tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Reducing problem complexity by analogical transfer
Authors: Peter F. Dominey
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (1997)

Analogical transfer in sequence learning is presented as an example of how the type-2 problem of learning an unbounded number of isomorphic sequences is reduced to the type-1 problem of learning a small finite set of sequences. The commentary illustrates how the difficult problem of appropriate analogical filter creation and selection is addressed while avoiding the trap of strong nativism, and it provides theoretical and experimental evidence for the existence of dissociable mechanisms for type-1 learning and type-2 recoding.
Measurement of effective pulmonary blood flow by soluble gas uptake
Authors: A. Kendrick
Journal: Thorax (1988)

Measurement of effective pulmonary blood flow by soluble gas uptake SntI,-I was interested to read the article by Dr RJ Pierce and others (August 1987;42:604-14).In their description of the methods the authors perpetuate a few misconceptions which commonly appear in papers about the inert gas method of estimating pulmonary blood flow.
Late reactions to the patch-test preparations para-phenylenediamine and epoxy resin: a prospective multicentre investigation of the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group
Authors: U. Hillen, U. Jappe, P.J. Frosch, D. Becker, J. Brasch, M. Lilie, T. Fuchs, B. Kreft, C. Pirker, J. Geier
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2006)

Background Late patch‐test reactions, developing at day (D) 7 or later have been described for several allergens. Late reactions may reflect patch‐test sensitization. Para‐phenylenediamine (PPD) and epoxy resins (ER) are potent allergens and therefore may potentially induce patch‐test sensitization. Up to now, there has been no prospective study on the frequency of late reactions in routine patch testing with these allergens. Objectives To assess the frequency of late reactions to PPD and ER. Patients/methods In 1748 patients PPD (PPD‐base, 1% pet.) and ER [based on diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA, 1% pet.)], and in 812 patients, nickel sulphate (5% pet.) were removed from the test panel of the standard series and applied on the medial side of the upper arm. Patch‐test occlusion time was 24 h in 588 (PPD and ER) and 241 patients (nickel sulphate), respectively, and 48 h in 1160 (PPD and ER) and 571 (nickel sulphate) patients, respectively. Patch tests were read on D1–3 and D2–3, respectively; additional late readings were performed on D7, D14 and D21 after patch‐test application. Patients who were not able to return for all scheduled late readings were telephoned on D7, D14 or D21, and questioned about a reaction at the test sites. Patients were instructed to perform daily self‐examination from D4 onwards and to return immediately to the clinic if a reaction at the upper arm became visible. Results Data of 1428 patients (ER and PPD) and 638 patients (nickel) were evaluable. In 25 patients (1·8%), patch tests became positive not before D7, among them 21 reactions to PPD (1·5%) and four reactions to ER (0·3%). In five of seven patients, repeated patch tests with PPD disclosed patch‐test sensitization as the cause of the late reaction. All late reactions, except for one, occurred in patients in whom patch tests were applied for 48 h. No late reactions were seen with nickel sulphate. Conclusions PPD (1% pet.) elicited late reactions in 1·5% of routine patch tests, the majority of them probably being caused by patch‐test sensitization. Therefore, the German Contact Dermatitis Research Group decided to remove PPD 1% pet. from the German standard series and to take efforts to optimize the patch‐test conditions of PPD. One way to optimize PPD testing could be to reduce the exposure of PPD 1% to 24 h. Alternatively the patch‐test concentration of PPD might be reduced.
Systemic sensitivity to corticosteroids in smokers with asthma
Authors: E Livingston, R Chaudhuri, A D McMahon, I Fraser, C P McSharry, N C Thomson
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2006)

Cigarette smokers with asthma are insensitive to the therapeutic effects of corticosteroids. It is not known whether this insensitivity to corticosteroids in smokers affects tissue sites beyond the airways. A total of 75 asthmatic subjects (39 smokers) and 78 healthy controls (30 smokers) were recruited to an observational study. The cutaneous and peripheral blood lymphocyte responses to corticosteroids were measured. The cutaneous vasoconstrictor response to topical beclometasone was measured by applying different concentrations of beclometasone solutions to the skin in a random double-blind manner. The degree of blanching at each concentration was graded after 18 h. The sensitivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes to corticosteroids was assessed by measuring the suppressive effect of dexamethasone on lymphocyte proliferation stimulated by phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Total mean±sd cutaneous vasoconstrictor response score to beclometasone was reduced in smokers with asthma to 5.39±3.58 <i>versus</i> 7.26±3.05 in never-smokers with asthma; and in all smokers to 6.47±3.33 <i>versus</i> 7.86±2.81 in all never-smokers. The sensitivity to corticosteroids of lymphocytes stimulated by PHA was similar between groups. In conclusion, smokers with asthma have an impaired cutaneous vasoconstrictor response to topical corticosteroids compared with never-smokers with asthma. This finding suggests that the insensitivity to corticosteroids in smokers with asthma affects tissue sites other than the airways.
Involvement of Cardiotrophin-1 in Cardiac Myocyte-Nonmyocyte Interactions During Hypertrophy of Rat Cardiac Myocytes In Vitro
Authors: Koichiro Kuwahara, Yoshihiko Saito, Masaki Harada, Masahiro Ishikawa, Emiko Ogawa, Yoshihiro Miyamoto, Ichiro Hamanaka, Shigeki Kamitani, Noboru Kajiyama, Nobuki Takahashi, Osamu Nakagawa, Izuru Masuda, Kazuwa Nakao
Journal: Circulation (1999)

The mechanism responsible for cardiac hypertrophy is currently conceptualized as having 2 components, mediated by cardiac myocytes and nonmyocytes, respectively. The interaction between myocytes and nonmyocytes via growth factors and/or cytokines plays an important role in the development of cardiac hypertrophy. We found that cardiac myocytes showed hypertrophic changes when cocultured with cardiac nonmyocytes. Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1), a new member of the interleukin-6 family of cytokines, was identified by its ability to induce hypertrophic response in cardiac myocytes. In this study, we used the in vitro coculture system to examine how CT-1 is involved in the interaction between cardiac myocytes and nonmyocytes during the hypertrophy process.RNase protection assay revealed that CT-1 mRNA levels were 3. 5 times higher in cultured cardiac nonmyocytes than in cultured cardiac myocytes. We developed anti-CT-1 antibodies and found that they significantly inhibited the increased atrial and brain natriuretic peptide secretion and protein synthesis characteristic of hypertrophic changes of myocytes in the coculture. In addition, non-myocyte-conditioned medium rapidly elicited tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT3 and induced an increase in natriuretic peptide secretion and protein synthesis in cultured cardiac myocytes; these effects were partially suppressed by anti-CT-1 antibodies. Finally, the hypertrophic effects of CT-1 and endothelin-1, which we had previously implicated in the hypertrophic activity in the coculture, were additive in cardiac myocytes.These results show that CT-1 secreted from cardiac nonmyocytes is significantly involved in the hypertrophic changes of cardiac myocytes in the coculture and suggest that CT-1 is an important local regulator in the process of cardiac hypertrophy.
Website of the week: Severe acute respiratory syndrome
Authors: T. Jackson
Journal: BMJ (2003)

Information about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) changes every day. The internet, with its capacity for immediacy and global reach, is therefore a good source of advice to health professionals and the public alike. It is also an ideal place to advertise SARS-related merchandise: enter the search term “SARS” or “severe acute respiratory syndrome” on google.com and you will find boxed notices …
Influence of zoledronic acid on disseminated tumor cells in primary breast cancer patients
Authors: E.-F. Solomayer, G. Gebauer, P. Hirnle, W. Janni, H.-J. Lück, S. Becker, J. Huober, B. Krämer, B. Wackwitz, D. Wallwiener, T. Fehm
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2012)
Occult Metastases in Lymph Nodes Predict Survival in Resectable Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer: Report of the ACOSOG Z0040 Trial
Authors: Valerie W. Rusch, Debra Hawes, Paul A. Decker, Sue Ellen Martin, Andrea Abati, Rodney J. Landreneau, G. Alexander Patterson, Richard I. Inculet, David R. Jones, Richard A. Malthaner, Robbin G. Cohen, Karla Ballman, Joe B. Putnam, Richard J. Cote
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

The survival of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), even when resectable, remains poor. Several small studies suggest that occult metastases (OMs) in pleura, bone marrow (BM), or lymph nodes (LNs) are present in early-stage NSCLC and are associated with a poor outcome. We investigated the prevalence of OMs in resectable NSCLC and their relationship with survival.Eligible patients had previously untreated, potentially resectable NSCLC. Saline lavage of the pleural space, performed before and after pulmonary resection, was examined cytologically. Rib BM and all histologically negative LNs (N0) were examined for OM, diagnosed by cytokeratin immunohistochemistry (IHC). Survival probabilities were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. The log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model were used to compare survival of groups of patients. P < .05 was considered significant.From July 1999 to March 2004, 1,047 eligible patients (538 men and 509 women; median age, 67.2 years) were entered onto the study, of whom 50% had adenocarcinoma and 66% had stage I NSCLC. Pleural lavage was cytologically positive in only 29 patients. OMs were identified in 66 (8.0%) of 821 BM specimens and 130 (22.4%) of 580 LN specimens. In univariate and multivariable analyses OMs in LN but not BM were associated with significantly worse disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.50; P = .031) and overall survival (HR, 1.58; P = .009).In early-stage NSCLC, LN OMs detected by IHC identify patients with a worse prognosis. Future clinical trials should test the role of IHC in identifying patients for adjuvant therapy.
DDT (dicophane) and postmenopausal breast cancer in Europe: case-control study
Authors: P. van 't Veer, I. E Lobbezoo, J. M Martin-Moreno, E. Guallar, J. Gomez-Aracena, F. J Kok, A. F M Kardinaal, L. Kohlmeier, B. C Martin, J. J Strain, M. Thamm, P. van Zoonen, B. A Baumann, J. K Huttunen
Journal: BMJ (1997)

To examine any possible links between exposure to DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethylene), the persistent metabolite of the pesticide dicophane (DDT), and breast cancer.Multicentre study of exposure to DDE by measurement of adipose tissue aspirated from the buttocks. Laboratory measurements were conducted in a single laboratory. Additional data on risk factors for breast cancer were obtained by standard questionnaires.Centres in Germany, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, and Spain.265 postmenopausal women with breast cancer and 341 controls matched for age and centre.Adipose DDE concentrations.Women with breast cancer had adipose DDE concentrations 9.2% lower than control women. No increased risk of breast cancer was found at higher concentrations. The odds ratio of breast cancer, adjusted for age and centre, for the highest versus the lowest fourth of DDE distribution was 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 1.21) and decreased to 0.48 (0.25 to 0.95; P for trend = 0.02) after adjustment for body mass index, age at first birth, and current alcohol drinking. Adjustment for other risk factors did not materially affect these estimates.The lower DDE concentrations observed among the women with breast cancer may be secondary to disease inception. This study does not support the hypothesis that DDE increases risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women in Europe.
Hepatitis E virus in blood components: a prevalence and transmission study in southeast England
Authors: Patricia E Hewitt, Samreen Ijaz, Su R Brailsford, Rachel Brett, Steven Dicks, Becky Haywood, Iain T R Kennedy, Alan Kitchen, Poorvi Patel, John Poh, Katherine Russell, Kate I Tettmar, Joanne Tossell, Ines Ushiro-Lumb, Richard S Tedder
Journal: The Lancet (2014)
Synovium as a source of interleukin 6 in vitro. Contribution to local and systemic manifestations of arthritis.
Authors: P A Guerne, B L Zuraw, J H Vaughan, D A Carson, M Lotz
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1989)

Synovial inflammation is often associated with systemic changes, such as increased levels of acute phase proteins and hypergammaglobulinemia, which cannot be explained by the cytokines described in synovial fluids and synoviocyte secretions. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) has recently been characterized as a mediator of multiple inflammatory responses. This cytokine promotes T and B lymphocyte growth and differentiation, and acute phase protein synthesis. We therefore examined IL-6 production by human synoviocytes and its presence in synovial fluids. In vitro, synoviocytes spontaneously released IL-6, which was increased by IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Synoviocyte-derived IL-6 activity was able to induce hybridoma-plasmacytoma proliferation, and immunoglobulin and acute-phase protein synthesis. The synovial fluids from patients with diverse arthropathies contained IL-6 activity, but higher levels were present in inflammatory arthropathies than in osteoarthritis. These results demonstrate that synoviocytes are a potent source of IL-6, which can contribute to important manifestations of inflammatory arthropathies.
Student electives overseas
Authors: J P d. V van Niekerk
Journal: BMJ (1980)

most obese (41 /0), both considerably higher than the mean for those of average weight (2 7%).This finding raises the question of the effect of weight changes within the average range on mortality.Any weight changes recorded prospectively in individuals in our study did not change the weight status of any individual patient to such a degree that they should be classified in a different weight cate- gory.We therefore do not agree that with this compound patients will be paying a high price in terms of significant weight increases.
Bosutinib efficacy and safety in chronic phase chronic myeloid leukemia after imatinib resistance or intolerance: Minimum 24‐month follow‐up
Authors: Carlo Gambacorti‐Passerini, Tim H. Brümmendorf, Dong‐Wook Kim, Anna G. Turkina, Tamas Masszi, Sarit Assouline, Simon Durrant, Hagop M. Kantarjian, H. Jean Khoury, Andrey Zaritskey, Zhi‐Xiang Shen, Jie Jin, Edo Vellenga, Ricardo Pasquini, Vikram Mathews, Francisco Cervantes, Nadine Besson, Kathleen Turnbull, Eric Leip, Virginia Kelly, Jorge E. Cortes
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2014)

Bosutinib is an orally active, dual Src/Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitor for treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) following resistance/intolerance to prior therapy. Here, we report the data from the 2-year follow-up of a phase 1/2 open-label study evaluating the efficacy and safety of bosutinib as second-line therapy in 288 patients with chronic phase CML resistant (n = 200) or intolerant (n = 88) to imatinib. The cumulative response rates to bosutinib were as follows: 85% achieved/maintained complete hematologic response, 59% achieved/maintained major cytogenetic response (including 48% with complete cytogenetic response), and 35% achieved major molecular response. Responses were durable, with 2-year estimates of retaining response >70%. Two-year probabilities of progression-free survival and overall survival were 81% and 91%, respectively. The most common toxicities were primarily gastrointestinal adverse events (diarrhea [84%], nausea [45%], vomiting [37%]), which were primarily mild to moderate, typically transient, and first occurred early during treatment. Thrombocytopenia was the most common grade 3/4 hematologic laboratory abnormality (24%). Outcomes were generally similar among imatinib-resistant and imatinib-intolerant patients and did not differ with age. The longer-term results of the present analysis confirm that bosutinib is an effective and tolerable second-line therapy for patients with imatinib-resistant or imatinib-intolerant chronic phase CML. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00261846.
Role of quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspirates in the diagnosis of nosocomial pneumonia.
Authors: B Jourdain, A Novara, M L Joly-Guillou, M C Dombret, S Calvat, J L Trouillet, C Gibert, J Chastre
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1995)

To assess the reliability of quantitative cultures of endotracheal aspirates (EA) to diagnose ventilator-associated pneumonia, fiberoptic bronchoscopy was used to study 57 episodes of suspected lung infection in 39 patients with no recent changes in antimicrobial chemotherapy. A total of 19 cases (33%) of pneumonia were diagnosed based on the following criteria: protected specimen brush (PBS) sampling yielding > or = 10(3) cfu/ml of at least one microorganism and/or > or = 5% of cells containing intracellular bacteria on direct examination of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). The operating characteristics of EA cultures were calculated over a range of cutoff values (from 10(3) to 10(7) cfu/ml), and the threshold of 10(6) cfu/ml appeared to be the most accurate, with a sensitivity of 68% and a specificity of 84%. Microorganisms cultured from EA samples correlated weakly with those obtained using PSB specimens (rho = 0.32), with only 49 microorganisms among 123 (40%) found in both samples. These latter results and the relatively low sensitivity of the technique indicate that EA quantitative cultures are of limited value for the diagnosis of pneumonia in ventilated patients when fiberoptic techniques are available.
Second Malignant Neoplasms After Treatment of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Kjeld Schmiegelow, Mette Frandsen Levinsen, Andishe Attarbaschi, Andre Baruchel, Meenakshi Devidas, Gabriele Escherich, Brenda Gibson, Christiane Heydrich, Keizo Horibe, Yasushi Ishida, Der-Cherng Liang, Franco Locatelli, Gérard Michel, Rob Pieters, Caroline Piette, Ching-Hon Pui, Susana Raimondi, Lewis Silverman, Martin Stanulla, Batia Stark, Naomi Winick, Maria Grazia Valsecchi
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

Second malignant neoplasms (SMNs) after diagnosis of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are rare events.We analyzed data on risk factors and outcomes of 642 children with SMNs occurring after treatment for ALL from 18 collaborative study groups between 1980 and 2007.Acute myeloid leukemia (AML; n = 186), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS; n = 69), and nonmeningioma brain tumor (n = 116) were the most common types of SMNs and had the poorest outcome (5-year survival rate, 18.1% ± 2.9%, 31.1% ± 6.2%, and 18.3% ± 3.8%, respectively). Five-year survival estimates for AML were 11.2% ± 2.9% for 125 patients diagnosed before 2000 and 34.1% ± 6.3% for 61 patients diagnosed after 2000 (P < .001); 5-year survival estimates for MDS were 17.1% ± 6.4% (n = 36) and 48.2% ± 10.6% (n = 33; P = .005). Allogeneic stem-cell transplantation failed to improve outcome of secondary myeloid malignancies after adjusting for waiting time to transplantation. Five-year survival rates were above 90% for patients with meningioma, Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, and parotid gland tumor, and 68.5% ± 6.4% for those with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Eighty-nine percent of patients with brain tumors had received cranial irradiation. Solid tumors were associated with cyclophosphamide exposure, and myeloid malignancy was associated with topoisomerase II inhibitors and starting doses of methotrexate of at least 25 mg/m(2) per week and mercaptopurine of at least 75 mg/m(2) per day. Myeloid malignancies with monosomy 7/5q- were associated with high hyperdiploid ALL karyotypes, whereas 11q23/MLL-rearranged AML or MDS was associated with ALL harboring translocations of t(9;22), t(4;11), t(1;19), and t(12;21) (P = .03).SMNs, except for brain tumors, AML, and MDS, have outcomes similar to their primary counterparts.
Injuries among World Cup freestyle skiers
Authors: Tonje Wåle Flørenes, Stig Heir, Lars Nordsletten, Roald Bahr
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2010)

Limited knowledge exists on injuries among professional freestyle skiers.To describe the risk of injury and injury patterns among competitive World Cup (WC) freestyle skiers during the competitive season.Retrospective interviews were conducted with WC freestyle skiers from 20 nations in a cohort study at the end of the 2006-2007, 2007-2008 and 2008-2009 winter seasons, and all acute injuries occurring during the 4.5 month competitive season were recorded. If an athlete was not present, we interviewed his or her coach or medical personnel.A total of 291 acute injuries were recorded among 662 WC freestyle skiers. Ninety-three injuries (32%) were severe in nature, defined as >28 days absence from training/competition. This corresponds to 14 (95% CI 11.2 to 16.9) injuries per 100 athletes per season. The most frequently injured body part was the knee with 77 injuries (27%) and 37 of these were severe. The head was the next most commonly injured body part with 39 (13%) injuries. As many as 106 injuries (36%) occurred during WC/World Ski Championship competitions, corresponding to an injury rate of 15.6 injuries per 1000 runs (95% CI 12.7 to 18.6). There were no significant differences between men and women in either the injury rate or the rate seen for knee injuries.The injury rate among WC athletes in freestyle skiing is high, especially for severe injuries. The knee is the most commonly injured body part, also dominated by severe injuries. We found no significant difference in the injury rate related to sex.
Oxazolone Colitis: A Murine Model of T Helper Cell Type 2 Colitis Treatable with Antibodies to Interleukin 4
Authors: Monica Boirivant, Ivan J. Fuss, Alan Chu, Warren Strober
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1998)

In this study we describe oxazolone colitis, a new form of experimental colitis. This model is induced in SJL/J mice by the rectal instillation of the haptenating agent, oxazolone, and is characterized by a rapidly developing colitis confined to the distal half of the colon; it consists of a mixed neutrophil/lymphocyte infiltration limited to the superficial layer of the mucosa which is associated with ulceration. Oxazolone colitis is a T helper cell type 2 (Th2)-mediated process since stimulated T cells from lesional tissue produce markedly increased amounts of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5; in addition, anti–IL-4 administration leads to a striking amelioration of disease, whereas anti–IL-12 administration either has no effect or exacerbates disease. Finally, this proinflammatory Th2 cytokine response is counterbalanced by a massive transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) response which limits both the extent and duration of disease: lesional (distal) T cells manifest a 20–30-fold increase in TGF-β production, whereas nonlesional (proximal) T cells manifest an even greater 40–50-fold increase. In addition, anti–TGF-β administration leads to more severe inflammation which now involves the entire colon. The histologic features and distribution of oxazolone colitis have characteristics that resemble ulcerative colitis (UC) and thus sharply distinguish this model from most other models, which usually resemble Crohn's disease. This feature of oxazolone colitis as well as its cytokine profile have important implications to the pathogenesis and treatment of UC.