tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Membrane and capillary components of lung diffusion and pro-angiogenic cells in infants
Authors: Daniel V. Chang, Christina J. Tiller, Jeffrey A. Kisling, Jamie Case, Julie A. Mund, Laura S. Haneline, David A. Ingram, Robert S. Tepper
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Angiogenesis is a critical determinant of alveolarisation, which increases alveolar surface area and pulmonary capillary blood volume in infants; however, our understanding of this process is very limited. The purpose of our study was to measure the pulmonary membrane diffusion capacity ( D M ) and pulmonary capillary blood volume ( V C ) components of the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide ( D LCO ) in healthy infants and toddlers, and evaluate whether these components were associated with pro-angiogenic circulating haematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (pCHSPCs) early in life. 21 healthy subjects (11 males), 3–25 months of age, were evaluated. D LCO was measured under normoxic and hyperoxic conditions, and D M and V C were calculated. From 1 mL venous blood, pCHSPCs were quantified by multiparametric flow cytometry. D M and V C increased with increasing body length; however, membrane resistance as a fraction of total resistance to pulmonary diffusion remained constant with somatic size. In addition, D LCO and V C , but not D M , increased with an increasing percentage of pCHSPCs. The parallel increase in the membrane and vascular components of pulmonary diffusion is consistent with alveolarisation during this period of rapid lung growth. In addition, the relationship between pCHSPCs and V C suggest that pro-angiogenic cells may contribute to this vascular process.
A precision athletic track marking system
Authors: P Ravi kumar, C S P Rao, P C Reddy, Murali Krishna, Md Moiz
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2010)

Aim On an athletic track the marking of staggers is a time consuming activity. No accurate method for manual marking of stagger is available. The aim of this paper is to suggest simplified and accurate method for manual marking of stagger and relay change over zones and also the ‘Mechatronic Track Marking System’ device which is designed based on this is simple and reachable. Methodology Staggers are required to be marked on imaginary lines known as running distance curve (RDC). Literature suggests use of large number of nails to be put on RDC so that the stretched tape follows RDC. This method is time consuming and inaccurate due to tape following a straight line between two nails. The improved method uses computer programme for converting curved staggers on RDC to chords on actual curved lines for straight marking by stretching the tape without use of any nails. Results The method has been tested at JN Stadium, Warangal, (AP), India, NIT Stadium, Hanamkonda, Warangal, (AP), India and LB Stadium, Hyderabad (AP), India and found to be very accurate and time saving. Conclusion Improved method and the devise is simple, less time consuming, accurate and recommended to be adopted for teaching and professional use.
Familial aggregation of arthritis-related diseases in seropositive and seronegative rheumatoid arthritis: a register-based case-control study in Sweden
Authors: Thomas Frisell, Karin Hellgren, Lars Alfredsson, Soumya Raychaudhuri, Lars Klareskog, Johan Askling
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

<h3>Objectives</h3> Our objective was to estimate the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) associated with a family history of non-RA arthritis-related diseases. This familial co-aggregation is of clinical interest since it is often encountered when assessing family history of RA specifically, but also informative on the genetic overlap between these diseases. Since anticitrullinated peptide antibodies/rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive and RF-negative RA have both specific and shared genetic factors, the familial co-aggregation was assessed separately for seropositive and seronegative disease. <h3>Methods</h3> Nested case-control study in prospectively recorded Swedish total population data. The Multi-Generation Register identified first-degree relatives. RA and arthritis-related diseases were ascertained through the nationwide patient register. RA serology was based on International Classification of Diseases tenth revision coded diagnoses, mainly reflecting RF. Familial risks were calculated using conditional logistic regression. Results were replicated using the Swedish rheumatology register. <h3>Results</h3> Familial co-aggregation was found between RA and every studied arthritis-related disease, but the magnitude varied widely, from juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) (seropositive RA OR=3.98 (3.01 to 5.26); seronegative RA OR=5.70 (3.47 to 9.36)) to osteoarthritis (seropositive RA OR=1.03 (1.00 to 1.06); seronegative RA OR=1.05 (1.00 to 1.09)). The familial co-aggregation pattern of non-RA arthritis-related diseases was overall similar for seropositive and seronegative RA. Among those with family history of RA, relatives' other arthritis-related diseases conferred little or no additional risk. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Although family history of several arthritis-related diseases may be useful to predict RA (eg, lupus and JIA), others (eg, osteoarthritis and arthralgia) are less useful. Seropositive and seronegative RA had rather similar familial co-aggregation patterns with arthritis-related diseases, suggesting that the two RA subsets are similar in the genetic factors that overlap with these diseases.
Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation in seven patients with refractory inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Jun Liang, Huayong Zhang, Dandan Wang, Xuebing Feng, Hong Wang, Bingzhu Hua, Bujun Liu, Lingyun Sun
Journal: Gut (2011)

We refer to two articles by Duijvestein et al and Ciccocioppo et al 1 2 in which the authors suggest that administration of autologous bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is safe and feasible in the treatment of refractory Crohn's disease (CD). However, to date there are few data about allogeneic MSC transplantation (MSCT) for patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

We wish to report our experience of allogeneic MSCT in seven patients with IBD.

Infused allogeneic MSCs were obtained from the bone marrow or umbilical cord. Bone marrow was aspirated from healthy relatives of three patients. Umbilical cords were obtained from local maternity hospitals after normal deliveries. The isolated MSCs were given by intravenous infusions …
Can lay people deliver asthma self-management education as effectively as primary care based practice nurses?
Authors: M R Partridge, A-L Caress, C Brown, J Hennings, K Luker, A Woodcock, M Campbell
Journal: Thorax (2008)

To determine whether well trained lay people could deliver asthma self-management education with comparable outcomes to that achieved by primary care based practice nurses.Randomised equivalence trial.39 general practices in West London and North West England.567 patients with asthma who were on regular maintenance therapy. 15 lay educators were recruited and trained to deliver asthma self-management education.An initial consultation of up to 45 min offered either by a lay educator or a practice based primary care nurse, followed by a second shorter face to face consultation and telephone follow-up for 1 year.Unscheduled need for healthcare.Patient satisfaction and need for courses of oral steroids.567 patients were randomised to care by a nurse (n = 287) or a lay educator (n = 280) and 146 and 171, respectively, attended the first face to face educational session. During the first two consultations, management changes were made in 35/146 patients seen by a practice nurse (24.0%) and in 56/171 patients (32.7%) seen by a lay educator. For 418/567 patients (73.7%), we have 1 year data on use of unscheduled healthcare. Under an intention to treat approach, 61/205 patients (29.8%) in the nurse led group required unscheduled care compared with 65/213 (30.5%) in the lay led group (90% CI for difference -8.1% to 6.6%; 95% CI for difference -9.5% to 8.0%). The 90% CI contained the predetermined equivalence region (-5% to +5%) giving an inconclusive result regarding the equivalence of the two approaches. Despite the fact that all patients had been prescribed regular maintenance therapy, 122/418 patients (29.2%) required courses of steroid tablets during the course of 1 year. Patient satisfaction following the initial face to face consultation was similar in both groups.It is possible to recruit and train lay educators to deliver a discrete area of respiratory care, with comparable outcomes to those seen by nurses.
International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group Report: review of criteria for diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: F. Alvarez, P.A. Berg, F.B. Bianchi, L. Bianchi, A.K. Burroughs, E.L. Cancado, R.W. Chapman, W.G.E. Cooksley, A.J. Czaja, V.J. Desmet, P.T. Donaldson, A.L.W.F. Eddleston, L. Fainboim, J. Heathcote, J.-C. Homberg, J.H. Hoofnagle, S. Kakumu, E.L. Krawitt, I.R. Mackay, R.N.M. MacSween, W.C. Maddrey, M.P. Manns, I.G. McFarlane, K.-H. Meyer zum Büschenfelde, G. Mieli-Vergani, Y. Nakanuma, M. Nishioka, E. Penner, G. Porta, B.C. Portmann, W.D. Reed, J. Rodes, S.W. Schalm, P.J. Scheuer, E. Schrumpf, T. Seki, G. Toda, T. Tsuji, N. Tygstrup, D. Vergani, M. Zeniya
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (1999)
Concentration of endogenous estrogens and estrogen metabolites in the NCI-60 human tumor cell lines
Authors: Xia Xu, Timothy D Veenstra
Journal: Genome Medicine (2012)

Endogenous estrogens and estrogen metabolites play an important role in the pathogenesis and development of human breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Increasing evidence also supports their involvement in the development of certain lung, colon and prostate cancers.In this study we systemically surveyed endogenous estrogen and estrogen metabolite levels in each of the NCI-60 human tumor cell lines, which include human breast, central nerve system, colon, ovarian, prostate, kidney and non-small cell lung cancers, as well as melanomas and leukemia. The absolute abundances of these metabolites were measured using a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method that has been previously utilized for biological fluids such as serum and urine.Endogenous estrogens and estrogen metabolites were found in all NCI-60 human tumor cell lines and some were substantially elevated and exceeded the levels found in well known estrogen-dependent and estrogen receptor-positive tumor cells such as MCF-7 and T-47D. While estrogens were expected to be present at high levels in cell lines representing the female reproductive system (that is, breast and ovarian), other cell lines, such as leukemia and colon, also contained very high levels of these steroid hormones. The leukemia cell line RMPI-8226 contained the highest levels of estrone (182.06 pg/106 cells) and 17β-estradiol (753.45 pg/106 cells). In comparison, the ovarian cancer cell line with the highest levels of these estrogens contained only 19.79 and 139.32 pg/106 cells of estrone and 17β-estradiol, respectively. The highest levels of estrone and 17β-estradiol in breast cancer cell lines were only 8.45 and 87.37 pg/106 cells in BT-549 and T-47D cells, respectively.The data provided evidence for the presence of significant amounts of endogenous estrogens and estrogen metabolites in cell lines not commonly associated with these steroid hormones. This broad discovery of endogenous estrogens and estrogen metabolites in these cell lines suggest that several human tumors may be beneficially treated using endocrine therapy aimed at estrogen biosynthesis and estrogen-related signaling pathways.
Effect of a high carbohydrate diet on core temperature during prolonged exercise.
Authors: M P Schwellnus, N F Gordon, G G van Zyl, J F Cilliers, H C Grobler, J Kuyl, H W Kohl
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1990)

This study compared the effects of a high-carbohydrate and a mixed diet on core temperature responses to prolonged exercise in six male competitive cyclists (age = 22.2 +/- 1.9 years). This study, the first to investigate the effect of a high-carbohydrate diet on exercise core temperature in humans, therefore suggests that three days of increased dietary carbohydrate intakes do not evoke any deleterious thermoregulatory responses during prolonged submaximal exercise.
Enhanced RANK ligand expression and responsivity of bone marrow cells in Paget’s disease of bone
Authors: Cheikh Menaa, Sakamuri V. Reddy, Noriyoshi Kurihara, Hidefumi Maeda, Dirk Anderson, Tim Cundy, Jillian Cornish, Frederick R. Singer, Jan M. Bruder, G. David Roodman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2000)

Paget's disease is characterized by highly localized areas of increased osteoclast (OCL) activity. This suggests that the microenvironment in pagetic lesions is highly osteoclastogenic, or that OCL precursors in these lesions are hyperresponsive to osteoclastogenic factors (or both). To examine these possibilities, we compared RANK ligand (RANKL) mRNA expression in a marrow stromal cell line developed from a pagetic lesion (PSV10) with that in a normal stromal cell line (Saka), and expression in marrow samples from affected bones of Paget's patients with that in normal marrow. RANKL mRNA was increased in PSV10 cells and pagetic marrow compared with Saka cells and normal marrow, and was also increased in marrow from affected bones compared with uninvolved bones from Paget's patients. Furthermore, pagetic marrow cells formed OCLs at much lower RANKL concentrations than did normal marrow. Anti–IL-6 decreased the RANKL responsivity of pagetic marrow to normal levels, whereas addition of IL-6 to normal marrow enhanced RANKL responsivity. Thus, RANKL expression and responsivity is increased in pagetic lesions, in part mediated by IL-6. These data suggest that the combination of enhanced expression of RANKL in affected bones and increased RANKL sensitivity of pagetic OCL precursors may contribute to the elevated numbers of OCLs in Paget's disease.
Hepatology elsewhere: Twenty years after!
Authors: Laurence M. Blendis
Journal: Hepatology (1992)

Background. Controlled trials have yielded inconsistent results with regard to the efficacy of corticosteroids in the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis. Three meta-analyses suggest that they may be effective in patients with encephalopathy who have severe liver disease. Methods. We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial comparing 28 days of prednisolone treatment (40 mg per day) with placebo in 61 patients with biopsyproved alcoholic hepatitis and either spontaneous hepatic encephalopathy (n = 19) or a discriminant-function value higher than 32. The discriminant function used was as follows: 4.6 (prothrombin time — control time [in seconds]) + serum bilirubin (in micromoles per liter)/17. Fifty-seven of the patients had evidence of cirrhosis on biopsy. The primary end point was death within two months. Results. One patient was lost to follow-up after 56 days. Treatment was discontinued in two patients because of drug toxicity. By the 66th day after randomization, 16 of 29 placebo recipients had died (mean [± SE] survival, 46 ± 8 percent), as compared with 4 of 32 preduieolone recipients (survival, 88 ± 5 percent) (log-rank test, 10.9; P = 0.001). The survival advantage for prednisolone persisted after stratification according to center and the presence of encephalopathy, and after adjustment for prognostic factors in a proportional-hazards model. Conclusions. Treatment with prednisolone improves the short-term survival of patients with severe biopsyproved alcoholic hepatitis.
Efficacy of topical resin lacquer, amorolfine and oral terbinafine for treating toenail onychomycosis: a prospective, randomized, controlled, investigator-blinded, parallel-group clinical trial
Authors: T. Auvinen, R. Tiihonen, M. Soini, M. Wangel, A. Sipponen, J.J. Jokinen
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2015)

Norway spruce (Picea abies) produces resin to protect against decomposition by microbial pathogens. In vitro tests have shown that spruce resin has antifungal properties against dermatophytes known to cause nearly 90% of onychomycosis in humans.To confirm previous in vivo observations that a topical resin lacquer provides mycological and clinical efficacy, and to compare this lacquer with topical amorolfine hydrochloride lacquer and systemic terbinafine for treating dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis.In this prospective, randomized, controlled, investigator-blinded study, 73 patients with onychomycosis were randomized to receive topical 30% resin lacquer once daily for 9 months, topical 5% amorolfine lacquer once weekly for 9 months, or 250 mg oral terbinafine once daily for 3 months. The primary outcome measure was complete mycological cure at 10 months. Secondary outcomes were clinical efficacy, cost-effectiveness and patient compliance.At 10 months, complete mycological cure rates with the resin, amorolfine and terbinafine treatments were 13% [95% confidence interval (CI) 0-28], 8% (95% CI 0-19) and 56% (95% CI 35-77), respectively (P ≤ 0·002). At 10 months, clinical responses were complete in four patients (16%) treated with terbinafine, and partial in seven (30%), seven (28%) and nine (36%) patients treated with resin, amorolfine and terbinafine, respectively (P < 0·05). Resin, amorolfine and terbinafine treatments cost €41·6, €56·3 and €52·1, respectively, per patient (P < 0·001).Topical 30% resin lacquer and topical 5% amorolfine lacquer provided similar efficacy for treating dermatophyte toenail onychomycosis. However, orally administered terbinafine was significantly more effective in terms of mycological cure and clinical outcome than either topical therapy at the 10-month follow-up.
G972R IRS-1 Variant Impairs Insulin Regulation of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Cultured Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Massimo Federici, Assunta Pandolfi, Elena Anna De Filippis, Giuliana Pellegrini, Rossella Menghini, Davide Lauro, Marina Cardellini, Mario Romano, Giorgio Sesti, Renato Lauro, Agostino Consoli
Journal: Circulation (2004)

Impaired insulin-mediated vasodilation might contribute to vascular damage in insulin-resistant states. Little is known about insulin regulation of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in insulin-resistant cells. The aim of this work was to investigate insulin regulation of NO synthesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) carrying the IRS-1 gene G972R variant, known to be associated with impaired insulin activation of the PI3-kinase (PI3-K) pathway in transfected cells.HUVECs were screened for the presence of the G972R-IRS-1 (HUVEC-G972R) variant by restriction fragment length polymorphisms. After 24-hour exposure to 10(-7) mol/L insulin, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) mRNA (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction), eNOS protein levels (Western blotting), and NOS activity (conversion of [(3)H]arginine into [(3)H]citrulline) were increased in wild-type HUVECs (HUVEC-WT), whereas they did not change from baseline in HUVEC-G972R. Compared with HUVEC-WT, in HUVEC-G972R after 2 and 10 minutes of insulin stimulation, IRS-1-associated PI3-K activity was reduced by 47% and 32%, respectively; Akt phosphorylation was decreased by 40% at both time points; and eNOS-Ser1177 phosphorylation was reduced by 38% and 51%, respectively. In HUVEC-WT, eNOS-Thr495 phosphorylation decreased after insulin stimulation. In contrast, in HUVEC-G972R, eNOS-Thr495 phosphorylation increased after insulin stimulation and was 40% greater than in HUVEC-WT.Our data demonstrate that genetic impairment of the (IRS)-1/PI3-K/PDK-1/Akt insulin signaling cascade determines impaired insulin-stimulated NO release and suggest that the G972R-IRS-1 polymorphism, through a direct impairment of Akt/eNOS activation in endothelial cells, may contribute to the genetic predisposition to develop endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease.
TIM1 is an endogenous ligand for LMIR5/CD300b: LMIR5 deficiency ameliorates mouse kidney ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Yoshinori Yamanishi, Jiro Kitaura, Kumi Izawa, Ayako Kaitani, Yukiko Komeno, Masaki Nakamura, Satoshi Yamazaki, Yutaka Enomoto, Toshihiko Oki, Hisaya Akiba, Takaya Abe, Tadasuke Komori, Yoshihiro Morikawa, Hiroshi Kiyonari, Toshiyuki Takai, Ko Okumura, Toshio Kitamura
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2010)

Leukocyte mono-immunoglobulin (Ig)–like receptor 5 (LMIR5)/CD300b is a DAP12-coupled activating receptor predominantly expressed in myeloid cells. The ligands for LMIR have not been reported. We have identified T cell Ig mucin 1 (TIM1) as a possible ligand for LMIR5 by retrovirus-mediated expression cloning. TIM1 interacted only with LMIR5 among the LMIR family, whereas LMIR5 interacted with TIM4 as well as TIM1. The Ig-like domain of LMIR5 bound to TIM1 in the vicinity of the phosphatidylserine (PS)-binding site within the Ig-like domain of TIM1. Unlike its binding to TIM1 or TIM4, LMIR5 failed to bind to PS. LMIR5 binding did not affect TIM1- or TIM4-mediated phagocytosis of apoptotic cells, and stimulation with TIM1 or TIM4 induced LMIR5-mediated activation of mast cells. Notably, LMIR5 deficiency suppressed TIM1-Fc–induced recruitment of neutrophils in the dorsal air pouch, and LMIR5 deficiency attenuated neutrophil accumulation in a model of ischemia/reperfusion injury in the kidneys in which TIM1 expression is up-regulated. In that model, LMIR5 deficiency resulted in ameliorated tubular necrosis and cast formation in the acute phase. Collectively, our results indicate that TIM1 is an endogenous ligand for LMIR5 and that the TIM1–LMIR5 interaction plays a physiological role in immune regulation by myeloid cells.