tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Increased Risk of CKD among Type 2 Diabetics with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Giovanni Targher, Michel Chonchol, Lorenzo Bertolini, Stefano Rodella, Luciano Zenari, Giuseppe Lippi, Massimo Franchini, Giacomo Zoppini, Michele Muggeo
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2008)

It is unknown whether chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease among patients with type 2 diabetes. We followed 1760 outpatients with type 2 diabetes and normal or near-normal kidney function and without overt proteinuria for 6.5 yr for the occurrence of CKD (defined as overt proteinuria and/or estimated GFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)). During follow-up, 547 participants developed incident CKD. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, diagnosed by liver ultrasound and exclusion of other common causes of chronic liver disease, was associated with a moderately increased risk for CKD (hazard ratio 1.69; 95% confidence interval 1.3 to 2.6; P < 0.001). Adjustments for gender, age, body mass index, waist circumference, BP, smoking, diabetes duration, glycosylated hemoglobin, lipids, baseline estimated GFR, microalbuminuria, and medications (hypoglycemic, lipid-lowering, antihypertensive, or antiplatelet drugs) did not appreciably attenuate this association (hazard ratio 1.49; 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 2.2; P < 0.01). In conclusion, our findings suggest that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is associated with an increased incidence of CKD in individuals with type 2 diabetes, independent of numerous baseline confounding factors.
A comparative study of the nodular and diffuse variants of lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease.
Authors: A Borg-Grech, J A Radford, D Crowther, R Swindell, M Harris
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1989)

A clinical comparison of the nodular and diffuse variants of lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's disease (HD-LP) has shown them to be similar in all respects, including survival and relapse-free survival (RFS). In addition, they appear similar to mixed cellularity (MC) and nodular sclerosing Hodgkin's disease (HD-NS) with regard to clinical course. Thus, the reported phenotypic differences between nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin's disease (HD-LP[N]) and other forms of the disease do not appear to be reflected in clinical behavior.
Effects of [Asu1,7]-eel calcitonin on gastric somatostatin and gastrin release.
Authors: T Chiba, T Taminato, S Kadowaki, Y Goto, K Mori, Y Seino, H Abe, K Chihara, S Matsukura, T Fujita, T Kondo
Journal: Gut (1980)

Effects of [Asu1,7]-eel calcitonin on gastric somatostatin and gastrin secretion were studied by using the isolated perfused rat stomach. [Asu1,7]-eel calcitonin (10(-9)--10(-7)M) caused a simultaneous dose-dependent increase of gastric somatostatin release and decrease of gastrin secretion, with a significant correlation between these two. The demonstration of calcitonin stimulation of gastric somatostatin release raises the possibility of somatostatin-mediated suppression of gastrin secretion by calcitonin.
Perceptual symbol systems
Authors: Lawrence W. Barsalou
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1999)

Prior to the twentieth century, theories of knowledge were inherently perceptual. Since then, developments in logic, statistics, and programming languages have inspired amodal theories that rest on principles fundamentally different from those underlying perception. In addition, perceptual approaches have become widely viewed as untenable because they are assumed to implement recording systems, not conceptual systems. A perceptual theory of knowledge is developed here in the context of current cognitive science and neuroscience. During perceptual experience, association areas in the brain capture bottom-up patterns of activation in sensory-motor areas. Later, in a top-down manner, association areas partially reactivate sensory-motor areas to implement perceptual symbols. The storage and reactivation of perceptual symbols operates at the level of perceptual components – not at the level of holistic perceptual experiences. Through the use of selective attention, schematic representations of perceptual components are extracted from experience and stored in memory (e.g., individual memories of green, purr, hot) . As memories of the same component become organized around a common frame, they implement a simulator that produces limitless simulations of the component (e.g., simulations of purr) . Not only do such simulators develop for aspects of sensory experience, they also develop for aspects of proprioception (e.g., lift, run) and introspection (e.g., compare, memory, happy, hungry) . Once established, these simulators implement a basic conceptual system that represents types, supports categorization, and produces categorical inferences. These simulators further support productivity, propositions, and abstract concepts, thereby implementing a fully functional conceptual system. Productivity results from integrating simulators combinatorially and recursively to produce complex simulations. Propositions result from binding simulators to perceived individuals to represent type-token relations. Abstract concepts are grounded in complex simulations of combined physical and introspective events. Thus, a perceptual theory of knowledge can implement a fully functional conceptual system while avoiding problems associated with amodal symbol systems. Implications for cognition, neuroscience, evolution, development, and artificial intelligence are explored.
Interviews with patients better than surveys for generating change
Authors: C. Mahoney
Journal: BMJ (2003)

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about The BMJ.NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address. Username * Your Email * Send To * You are going to email the following Interviews with patients better than surveys for generating change Your Personal Message CAPTCHA This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
Human Pulmonary Valve Progenitor Cells Exhibit Endothelial/Mesenchymal Plasticity in Response to Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A and Transforming Growth Factor-β <sub>2</sub>
Authors: Sailaja Paruchuri, Jeong-Hee Yang, Elena Aikawa, Juan M. Melero-Martin, Zia A. Khan, Stavros Loukogeorgakis, Frederick J. Schoen, Joyce Bischoff
Journal: Circulation Research (2006)

In situ analysis of fetal semilunar valve leaflets has revealed cells coexpressing endothelial and mesenchymal markers along the endothelium, with diminished frequency seen in adult valves. To determine whether such cells are progenitor cells, we isolated clonal populations from human pulmonary valves. The clones expressed endothelial markers but showed potential to further differentiate into endothelium in response to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. When exposed to transforming growth factor (TGF)-β 2 , individual clones adopted a mesenchymal phenotype to varying degrees and expressed markers of endothelial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT). Both VEGF- and TGFβ 2 –induced phenotypic changes were partially reversible, indicating the plasticity of these cells. When challenged with VEGF or TGFβ 2 , a hierarchy of endothelial/mesenchymal potential could be seen among the clonal populations: cells initially closer to an endothelial phenotype showed a strong response to TGFβ 2 that could be inhibited by VEGF, whereas cells closer to a mesenchymal phenotype responded to TGFβ 2 but were resistant to endothelial-inducing effects of VEGF. These findings suggest the presence of bipotential valve progenitor cells with ability to differentiate into either endothelial or interstitial cells of the valve leaflet. Understanding the differentiation potential and function of these cells may be important for understanding heart valve disease and may also be applied to current paradigms for creating tissue-engineered heart valves.
Lymphotoxin stimulates proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine secretion of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes
Authors: F Calmon Hamaty, M Hahne, B Combe, J Morel
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010)

Background and Purpose Lymphotoxin α (LTα) is a proinfl ammatory cytokine with structural homology with tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα).Both cytokines bind to the receptors TNFRI and TNFRII, and LTα also binds to the herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM).Increased LTα levels have been detected in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but its role in RA is poorly characterised.To elucidate its role in comparison with TNFα, we analysed the effect of LTα in cultured RA fi broblast-like synoviocytes (FLS).Methods RA FLS were extracted from synovial tissues of patients who met the ACR criteria for RA (revised 1987).Surface expression of receptors was analysed by FACS.Cells were stimulated with 0.5 nM LTα or TNFα for 24 h and apoptosis was measured by annexin-V/TOPRO-3.After 72 h of stimulation, proliferation was evaluated by measuring DNA synthesis through incorporation of tritiated [3H] thymidine and secretion of infl ammatory cytokines by ELISA.Activation of MAP kinases and Akt was analysed by western blotting and nuclear translocation of NF-κB by immunofl uorescence.Differences between experimental groups were evaluated by ANOVA followed by Tukey post-test.Results 60-80% and 30-50% of the RA FLS tested expressed TNFRI and TNFRII, respectively, and 7-10% expressed HVEM.In comparison with non-stimulated cells, LTα induced proliferation 4-fold, such as TNFα.LTα-and TNFα-induced proliferation was signifi cantly blocked by etanercept.Both LTα and TNFα induced phosphorylation, thus activation of MAP kinases ERK 1/2 and p38 as well as Akt.Specifi c inhibitors for the MAP and PI3 kinases blocked proliferation induced by LTα and TNFα.95-98% of RA FLS showed nuclear translocation of NF-κB after stimulation with either cytokine.Both LTα and TNFα were potent to induce secretion of interleukin (IL)6, IL8 and metalloproteinase-3 in RA FLS. Conclusions LTα is as effective as TNFα in stimulating RA FLS.Blocking both cytokines might allow a better control of infl ammation and synovial proliferation observed in RA.This work
Impact of changes in physical activity on health-related quality of life among patients with COPD
Authors: C. Esteban, J.M. Quintana, M. Aburto, J. Moraza, M. Egurrola, J. Pérez-Izquierdo, S. Aizpiri, U. Aguirre, A. Capelastegui
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2010)

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether changes in regular physical activity (PA) affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). 611 patients (mean age 67.2±8.4 yrs; forced expiratory volume in 1 s 49.7±14.6) completed the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire (CRQ) and the Medical Outcomes Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire. PA, defined as patients' self-reported regular walking times, was classified as low, moderate and high. After 5 yrs, 391 survivors completed these instruments again. After adjustment for relevant confounders, patients who reported low PA at baseline and who increased their PA over the study period improved their SGRQ and CRQ scores by 15.9 and 8.7 points, respectively. Patients who moved from moderate to high PA improved their SGRQ scores by 18.4 and their CRQ scores by 14.8. Slightly smaller increases were observed for patients who maintained a high level of PA throughout the study period. Maintaining a low level of PA or decreasing PA over the study period was associated with a significant HRQoL decline. Among COPD patients, a reduction in time spent engaging in PA or maintaining a low level may impair HRQoL, whereas an increase in PA can improve HRQoL parameters.
Heat Shock Protein 60 Regulation of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in Tumor Cells
Authors: Jagadish C. Ghosh, Markus D. Siegelin, Takehiko Dohi, Dario C. Altieri
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Mitochondrial apoptosis plays a critical role in tumor maintenance and dictates the response to therapy in vivo; however, the regulators of this process are still largely elusive. Here, we show that the molecular chaperone heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) directly associates with cyclophilin D (CypD), a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. This interaction occurs in a multichaperone complex comprising Hsp60, Hsp90, and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein-1, selectively assembled in tumor but not in normal mitochondria. Genetic targeting of Hsp60 by siRNA triggers CypD-dependent mitochondrial permeability transition, caspase-dependent apoptosis, and suppression of intracranial glioblastoma growth in vivo. Therefore, Hsp60 is a novel regulator of mitochondrial permeability transition, contributing to a cytoprotective chaperone network that antagonizes CypD-dependent cell death in tumors.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Memory Problems After Female Genital Mutilation
Authors: Alice Behrendt, Steffen Moritz
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2005)

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study investigated the mental health status of women after genital mutilation. Although experts have assumed that circumcised women are more prone to developing psychiatric illnesses than the general population, there has been little research to confirm this claim. It was predicted that female genital mutilation is associated with a high rate of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHOD: The psychological impact of female genital mutilation was assessed in 23 circumcised Senegalese women in Dakar. Twenty-four uncircumcised Senegalese women served as comparison subjects. A neuropsychiatric interview and further questionnaires were used to assess traumatization and psychiatric illnesses. RESULTS: The circumcised women showed a significantly higher prevalence of PTSD (30.4%) and other psychiatric syndromes (47.9%) than the uncircumcised women. PTSD was accompanied by memory problems. CONCLUSIONS: Within the circumcised group, a mental health problem exists that may furnish the first evidence of the severe psychological consequences of female genital mutilation.
Temporal invariance and clonal uniformity of brain and cerebrospinal IgG, IgA, and IgM in multiple sclerosis.
Authors: M J Walsh, W W Tourtellotte
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1986)

Elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) IgG and oligoclonal IgG bands on electrophoresis are valuable clinical markers for B cell proliferation in the brains of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Using two-dimensional electrophoresis, (2DE) we have established that the humoral immune response in MS brain is characterized by finite clonal complexity for the major Ig classes. An important question is whether this immune response is clonally stable or varies with time, related to the development of new lesions and random entry of B cells into the MS brain. To investigate this, we performed serial electrophoretic studies on CSF obtained from 19 patients with MS; the intervals ranged from 7 to 12 yr, with a mean of 8 yr. These analyses included studies of IgG, IgA, and IgM, and revealed that the humoral immune response in MS is clonally stable over long periods. Spontaneous fluctuations or reduction in CSF IgG levels by drugs did not qualitatively affect B cell clonal proliferation in MS brain, in that dominant bands and spots were not obliterated. It has been asserted that IgG synthesis in MS is nonsense antibody because the spectotypes of IgG isolated from different regions of MS brains differ. Factors other than clonal heterogeneity could account for differences found using one-dimensional analysis. B cell clonal products resolve into unique and well-resolved spots by 2DE; the method is uniquely suitable for analysis of restricted immune responses. Therefore, Ig were isolated from 11 regions of three MS brains and the 2DE patterns were compared. The similarity of the 2DE patterns indicate unequivocally that major clones are distributed uniformly although some clones are more prominent in some brain areas. IgA and IgM isolated from the same areas also showed similar patterns. Furthermore, the patterns of light and heavy chains in brain regions differed from serum but were similar to the autologous CSF, providing new evidence that CSF IgG in MS derives from synthesis in situ. Our results indicate that, once initiated, B cell clonal proliferation persists indefinitely and is little altered qualitatively at a clonal level over time, even when CSF IgG levels change or are altered by drugs. Our results are consistent with allotype and idiotype analysis of Ig production in MS and conflict with nonsense antibody proposals of the origin and nature of in situ synthesized Ig in MS.
The Newell Test for a theory of cognition
Authors: John R. Anderson, Christian Lebiere
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2003)

Newell (1980; 1990) proposed that cognitive theories be developed in an effort to satisfy multiple criteria and to avoid theoretical myopia. He provided two overlapping lists of 13 criteria that the human cognitive architecture would have to satisfy in order to be functional. We have distilled these into 12 criteria: flexible behavior, real-time performance, adaptive behavior, vast knowledge base, dynamic behavior, knowledge integration, natural language, learning, development, evolution, and brain realization. There would be greater theoretical progress if we evaluated theories by a broad set of criteria such as these and attended to the weaknesses such evaluations revealed. To illustrate how theories can be evaluated we apply these criteria to both classical connectionism (McClelland &amp; Rumelhart 1986; Rumelhart &amp; McClelland 1986b) and the ACT-R theory (Anderson &amp; Lebiere 1998). The strengths of classical connectionism on this test derive from its intense effort in addressing empirical phenomena in such domains as language and cognitive development. Its weaknesses derive from its failure to acknowledge a symbolic level to thought. In contrast, ACT-R includes both symbolic and subsymbolic components. The strengths of the ACT-R theory derive from its tight integration of the symbolic component with the subsymbolic component. Its weaknesses largely derive from its failure, as yet, to adequately engage in intensive analyses of issues related to certain criteria on Newell's list.
Brain Activity in Adolescent Major Depressive Disorder Before and After Fluoxetine Treatment
Authors: Rongrong Tao, Clifford S. Calley, John Hart, Taryn L. Mayes, Paul A. Nakonezny, Hanzhang Lu, Betsy D. Kennard, Carol A. Tamminga, Graham J. Emslie
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2012)

Major depression in adolescents is a significant public health concern because of its frequency and severity. To examine the neurobiological basis of depression in this population, the authors studied functional activation characteristics of the brain before and after antidepressant treatment in antidepressant-naive depressed adolescents and healthy comparison subjects.Depressed (N=19) and healthy (N=21) adolescents, ages 11 to 18 years, underwent functional MRI assessment while viewing fearful and neutral facial expressions at baseline and again 8 weeks later. The depressed adolescents received 8 weeks of open-label fluoxetine treatment after their baseline scan.Voxel-wise whole brain analyses showed that depressed youths have exaggerated brain activation compared with healthy comparison subjects in multiple regions, including the frontal, temporal, and limbic cortices. The 8 weeks of fluoxetine treatment normalized most of these regions of hyperactivity in the depressed group. Region-of-interest analyses of the areas involved in emotion processing indicated that before treatment, depressed youths had significantly greater activations to fearful relative to neutral facial expressions than did healthy comparison subjects in the amygdala, orbitofrontal cortex, and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex bilaterally. Fluoxetine treatment decreased activations in all three regions, as compared with the repeat scans of healthy comparison subjects.While effective treatments are available, the impact of depression and its treatment on the brain in adolescents is understudied. This study confirms increases in brain activation in untreated depressed adolescents and demonstrates reductions in these aberrant activations with treatment.
Selective Referral to High-Volume Hospitals
Authors: R A Dudley, K L Johansen, R Brand, D J Rennie, A Milstein
Journal: JAMA (2000)

Evidence exists that high-volume hospitals (HVHs) have lower mortality rates than low-volume hospitals (LVHs) for certain conditions. However, few employers, health plans, or government programs have attempted to increase the number of patients referred to HVHs.To determine the difference in hospital mortality between HVHs and LVHs for conditions for which good quality data exist and to estimate how many deaths potentially would be avoided in California by referral to HVHs.Literature in MEDLINE, Current Contents, and First-Search Social Abstracts databases from January 1, 1983, to December 31, 1998, was searched using the key words hospital, outcome, mortality, volume, risk, and quality. The highest-quality study assessing the mortality-volume relationship for each given condition was identified and used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for in-hospital mortality for LVHs vs HVHs. These ORs were then applied to the 1997 California database of hospital discharges maintained by the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development to estimate potentially avoidable deaths.Deaths that potentially could be avoided if patients with conditions for which a mortality-volume relationship had been treated at an HVH vs LVH.The articles identified in the literature search were grouped by condition, and predetermined criteria were applied to choose the best article for each condition. Mortality was significantly lower at HVHs for elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, carotid endarterectomy, lower extremity arterial bypass surgery, coronary artery bypass surgery, coronary angioplasty, heart transplantation, pediatric cardiac surgery, pancreatic cancer surgery, esophageal cancer surgery, cerebral aneurysm surgery, and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A total of 58,306 of 121,609 patients with these conditions were admitted to LVHs in California in 1997. After applying the calculated ORs to these patient populations, we estimated that 602 deaths (95% confidence interval, 304-830) at LVHs could be attributed to their low volume. Additional analyses were performed to take into account emergent admissions and distance traveled, but the impact of loss of continuity of care for some patients and reduction in the availability of specialists for patients remaining at LVHs could not be assessed.Initiatives to facilitate referral of patients to HVHs have the potential to reduce overall hospital mortality in California for the conditions identified. Additional study is needed to determine the extent to which selective referral is feasible and to examine the potential consequences of such initiatives.
Depletion of zebrafish essential and regulatory myosin light chains reduces cardiac function through distinct mechanisms
Authors: Zhenyue Chen, Wei Huang, Tillman Dahme, Wolfgang Rottbauer, Michael J. Ackerman, Xiaolei Xu
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2008)

AimsMutations in the essential myosin light chain (ELC) and regulatory myosin light chain (RLC) genes have been linked to sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathies in humans; however, the specific functions of the different myosin light chains during cardiogenesis in a vertebrate animal are not well understood.