tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Population differences in von Willebrand factor levels affect the diagnosis of von Willebrand disease in African‐American women
Authors: Connie H. Miller, Anne Dilley, Lisa Richardson, W. Craig Hooper, Bruce L. Evatt
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2001)

Abstract Diagnosis of von Willebrand disease (vWD) is based on a panel of laboratory tests that measure the amount and function of von Willebrand factor (vWF). In population studies, vWF is higher in African Americans than Caucasians. Bleeding time, factor VIII activity (FVIII), vWF antigen (vWF:Ag), “vWF activity” ELISA (vWF:Act), ristocetin cofactor (vWF:RCof), and ristocetin‐induced platelet aggregation (RIPA) were measured on 123 women with menorrhagia and 123 randomly selected control women; 70 cases and 76 controls were African American. Among controls, African Americans had significantly higher levels of vWF:Ag (mean 120 vs. 102 U/dl, P = 0.017). Among all subjects, African Americans had higher levels of vWF:Ag (mean 123 vs. 103, P = 0.001), vWF:Act (mean 101 vs. 89, P = 0.006), and FVIII (mean 118 vs. 104, P = 0.008). VWF:RCof did not differ between races (93 vs. 94 U/dl). RIPA was reduced in African Americans ( P &lt; 0.0001). In both races, women with type O blood differed significantly from those with other ABO types in vWF:Ag, vWF:Act, FVIII, and vWF:RCof. Based on criteria of two or more tests below race‐ and ABO‐specific reference ranges, 6.5% of menorrhagia cases and 0.8% of controls were classified as having vWD, or its phenocopy. Among Caucasians, no controls and 7 cases (15.6%) were classified as affected, and in African Americans, 1 control (1.3%) and 1 case (1.4%) were so classified. Racial differences in vWF further complicate the issues surrounding diagnosis of vWD. The finding of increased vWF:Ag not accompanied by increased vWF:RCof has implications for understanding the structure‐function relationships of vWF. Am. J. Hematol. 67:125–129, 2001. Published 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Soft tissue rheumatology
Authors: Alexander Scott
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2007)

Edited by Brian Hazleman, Graham Riley, Cathy Speed. Oxford: Published by Oxford University Press, 2004, £115.00, pp 568. ISBN 0-19-263093-8

Graham Riley is without doubt one of the pre-eminent tendon scientists. Cathy Speed and Brian Hazleman have published key papers in high-impact journals including the BMJ and Rheumatology , respectively. Therefore, this tendinopathy monograph warrants close attention.

Given the focus of this issue of BJSM , it behoves us to ask, what tendon books are available? In chronological order, I have retrieved Curwin and Stanish’s Tendinitis (1984), Kannus and Jozsa’s Human tendons (1997) , William Weintraub’s Tendon & ligament healing: a new approach to sports and overuse …
Biochemical analysis of the stress protein response in human oesophageal epithelium
Authors: D Hopwood, S Moitra, B Vojtesek, D A Johnston, J F Dillon, T R Hupp
Journal: Gut (1997)

Background —The oesophageal epithelium is exposed routinely to noxious agents in the environment, including gastric acid, thermal stress, and chemical toxins. These epithelial cells have presumably evolved effective protective mechanisms to withstand tissue damage and repair injured cells. Heat shock protein or stress protein responses play a central role in protecting distinct cell types from different types of injury. Aim —To determine (i) whether biochemical analysis of stress protein responses in pinch biopsy specimens from human oesophageal epithelium is feasible; (ii) whether undue stresses are imposed on cells by the act of sample collection, thus precluding analysis of stress responses; and (iii) if amenable to experimentation, the type of heat shock protein (Hsp) response that operates in the human oesophageal epithelium. Methods —Tissue from the human oesophagus comprised predominantly of squamous epithelium was acquired within two hours of biopsy and subjected to an in vitro heat shock. Soluble tissue cell lysates derived from untreated or heat shocked samples were examined using denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for changes in: (i) the pattern of general protein synthesis by labelling epithelial cells with 35 S-methionine and (ii) the levels of soluble Hsp70 protein and related isoforms using immunochemical protein blots. Results —A single pinch biopsy specimen is sufficient to extract and analyse specific sets of polypeptides in the oesophageal epithelium. After ex vivo heat shock, a classic inhibition of general protein synthesis is observed and correlates with the increased synthesis of two major proteins of molecular weight of 60 and 70 kDa. Notably, cells from unheated controls exhibit a “stressed” biochemical state 22 hours after incubation at 37°C, as shown by inhibition of general protein synthesis and increased synthesis of the 70 kDa protein. These data indicate that only freshly acquired specimens are suitable for studying stress responses ex vivo. No evidence was found that the two heat induced polypeptides are previously identified Hsp70 isoforms. In fact, heat shock results in a reduction in the steady state concentrations of Hsp70 protein in the oesophageal epithelium. Conclusion —Systematic and highly controlled studies on protein biochemistry are possible on epithelial biopsy specimens from the human oesophagus. These technical innovations have permitted the discovery of a novel heat shock response operating in the oesophageal epithelium. Notably, two polypeptides were synthesised after heat shock that seem to differ from Hsp70 protein. In addition, the striking reduction in steady state concentrations of Hsp70 protein after heat shock suggests that oesophageal epithelium has evolved an atypical biochemical response to thermal stress.
Spontaneous release of interferon gamma by intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes in Crohn's disease. Kinetics of in vitro response to interferon gamma inducers.
Authors: S Fais, M R Capobianchi, F Pallone, P Di Marco, M Boirivant, F Dianzani, A Torsoli
Journal: Gut (1991)

The spontaneous induced release of interferon gamma (IFN gamma) by cultured intestinal lamina propria lymphocytes was investigated in patients with Crohn's disease. In contrast to normal lymphocytes, intestinal lymphocytes from these patients spontaneously released IFN gamma and seemed to contain IFN gamma in their cytoplasm. Autologous peripheral lymphocytes did not release IFN gamma. When stimulated with interferon inducers lamina propria lymphocytes from Crohn's disease tissue showed an increase in IFN gamma release 24 hours after induction with no appreciable further increase over the next two days of culture, while in control cells, either peripheral or intestinal, IFN gamma release progressively increased, peaking 72 hours after induction. These findings indicate that in Crohn's disease the intestinal lymphocytes are stimulated in vivo to produce IFN gamma and that the spontaneous IFN gamma production is compartmentalised to the gut lymphocytes. These data support the concept that locally released IFN gamma has a crucial role in cell interactions in the lamina propria and contribute to the locally occurring immune phenomena in Crohn's disease, including the increased epithelial expression of major histocompatibility complex class II antigens.
Effect of Intravenous Fluids on Blood Pressure Course during Hemodialysis in Hypotensive-Prone Patients
Authors: FRANK M. VAN DER SANDE, ANTINUS J. LUIK, JEROEN P. KOOMAN, VIC VERSTAPPEN, KAREL M. L. LEUNISSEN
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2000)

Abstract. Hypertonic and hyperoncotic solutions are generally used as acute treatment for symptomatic hypotension during dialysis. Administration of hydroxyethylstarch (HES) was recently shown to be an effective substitution fluid in preserving blood volume (BV) and systolic BP (SBP) in a group of stable dialysis patients during dialysis. In this study, in nine cardiac-compromised dialysis patients with frequent symptomatic hypotensive episodes, the efficacy of three fluids (hypertonic saline [3%], albumin [20%], and HES [10%]) was assessed during three treatment sessions with combined ultrafiltration and hemodialysis, which only differed in the type of fluid administered intravenously. Changes in SBP and relative BV were compared. Fluids were given when SBP was less than 100 mmHg or when the decrease in SBP was more than 25 mmHg versus the start of the treatment. The ultrafiltration was continued at the same rate. When comparing SBP at the end of the dialysis session ( t = end) with that at the time of infusion ( t = iv), SBP decreased with saline, increased with albumin, and increased significantly with HES. The change in SBP in t = end versus t = iv was significantly greater when using saline compared with HES, and tended to decrease more when using saline compared with albumin ( P = 0.09). Between albumin and HES there were no significant differences. BV decreased significantly ( t = end) versus baseline ( t = 0) during ultrafiltration and hemodialysis in all three treatment sessions. The decrease was significantly higher when using saline compared with albumin and saline compared with HES. Between albumin and HES there were no significant differences. When the values at t = end were compared with those at t = iv, BV decreased, although not significantly, with saline and albumin, but remained unchanged with HES. It is concluded that HES is an effective fluid in maintaining SBP and preserving BV in hypotensive-prone dialysis patients, comparable to albumin but superior to hypertonic saline.
EXPERIMENTAL INDUCTION OF ATHERO-ARTERIOSCLEROSIS BY THE SYNERGY OF ALLERGIC INJURY TO ARTERIES AND LIPID-RICH DIET
Authors: C. Richard Minick, George E. Murphy, Wallace G. Campbell
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1966)

In rabbits that received a dietary supplement of cholesterol, 0.5% by weight, and concommittant injections of horse serum (group III) over a period of 80 days, coronary arterial lesions developed that in the main were different in quality and distribution from those in rabbits that received the cholesterol supplement alone (group I), and of different quality from but in distribution similar to those in rabbits that received horse serum alone (group II). Fatty lesions developed in small, rarely in medium, but never in large arteries of rabbits in group I, and these changes do not resemble coronary athero-arteriosclerosis in man. Proliferative lesions without fatty change developed in large, medium, and small arteries of rabbits in group II, and some of these closely resemble human coronary arteriosclerosis without fatty change. The changes that developed in large, medium, and small arteries of rabbits in group III were in very large majority fatty-proliferative lesions. Some of these closely resemble the changes that in some cases constitute coronary athero-arteriosclerosis in man. Nuclei with caterpillarlike chromatin pattern in longitudinal section and owl eye appearance in transverse section were observed to occur in many of the proliferating cells in thickened arterial intima in hearts of rabbits in groups II and III and in some of the lipid rich "foam" cells in arterial intima and subjacent media in hearts of rabbits in group III. Such nuclei have been observed to occur in some reacting smooth muscle cells and normal immature and reacting mature striated muscle cells of the heart. These observations indicate that at least many of the cells, including "foam" cells, in thickened intima in the experimentally induced and in naturally occurring coronary athero-arteriosclerosis are smooth muscle cells that evolved in proliferative reaction to arterial injury. Fatty change developed in aortas of the rabbits in groups I and III, and was significantly greater in group III. Results of this investigation support the hypothesis that the synergy of allergic injury to arteries and lipid-rich diet can lead to athero-arteriosclerosis.
Toll-like receptors and IFN-α: partners in autoimmunity
Authors: Marco Colonna
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2006)

Many autoimmune diseases are thought to be precipitated by viral infections. In this issue of the JCI, Lang et al. demonstrate that, in a mouse model of autoimmune hepatitis, viral infections not only trigger expansion of self-reactive T cells but also activate antigen-presenting cells through TLR stimulation (see the related article beginning on page 2456). Activated cells then secrete IFN-α and TNF-α, which trigger tissue release of chemokines that attract self-reactive CD8+ T cells, ultimately leading to liver damage.
DDAVP in acquired hemophilia a: Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Raja Mudad, William H. Kane
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1993)

Abstract One patient with an acquired factor VIII inhibitor is reported in which an acute lower intestinal hemorrhage was successfully managed using Desmopressin (DDAVP). The patient initially had a factor VIII level of 10% with a inhibitor titer of 1.9 Bethesda units. Following administration of DDAVP the factor VIII level rose to 86% and there was a decrease in the number and volume of bloody stools. The inhibitor disappeared following treatment with corticosteroids, however the patient ultimately expired due to complications of ischemic colitis. This case and 21 previously reported cases of acquired hemophilia treated with DDAVP are reviewed. The data support a role for DDAVP in the treatment of non life threatening hemorrhage in patients with acquired hemophilia and low titer factor VIII inhibitors (&lt;5 Bethesda units or factor VIII≧5%).
Genome-wide discovery and characterization of maize long non-coding RNAs
Authors: Lin Li, Steven R Eichten, Rena Shimizu, Katherine Petsch, Cheng-Ting Yeh, Wei Wu, Antony M Chettoor, Scott A Givan, Rex A Cole, John E Fowler, Matthew M S Evans, Michael J Scanlon, Jianming Yu, Patrick S Schnable, Marja C P Timmermans, Nathan M Springer, Gary J Muehlbauer
Journal: Genome biology (2014)

Abstract Background Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts that are 200 bp or longer, do not encode proteins, and potentially play important roles in eukaryotic gene regulation. However, the number, characteristics and expression inheritance pattern of lncRNAs in maize are still largely unknown. Results By exploiting available public EST databases, maize whole genome sequence annotation and RNA-seq datasets from 30 different experiments, we identified 20,163 putative lncRNAs. Of these lncRNAs, more than 90% are predicted to be the precursors of small RNAs, while 1,704 are considered to be high-confidence lncRNAs. High confidence lncRNAs have an average transcript length of 463 bp and genes encoding them contain fewer exons than annotated genes. By analyzing the expression pattern of these lncRNAs in 13 distinct tissues and 105 maize recombinant inbred lines, we show that more than 50% of the high confidence lncRNAs are expressed in a tissue-specific manner, a result that is supported by epigenetic marks. Intriguingly, the inheritance of lncRNA expression patterns in 105 recombinant inbred lines reveals apparent transgressive segregation, and maize lncRNAs are less affected by cis- than by trans- genetic factors. Conclusions We integrate all available transcriptomic datasets to identify a comprehensive set of maize lncRNAs, provide a unique annotation resource of the maize genome and a genome-wide characterization of maize lncRNAs, and explore the genetic control of their expression using expression quantitative trait locus mapping.
Vaccine-induced monoclonal antibodies targeting circumsporozoite protein prevent Plasmodium falciparum infection
Authors: Lander Foquet, Cornelus C. Hermsen, Geert-Jan van Gemert, Eva Van Braeckel, Karin E. Weening, Robert Sauerwein, Philip Meuleman, Geert Leroux-Roels
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2013)

Malaria, which is the result of Plasmodium falciparum infection, is a global health threat that resulted in 655,000 deaths and 216 million clinical cases in 2010 alone. Recent phase 3 trials with malaria vaccine candidate RTS,S/AS01 (RTS,S) in children has demonstrated modest efficacy against clinical and severe malaria. RTS,S targets the pre-erythrocytic phase of the disease and induces high antibody titers against the P. falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP) and a moderate CD4(+) T cell response. The individual contribution of these adaptive immune responses to protection from infection remains unknown. Here, we found that prophylactic administration of anti-CSP mAbs derived from an RTS,S-vaccinated recipient fully protected mice with humanized livers from i.v.- and mosquito bite–delivered P. falciparum sporozoite challenge. Titers of anti-CSP that conveyed full protection were within the range observed in human RTS,S vaccine recipients. Increasing anti-CSP titers resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of the liver parasite burden. These data indicate that RTS,S-induced antibodies are protective and provide sterilizing immunity against P. falciparum infection when reaching or exceeding a critical plasma concentration.
Differential roles of myocardial Ca2+ channels and Na+/Ca2+ exchange in myocardial reperfusion injury in open chest dogs: relative roles during ischemia and reperfusion
Authors: Steven C Smart, Kiran B Sagar, David C Warltier
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (1997)

Objective: Compare the roles of Ca2+ channels and Na+/Ca2+ exchange in reperfusion injury (reperfusion ventricular fibrillation and myocardial stunning). Methods: Open chest dogs undergoing 15 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 3 hours of reperfusion were randomized to controls or intracoronary infusions of the respective antagonists, nifedipine (50 μg/min) or amiloride (5 mg/min), according to five protocols: (A) 40 minutes before occlusion to 30 minutes after reperfusion; (B) 2 minutes before to 5 minutes after reperfusion; (C) 10 minutes before to 10 minutes after reperfusion (two step infusion for nifedipine only 5 μg/min during occlusion and 50 μg/min after reperfusion); and (D) 0 to 30 minutes after reperfusion. The role of Ca2+ channels was further investigated by infusing the agonist, Bay K 8644 (50 μg/min), alone or simultaneously with any protocol B, C, or D infusions altering both reperfusion ventricular fibrillation and myocardial stunning. Results: Effects of the agents on injury did not result from hemodynamic effects or alterations in blood flow. Amiloride had no effect on ventricular fibrillation. Only protocol A infusion of amiloride prevented myocardial stunning. In contrast, protocol A and B infusions of nifedipine prevented both myocardial stunning (p = ns vs. baseline, p<0.01 vs. control) and ventricular fibrillation (0%, p<0.01). Protocol C prevented reperfusion ventricular fibrillation, but not stunning (p = ns vs. control). Protocol D did not alter injury. Bay K 8644 co-treatment reversed the effects of Protocol B infusion of nifedipine. Ventricular fibrillation was common and postischemic function worst in dogs treated with Bay K 8644 alone (protocol B). Conclusion: Myocardial Ca2+ channels contribute to both reperfusion ventricular fibrillation and stunning, whereas Na+/Ca2+ exchange contributes only to stunning. Inhibitors of myocardial Ca2+ channels are protective when infused in high doses just before reperfusion, whereas the efficacy of Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitors is dependent on pretreatment.
The growing contribution of hepatitis C virus infection to liver-related mortality in Scotland
Authors: S A McDonald, S J Hutchinson, S M Bird, C Robertson, P R Mills, L Graham, J F Dillon, D J Goldberg
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2010)

The large number of individuals in Scotland who became infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the 1970s and 1980s leads us to expect liver-related morbidity and mortality to increase in the coming years. We investigated the contribution of HCV to liver-related mortality in the period January 1991 to June 2006. The study population consisted of 26,861 individuals whose death record mentioned a liver-related cause (underlying or contributing). Record-linkage to the national HCV Diagnosis database supplied HCV-diagnosed status for the study population. The proportion diagnosed with HCV among people dying from a liver-related cause rose from 2.8% (1995-1997) to 4.4% (2004-June 2006); the largest increase occurred in those aged 35-44 years at death (7% to 17%). Among all deaths from a liver-related cause, an HCV-positive diagnosis was more likely in those who died in 2001 or later than those who died in 1995-1997 (2001-2003: odds ratio (OR)=1.4, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-1.7; 2004-June 2006: 1.6, 1.3-2.0), and in those who died at under 55 compared with at least 55 years of age. HCV infection represents a significant, growing, public health burden in Scotland in terms of early deaths from liver disease.
CD4 T Cells with Effector Memory Phenotype and Function Develop in the Sterile Environment of the Fetus
Authors: Xiaoming Zhang, Brian Mozeleski, Sebastien Lemoine, Edith Dériaud, Annick Lim, Dania Zhivaki, Elie Azria, Camille Le Ray, Gwenaelle Roguet, Odile Launay, Anne Vanet, Claude Leclerc, Richard Lo-Man
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2014)

Umbilical cord blood from healthy neonates with no known infectious exposure contains T cells with an effector memory–like phenotype.
Comparisons of Problems Reported by Youths From Seven Countries
Authors: Frank C Verhulst, Thomas M Achenbach, Jan van der Ende, Nese Erol, Michael C Lambert, Patrick W L Leung, Maria A Silva, Nelly Zilber, Stephen R Zubrick
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2003)

OBJECTIVE: This study compared ratings for self-reported behavioral and emotional problems in adolescents from seven countries. METHOD: Youth Self-Report scores were analyzed for 7,137 adolescents ages 11–18 years from general population samples from Australia, China, Israel, Jamaica, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United States. RESULTS: Comparisons of problems scores yielded small to medium effect sizes for cross-cultural variations. Youths from China and Jamaica had the highest and youths from Israel and Turkey had the lowest mean total problems scores. With cross-cultural consistency, girls scored higher for internalizing and lower for externalizing than boys. Cross-cultural correlations were high among the mean item scores. CONCLUSIONS: Empirically based assessment provided a robust method for assessing and comparing adolescents' self-reported problems. Self-reports thus supplemented empirically based assessments of parent-reported problems and offered a cost-effective way of identifying problems for which adolescents from diverse cultural backgrounds may need help.
Primary pulmonary sporotrichosis with unusual fungal morphology.
Authors: S D Berson, F A Brandt
Journal: Thorax (1977)

Primary pulmonary sporotrichosis is a rare disease. Comstock and Wolson (1975) were able to trace approximately 30 such cases. We report a further case; to our knowledge, the various stages in the development of sporotrichosis, from a cigar body to the mature asteroid body with radiations which were present in our case, have not been so well demonstrated in a single case.