tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The Molecular Biology of Hepatitis B Virus
Authors: D A Shafritz, H M Lieberman
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (1984)

Techniques of recombinant DNA and molecular biology have recently been applied to the study of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in human tissues and have enhanced our knowledge of viral persistence and chronic liver disease. These molecular studies strengthen previous epidemiologic evidence for an association between HBV chronic carriers and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A recently described group of animal viruses with structural and biological properties similar to HBV, termed Hepadna viruses, provides animal models for future studies of hepatitis B virus, especially with regard to the mechanisms for virus replication and persistance and the relationship of these processes to development of HCC.
A Lithium Clinic
Authors: D. R. BEY, R. E. CHAPMAN, K. L. TORNQUIST
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1972)

The authors describe a lithium clinic, which they believe provides an effective method of managing and keeping track of patients taking lithium carbonate. The clinic, conducted by a registered nurse under psychiatrists' supervision, generally helps patients to achieve a better understanding of lithium, educating them concerning its toxic and side effects and the levels of lithium in the blood. The authors feel such a clinic may help prevent relapses of affective symptoms.
RGS2 modulates coupling between GABAB receptors and GIRK channels in dopamine neurons of the ventral tegmental area
Authors: Gwenaël Labouèbe, Marta Lomazzi, Hans G Cruz, Cyril Creton, Rafael Luján, Meng Li, Yuchio Yanagawa, Kunihiko Obata, Masahiko Watanabe, Kevin Wickman, Stephanie B Boyer, Paul A Slesinger, Christian Lüscher
Journal: Nature Neuroscience (2007)
The protective effect of trimetazidine on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury through activating AMPK and ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Zhenling Liu, Ji-Mei Chen, Huanlei Huang, Michelle Kuznicki, Shaoyi Zheng, Wanqing Sun, Nanhu Quan, Lin Wang, Hui Yang, Hui-Ming Guo, Ji Li, Jian Zhuang, Ping Zhu
Journal: Metabolism (2015)
Overexpression of Eag1 potassium channels in clinical tumours
Authors: Bernhard Hemmerlein, Rüdiger M Weseloh, Fernanda Mello de Queiroz, Hendrik Knötgen, Araceli Sánchez, María E Rubio, Sabine Martin, Tessa Schliephacke, Marc Jenke, None Heinz-Joachim-Radzun, Walter Stühmer, Luis A Pardo
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2006)

Abstract Background Certain types of potassium channels (known as Eag1, KCNH1, Kv10.1) are associated with the production of tumours in patients and in animals. We have now studied the expression pattern of the Eag1 channel in a large range of normal and tumour tissues from different collections utilising molecular biological and immunohistochemical techniques. Results The use of reverse transcription real-time PCR and specifically generated monoclonal anti-Eag1 antibodies showed that expression of the channel is normally limited to specific areas of the brain and to restricted cell populations throughout the body. Tumour samples, however, showed a significant overexpression of the channel with high frequency (up to 80% depending on the tissue source) regardless of the detection method (staining with either one of the antibodies, or detection of Eag1 RNA). Conclusion Inhibition of Eag1 expression in tumour cell lines reduced cell proliferation. Eag1 may therefore represent a promising target for the tailored treatment of human tumours. Furthermore, as normal cells expressing Eag1 are either protected by the blood-brain barrier or represent the terminal stage of normal differentiation, Eag1 based therapies could produce only minor side effects.
Household Stove Improvement and Risk of Lung Cancer in Xuanwei, China
Authors: Q. Lan, R. S. Chapman, D. M. Schreinemachers, L. Tian, X. He
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2002)

Background: Lung cancer rates in rural Xuanwei County, Yunnan Province, are among the highest in China. Residents traditionally burned “smoky” coal in unvented indoor firepits that generated very high levels of air pollution. Since the 1970s, most residents have changed from firepits to stoves with chimneys. This study assessed whether lung cancer incidence decreased after this stove improvement. Methods: A cohort of 21 232 farmers, born from 1917 through 1951, was followed retrospectively from 1976 through 1992. All subjects were users of smoky coal who had been born into homes with unvented firepits. During their lifetime, 17 184 subjects (80.9%) changed permanently to stoves with chimneys. A hospital record search detected 1384 cases of lung cancer (6.5%) during follow-up. Associations of stove improvement with lung cancer incidence were analyzed with product-limit plots and multivariable Cox models. In 1995, indoor concentrations of airborne particles and benzo[a]pyrene were compared in Xuanwei homes during smoky coal burning in stoves with chimneys and in unvented stoves or firepits. Results: A long-term reduction in lung cancer incidence was noted after stove improvement. In Cox models, risk ratios (RRs) for lung cancer after stove improvement were 0.59 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49 to 0.71) in men and 0.54 (95% CI = 0.44 to 0.65) in women (for both, P<.001). Incidence reduction became unequivocal about 10 years after stove improvement. Levels of indoor air pollution during burning with chimneys were less than 35% of levels during unvented burning. Conclusion: Changing from unvented to vented stoves appears to benefit the health of people in China and may do so in other developing countries as well.
Prevention of chronic kidney and vascular disease: Toward global health equity—The Bellagio 2004 Declaration
Authors: John H. Dirks, Dick De Zeeuw, Sanjay K. Agarwal, Robert C. Atkins, Ricardo Correa-Rotter, Giuseppe D'Amico, Peter H. Bennett, Meguid El Nahas, Raul Herrera Valdes, D.A.N. Kaseje, Ivor J. Katz, Sarala Naicker, Bernardo Rodriguez-Iturbe, Arrigo Schieppati, Faissal Shaheen, Chitr Sitthi-Amorn, Kim Solez, Giancarlo Viberti, Giuseppe Remuzzi, Jan J. Weening
Journal: Kidney International (2005)
Abnormal Angular Gyrus Asymmetry in Schizophrenia
Authors: M. Niznikiewicz
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2000)

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have evaluated the parietal lobe in schizophrenia despite the fact that it has an important role in attention, memory, and language—all functions that have been reported to be abnormal in schizophrenia. The inferior parietal lobule, in particular, is of interest because it is not only part of the heteromodal association cortex but also is part of the semantic-lexical network, which also includes the planum temporale. Both the inferior parietal lobule, particularly the angular gyrus of the inferior parietal lobule, and the planum temporale are brain regions that play a critical role as biological substrates of language and thought. The authors compared volume and asymmetry measures of the individual gyri of the parietal lobe by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. METHOD: MRI scans with a 1.5-Tesla magnet were obtained from 15 male chronic schizophrenic and 15 comparison subjects matched for age, gender, and parental socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Inferior parietal lobule volumes showed a leftward asymmetry (left 7.0% larger than right) in comparison subjects and a reversed asymmetry (left 6.3% smaller than right) in schizophrenic subjects. The angular gyrus accounted for this difference in asymmetry, with the left angular gyrus being significantly larger (18.7%) than the right in comparison subjects, a finding that was not observed in schizophrenic patients. A further test of angular gyrus asymmetry showed a reversal of the normal left-greater-than-right asymmetry in the schizophrenic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with schizophrenia showed a reversed asymmetry in the inferior parietal lobule that was localized to the angular gyrus, a structure belonging to the heteromodal association cortex as well as being part of the semantic-lexical network. This finding contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the neural substrates of language and thought disorder in schizophrenia.
Dynamic discharge characteristics of low pressure receptors in the rat.
Authors: S Mifflin, D Kunze
Journal: Circulation Research (1984)

An in vitro preparation was used to examine the discharge of low pressure receptors in response to a pulsatile pressure stimulus. Both slowly adapting and rapidly adapting receptors were examined. After an increase in the mean level and/or dP/dt of a pulsatile pressure input, the discharge of slowly adapting receptors reached a steady state level within 2 minutes. An increase in mean pressure, with constant pulsatile amplitude and dP/dt, produced a sustained increase in the number of spikes/cycle, in the average number of spikes/second, and in the average frequency during the burst within the cycle. In slowly adapting receptors, an increase in dP/dt at a constant mean pressure and pulsatile amplitude produced a decrease in the number of spikes/cycle and an increase in both the average number of spikes/second and the frequency during the burst. Rapidly adapting receptors showed very different characteristics, responding to a pulsatile pressure input above threshold with an irregular discharge which averages approximately 1 spike/cycle at all mean pressure levels. Although rapidly adapting receptors transiently increased their discharge in response to an increase in mean pressure, within 60 seconds discharge returned to the pre-increase level. Rapidly adapting receptors continued to discharge with an average of 1 spike/cycle as dP/dt was increased. Since dP/dt was raised by increasing the frequency of the pulsatile input, the number of spikes/second increased. In the steady state, slowly adapting receptors transmit information reflecting mean pressure levels. They are also sensitive to the rate of change of pressure. Rapidly adapting receptors, on the other hand, are insensitive to mean pressure but do respond to the frequency of the stimulus.
Exclusive involvement of H-2D(b) or H-2K(d) product in the interaction between T-killer lymphocytes and syngeneic H-2(b) or H-2(d) viral lymphomas
Authors: E Gomard, V Duprez, T Reme, MJ Colombani, JP Levy
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1977)

It was demonstrated previously that the cytolysis of murine viral lymphoma cells by anti-murine sarcoma virus (MSV) syngeneic T-killer lymphocytes was restricted by some products of the H-2 complex. The respective role of the products of different regions of the H-2 complex were studied with six H-2(b) and three H-2(d) lymphomas induced by five different type C viruses. They were tested in a classical chromium release test against anti-MSV T-killer cells obtained from different inbred strains of mice, including several H-2 recombinants. Tumors o pound the H-2(b) haplotype were lysed only when effectors and target cells have in common the D(b) region. On the contrary an identity limited to the K end of the H-2 complex is necessary and sufficient in the H-2(d) haplotype. An in vitro restimulation of the spleen cells with concanavalin A strongly increased the activity of in vivo-primed T lymphocytes but did not provide any response for in vivo-primed but nonresponder cells. Preincubation of the tumor cells with anti-H-2 sera abolished the lysis by syngeneic anti-MSV effector lymphocytes. The same results were obtained by preincubating the H-2(b) targets with anti-H-2D(b), or the H-2(d) target with anti-H-2K(d). Preincubation with anti-H-2K(b) or anti- H-2D(d) were ineffective. These results show that the T-killer/target cells interaction in the MSV system involved some products of the H-2 complex which might be different with the various H-2 haplotypes and could possibly vary according to the antigenic specificity. A specific association of a viral product with a normal cellular structure, directed by the H-2 region during the viral budding could explain the observed results.
Integrating Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Classical Genetics to Study the Effects of Recombination on Genome Evolution
Authors: John A. Birdsell
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2002)

This study presents compelling evidence that recombination significantly increases the silent GC content of a genome in a selectively neutral manner, resulting in a highly significant positive correlation between recombination and "GC3s" in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Neither selection nor mutation can explain this relationship. A highly significant GC-biased mismatch repair system is documented for the first time in any member of the Kingdom Fungi. Much of the variation in the GC3s within yeast appears to result from GC-biased gene conversion. Evidence suggests that GC-biased mismatch repair exists in numerous organisms spanning six kingdoms. This transkingdom GC mismatch repair bias may have evolved in response to a ubiquitous AT mutational bias. A significant positive correlation between recombination and GC content is found in many of these same organisms, suggesting that the processes influencing the evolution of the yeast genome may be a general phenomenon. Nonrecombining regions of the genome and nonrecombining genomes would not be subject to this type of molecular drive. It is suggested that the low GC content characteristic of many nonrecombining genomes may be the result of three processes (1) a prevailing AT mutational bias, (2) random fixation of the most common types of mutation, and (3) the absence of the GC-biased gene conversion which, in recombining organisms, permits the reversal of the most common types of mutation. A model is proposed to explain the observation that introns, intergenic regions, and pseudogenes typically have lower GC content than the silent sites of corresponding open reading frames. This model is based on the observation that the greater the heterology between two sequences, the less likely it is that recombination will occur between them. According to this "Constraint" hypothesis, the formation and propagation of heteroduplex DNA is expected to occur, on average, more frequently within conserved coding and regulatory regions of the genome. In organisms possessing GC-biased mismatch repair, this would enhance the GC content of these regions through biased gene conversion. These findings have a number of important implications for the way we view genome evolution and suggest a new model for the evolution of sex.
Effectiveness of pharmacologic therapies on smoking cessation success: Results of three years of smoking cessation clinic
Authors: Elif Yilmazel Ucar, Omer Araz, Nafiye Yilmaz, Metin Akgun, Mehmet Meral, Hasan Kaynar, Leyla Saglam
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:This study aimed to determine the efficacy of several pharmacologic treatments in patients who applied to a smoking cessation clinic.  Methods: This retrospective study included 422 patients who presented to our smoking cessation clinic between January 2010 and June 2013, used the pharmacologic treatment as prescribed and completed one-year follow-up period. All patients were assessed using the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND) and received both behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy. Patients smoking status at one year was learned by telephone interview.  Results: The patients were 24.3% female and 75.7% male with a mean age of 38. Patients were divided into three groups: varenicline (166 patients), bupropion (148 patients) and nicotine replacement therapy (108 patients). These groups smoking cessation rates were 32.5%, 23% and 52.8%, respectively, and were statistically significant. The overall success rate was 35%. Further analysis revealed that pharmacologic therapy and gender (p=0.01) were factors that showed statistically significant effects on smoking cessation rates. Males had higher success rates than females. Lack of determination emerged as the most important factor leading to relapse.  Conclusion: Nicotine replacement therapy was found to be more effective at promoting abstinence from smoking than other pharmacologic therapies.
Azathioprine in severe adult atopic dermatitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial
Authors: J. Berth-Jones, A. Takwale, E. Tan, G. Barclay, S. Agarwal, I. Ahmed, K. Hotchkiss, R.A.C. Graham-Brown
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2002)

Summary Background There is a limited range of treatments for severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Azathioprine has often been used but there has been no randomized controlled trial of this drug to confirm its efficacy in AD. Objectives To establish or refute the efficacy of azathioprine in severe AD. To investigate the safety and tolerability of azathioprine in this patient population. Methods We performed a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, crossover trial of azathioprine in adult patients with severe AD. Each treatment period was of 3 months' duration. Treatments were azathioprine 2·5 mg kg−1 day−1 and matched placebo. Disease activity was monitored using the SASSAD sign score. In addition, severity of pruritus, sleep disturbance and disruption of work/daytime activity were monitored using visual analogue scales. Adverse events were recorded and haematological and biochemical monitoring was performed. Results Thirty‐seven subjects were enrolled, mean age 38 years (range 17–73). Sixteen were withdrawn, 12 during azathioprine treatment and four during placebo treatment. The SASSAD score fell by 26% during treatment with azathioprine vs. 3% on placebo (P < 0·01). Pruritus, sleep disturbance and disruption of work/daytime activity all improved significantly on active treatment but not on placebo. The difference in mean improvement between azathioprine and placebo was significant for disruption of work/daytime activity (P < 0·02) but not for pruritus or sleep disturbance. Gastrointestinal disturbances were reported by 14 patients during azathioprine treatment and four were withdrawn as a result of severe nausea and vomiting. Leukopenia was observed in two patients and deranged liver enzymes in eight during treatment with azathioprine. Conclusions Azathioprine is an effective and useful drug in severe AD although it is not always well‐tolerated. Monitoring of the full blood count and liver enzymes is advisable during treatment.
A New Equation to Estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate
Authors: Andrew S. Levey, Lesley A. Stevens, Christopher H. Schmid, Yaping (Lucy) Zhang, Alejandro F. Castro, Harold I. Feldman, John W. Kusek, Paul Eggers, Frederick Van Lente, Tom Greene, Josef Coresh
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2009)

Background: Equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are routinely used to assess kidney function. Current equations have limited precision and systematically underestimate measured GFR at higher values. Objective: To develop a new estimating equation for GFR: the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Design: Cross-sectional analysis with separate pooled data sets for equation development and validation and a representative sample of the U.S. population for prevalence estimates. Setting: Research studies and clinical populations (“studies”) with measured GFR and NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), 1999 to 2006. Participants: 8254 participants in 10 studies (equation development data set) and 3896 participants in 16 studies (validation data set). Prevalence estimates were based on 16 032 participants in NHANES. Measurements: GFR, measured as the clearance of exogenous filtration markers (iothalamate in the development data set; iothalamate and other markers in the validation data set), and linear regression to estimate the logarithm of measured GFR from standardized creatinine levels, sex, race, and age. Results: In the validation data set, the CKD-EPI equation performed better than the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation, especially at higher GFR (P < 0.001 for all subsequent comparisons), with less bias (median difference between measured and estimated GFR, 2.5 vs. 5.5 mL/min per 1.73 m2), improved precision (interquartile range [IQR] of the differences, 16.6 vs. 18.3 mL/min per 1.73 m2), and greater accuracy (percentage of estimated GFR within 30% of measured GFR, 84.1% vs. 80.6%). In NHANES, the median estimated GFR was 94.5 mL/min per 1.73 m2 (IQR, 79.7 to 108.1) vs. 85.0 (IQR, 72.9 to 98.5) mL/min per 1.73 m2, and the prevalence of chronic kidney disease was 11.5% (95% CI, 10.6% to 12.4%) versus 13.1% (CI, 12.1% to 14.0%). Limitation: The sample contained a limited number of elderly people and racial and ethnic minorities with measured GFR. Conclusion: The CKD-EPI creatinine equation is more accurate than the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease Study equation and could replace it for routine clinical use. Primary Funding Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Dual determination of angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin-II type 1 receptor genotypes as predictor of restenosis after coronary angioplasty
Authors: Martial Hamon, Carole Amant, Christophe Bauters, Florence Richard, Nicole Helbecque, François Passard, Eugène Mc Fadden, Jean-Marc Lablanche, Michel Bertrand, Philippe Amouyel
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1996)
Biomechanics in Sport
Authors: John H. Challis
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1992)

After reviewing the unique characteristics of the Chinese bond market, the authors investigate the factors that determine the returns and risks of Chinese bonds. Bond returns are found to be highly predictable and the predictability is largely driven by various institutional characteristics and China’s unique monetary policy: the Chinese Central Bank controls the whole term structure of deposit rates and leading rates. The authors also show that a U.S. investor can gain potentially sizable economic benefits by investing in the Chinese bond market for diversification, given the market’s high returns and low correlation with the U.S. bond market. <b>TOPICS:</b>Emerging, financial crises and financial market history, portfolio management/multi-asset allocation
Re: Ted B. Manny, Manish Patel, Ashok K. Hemal. Fluorescence-enhanced Robotic Radical Prostatectomy Using Real-time Lymphangiography and Tissue Marking with Percutaneous Injection of Unconjugated Indocyanine Green: The Initial Clinical Experience in 50 Patients. Eur Urol 2014;65:1162–8
Authors: Casper Tax, Maroeska M. Rovers
Journal: European Urology (2014)