted with phenylephrine to 80±4% of control. Blockade of guanylyl cyclase with ODQ (10 μmol/L) attenuated the response to SNP by 26±2%; however, fixing 20-HETE levels at 100 nmol/L reduced the response by 67±8%. Blockade of both pathways eliminated the response to SNP. These results indicate that inhibition of the formation of 20-HETE contributes to the activation of K + channels and the vasodilator effects of NO in the renal microcirculation.
Spontaneous Periodic Hypothermia: Diencephalic Epilepsy
Authors: R. H. Fox, D. C. Wilkins, J. A. Bell, R. D. Bradley, N. L. Browse, W. I. Cranston, T. H. Foley, E. D. Gilby, A. Hebden, B. S. Jenkins, M. D. Rawlins
Journal: BMJ (1973)

The case of a patient with episodic hypothermia and profuse sweating believed to be due to diencephalic epilepsy is reported. Despite intensive investigations no other manifestations of hypothalamic dysfunction were found. Conventional antiepileptic drugs were without effect but the patient was successfully treated by total sympathectomy.
The Association of HIV Susceptibility Testing With Survival Among HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy: A Cohort Study
Authors: Frank J. Palella, Carl Armon, Kate Buchacz, Stephen R. Cole, Joan S. Chmiel, Richard M. Novak, Kathleen Wood, Anne C. Moorman, John T. Brooks
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Background: HIV-1 genotypic and phenotypic susceptibility testing (GPT) optimizes antiretroviral selection, but its effect on survival is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the association between GPT and survival. Design: Cohort study. Setting: 10 U.S. HIV clinics. Patients: 2699 HIV-infected patients eligible for GPT (plasma HIV RNA level >1000 copies/mL) seen from 1999 through 2005. Measurements: Demographic characteristics, clinical factors, GPT use, all-cause mortality, and crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for the association of GPT with survival. Results: Patients were followed for a median of 3.3 years; 915 (34%) had GPT. Patients who had GPT had lower mortality rates than those who did not (2.0 vs. 2.7 deaths per 100 person-years). In standard Cox models, GPT was associated with improved survival (adjusted HR, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.51 to 0.94]; P = 0.017) after controlling for demographic characteristics, CD4+ cell count, HIV RNA level, and intensity of clinical follow-up. In subgroup analyses, GPT was associated with improved survival for the 2107 highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)–experienced patients (2.2 vs. 3.2 deaths per 100 person-years for patients who had GPT vs. those who did not have GPT; adjusted HR, 0.60 [CI, 0.43 to 0.82]; P = 0.002) and for the 921 triple antiretroviral class–experienced patients (2.1 vs. 3.1 deaths per 100 person-years; adjusted HR, 0.61 [CI 0.40 to 0.93]; P = 0.022). Marginal structural models supported associations between GPT and improved survival in the overall cohort (adjusted HR, 0.54; P = 0.001) and in the HAART-experienced group (adjusted HR, 0.56; P = 0.003). Limitations: Use of GPT was not randomized. Residual confounding may exist. Conclusion: Use of GPT was independently associated with improved survival among HAART-experienced patients. Primary Funding Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The combined use of surgery and radiotherapy to treat patients with epidural cord compression due to metastatic disease: a cost-utility analysis
Authors: J. C. Furlan, K. K.- W. Chan, G. A. Sandoval, K. C. K. Lam, C. A. Klinger, R. A. Patchell, A. Laporte, M. G. Fehlings
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2012)

Neoplastic metastatic epidural spinal cord compression is a common complication of cancer that causes pain and progressive neurologic impairment. The previous standard treatment for this condition involved corticosteroids and radiotherapy (RT). Direct decompressive surgery with postoperative radiotherapy (S + RT) is now increasingly being chosen by clinicians to significantly improve patients' ability to walk and reduce their need for opioid analgesics and corticosteroids. A cost-utility analysis was conducted to compare S + RT with RT alone based on the landmark randomized clinical trial by Patchell et al. (2005). It was performed from the perspective of the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Ontario-based costs were adjusted to 2010 US dollars. S + RT is more costly but also more effective than corticosteroids and RT alone, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$250 307 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained. First order probabilistic sensitivity analysis revealed that the probability of S + RT being cost-effective is 18.11%. The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve showed that there is a 91.11% probability of S + RT being cost-effective over RT alone at a willingness-to-pay of US$1 683 000 per QALY. In practice, the results of our study indicate that, by adopting the S + RT strategy, there would still be a chance of 18.11% of not paying extra at a willingness-to-pay of US$50 000 per QALY. Those results are sensitive to the costs of hospice palliative care. Our results suggest that adopting a standard S + RT approach for patients with MSCC is likely to increase health care costs but would result in improved outcomes.
Diagnosis of Childhood Tuberculosis and Host RNA Expression in Africa
Authors: Suzanne T. Anderson, Myrsini Kaforou, Andrew J. Brent, Victoria J. Wright, Claire M. Banwell, George Chagaluka, Amelia C. Crampin, Hazel M. Dockrell, Neil French, Melissa S. Hamilton, Martin L. Hibberd, Florian Kern, Paul R. Langford, Ling Ling, Rachel Mlotha, Tom H.M. Ottenhoff, Sandy Pienaar, Vashini Pillay, J. Anthony G. Scott, Hemed Twahir, Robert J. Wilkinson, Lachlan J. Coin, Robert S. Heyderman, Michael Levin, Brian Eley
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2014)

Improved diagnostic tests for tuberculosis in children are needed. We hypothesized that transcriptional signatures of host blood could be used to distinguish tuberculosis from other diseases in African children who either were or were not infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
Comparing the Pneumonia Severity Index and CURB scores
Authors: A S Patel
Journal: Thorax (2005)

▴ Aujesky D, Auble TE, Yealy DM, et al . Prospective comparison of three validated prediction rules for prognosis in community-acquired pneumonia. Am J Med2005;118:384–92 [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] A number of different models have been used to assess prognosis in pneumonia. In this study the Pneumonia Severity Index was compared with the CURB and CURB-65 severity scores in predicting 30 day mortality. 3181 patients with community acquired pneumonia were assessed between January and December … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DThe%2BAmerican%2Bjournal%2Bof%2Bmedicine%26rft.stitle%253DAm%2BJ%2BMed%26rft.aulast%253DAujesky%26rft.auinit1%253DD.%26rft.volume%253D118%26rft.issue%253D4%26rft.spage%253D384%26rft.epage%253D392%26rft.atitle%253DProspective%2Bcomparison%2Bof%2Bthree%2Bvalidated%2Bprediction%2Brules%2Bfor%2Bprognosis%2Bin%2Bcommunity-acquired%2Bpneumonia.%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1016%252Fj.amjmed.2005.01.006%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F15808136%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1016/j.amjmed.2005.01.006&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=15808136&link_type=MED&atom=%2Fthoraxjnl%2F60%2F9%2F722.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000228275200010&link_type=ISI
Lyme Carditis in the Netherlands
Authors: A.A. Blaauw, Sj. van der Linden, H. Kuiper
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1989)

Letters and Corrections1 August 1989Lyme Carditis in the NetherlandsA.A. Blaauw, MD, Sj. van der Linden, MD, H. Kuiper, MDA.A. Blaauw, MDSearch for more papers by this author, Sj. van der Linden, MDSearch for more papers by this author, H. Kuiper, MDSearch for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-111-3-261_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the Editor:A recent article by McAlister and colleagues (1) included an extensive review of 54 cases of Lyme carditis in the world literature. We bring to attention two cases (2, 3) of Lyme carditis reported in the Netherlands and not included in the review. In one case (2), a previously healthy 33-year-old man was hospitalized on 12 August 1987 after several days of exertional dyspnea and lightheadedness followed by a syncopal episode. An electrocardiogram showed a 2:1 atrioventricular block. A chest roentgenogram was normal. After intravenous infusion of atropine, a first-degree atrioventricular block developed. Three days later, an...References1. McAlister H, Klementowicz P, and Andrews C. Lyme carditis: an important cause of reversible heart block. Ann Intern Med. 1989;110:339-45. LinkGoogle Scholar2. Blaauw A, Braat S, van Santen-Hoeufft M, and van der Linden S. Cardiologische afwijkingen bij patiënten met Lyme Borreliose. Ned Tijdschr Geneesk. 1988; 132:2111-4. MedlineGoogle Scholar3. Kuiper H, de Jongh B, and Sender P. Pacemaker-implantatie wegens totaal atrioventriculair block bij Lyme Borreliose. Ned Tijdschr Geneesk. 1988;132:2109-11. MedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: A.A. Blaauw, MD; Sj. van der Linden, MD; H. Kuiper, MD PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byCardiac implications of Lyme disease, diagnosis and therapeutic approachElectrocardiographic findings in children with erythema migransCeftriaxone Compared with Doxycycline for the Treatment of Acute Disseminated Lyme DiseaseCardiovascular manifestations of Lyme diseaseDoença de Lyme 1 August 1989Volume 111, Issue 3Page: 261-262KeywordsAtropineDyspneaElectrocardiographyMyocarditisSyncopeThorax ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 August 1989 PDF downloadLoading ...