tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Liver Transplantation in Asian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B
Authors: Betty M. Ho, Samuel K. So, Carlos O. Esquivel, Emment B. Keeffe
Journal: Hepatology (1997)

It has been suggested that Asian patients have reduced survival after liver transplantation because of greater recurrence of hepatitis B virus (HBV). We analyzed the outcome of Asian and non-Asian patients receiving transplants for chronic hepatitis B between May 1988 and March 1994. Baseline Child-Pugh score and United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) status, HBV recurrence, and survival were compared between the two groups. All but one patient received variable doses of hepatitis B immune globulin. Mean follow-up of surviving patients was 28 months (range, 3-71 months). Fifteen Asians and 20 non-Asians underwent transplantation. Six of 15 Asians (40%) and 4 of 20 non-Asians (20%) died during the study period. Although Asians had a lower 1-year survival than non-Asians (59% for Asians and 94% for non-Asians), the 5-year actuarial survival was not different (59% and 57% for Asians and non-Asians, respectively). The causes of death in 5 of 6 Asians were factors other than recurrent hepatitis B, and 4 of 5 deaths occurred within 60 days after transplantation. Eighty percent of Asian patients were Child-Pugh class C at referral, compared with 50% of non-Asians, and Asians were more likely to be status 1 at transplantation (40% vs. 10%; P < .05). By contrast, all four deaths in non-Asians occurred late and were secondary to recurrent HBV infection. Of patients surviving more than 60 days after transplantation, 7 of 11 Asians (64%) and 10 of 20 non-Asians (50%) developed recurrent HBV infection (NS). Late mortality attributable to HBV recurrence was lower but not significantly different in Asians (1 of 7 [14%]) than in non-Asians (4 of 10 [40%]). In summary, HBV recurrence and late HBV-related mortality in Asians and non-Asians is similar after liver transplantation for chronic hepatitis B. Late referral and more advanced chronic liver disease at the time of transplantation probably account for the lower 1-year survival of Asians after liver transplantation.
I-test: a gymnast with anterior knee pain: not a typical case of jumper's knee
Authors: Laura Susan Kox, Esther Maria A Wiegerinck, Mario Maas
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2013)

A 21-year-old male professional trampoline gymnast consulted his physician to evaluate his activity-related anterior knee pain, present since 4 weeks. The most likely diagnosis was patellar tendinopathy, often termed jumper's knee. However, his symptoms did not match this diagnosis since the pain was located in the proximal part of the left knee with weakness, instability when standing up and …
The antiinflammatory mechanism of methotrexate. Increased adenosine release at inflamed sites diminishes leukocyte accumulation in an in vivo model of inflammation.
Authors: B N Cronstein, D Naime, E Ostad
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1993)

Methotrexate, a folate antagonist, is a potent antiinflammatory agent when used weekly in low concentrations. We examined the hypothesis that the antiphlogistic effects of methotrexate result from its capacity to promote intracellular accumulation of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) that, under conditions of cell injury, increases local adenosine release. We now present the first evidence to establish this mechanism of action in an in vivo model of inflammation, the murine air pouch model. Mice were injected intraperitoneally with either methotrexate or saline for 3-4 wk during induction of air pouches. Pharmacologically relevant doses of methotrexate increased splenocyte AICAR content, raised adenosine concentrations in exudates from carrageenan-inflamed air pouches, and markedly inhibited leukocyte accumulation in inflamed air pouches. The methotrexate-mediated reduction in leukocyte accumulation was partially reversed by injection of adenosine deaminase (ADA) into the air pouch, completely reversed by a specific adenosine A2 receptor antagonist, 3,7-dimethyl-1-propargylxanthine (DMPX), but not affected by an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist, 8-cyclopentyl-dipropylxanthine. Neither ADA nor DMPX affected leukocyte accumulation in the inflamed pouches of animals treated with either saline or the potent antiinflammatory steroid dexamethasone. These results indicate that methotrexate is a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agent, the antiphlogistic action of which is due to increased adenosine release at inflamed sites.
Curcumin Inhibits Neurotensin-Mediated Interleukin-8 Production and Migration of HCT116 Human Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Xiaofu Wang, Qingding Wang, Kirk L. Ives, B. Mark Evers
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2006)

Neurotensin, a gut tridecapeptide, acts as a potent cellular mitogen for various colorectal and pancreatic cancers that possess high-affinity neurotensin receptors. Cytokine/chemokine proteins are increasingly recognized as important local factors that play a role in the metastasis and invasion of multiple cancers. The purpose of this study was to (a) determine the effect of neurotensin on cytokine/chemokine gene expression and cell migration in human cancer cells and (b) assess the effect of curcumin, a natural dietary product, on neurotensin-mediated processes.The human colorectal cancer, HCT116, was treated with neurotensin, with or without curcumin, and interleukin (IL)-8 expression and protein secretion was measured. Signaling pathways, which contribute to the effects of neurotensin, were assessed. Finally, the effect of curcumin on neurotensin-mediated HCT116 cell migration was analyzed.We show that neurotensin, acting through the native high-affinity neurotensin receptor, induced IL-8 expression in human colorectal cancer cells in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. This stimulation involves Ca2+-dependent protein kinase C, extracellular signal-regulated kinase-dependent activator protein-1, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-independent nuclear factor-kappaB pathways. Curcumin inhibited neurotensin-mediated activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappaB activation and Ca2+ mobilization. Moreover, curcumin blocked neurotensin-stimulated IL-8 gene induction and protein secretion and, at a low concentration (i.e., 10 micromol/L), blocked neurotensin-stimulated colon cancer cell migration.Neurotensin-mediated induction of tumor cell IL-8 expression and secretion may contribute to the procarcinogenic effects of neurotensin on gastrointestinal cancers. Furthermore, a potential mechanism for the chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects of curcumin on colon cancers may be through the inhibition of gastrointestinal hormone (e.g., neurotensin)-induced chemokine expression and cell migration.
Tracheobronchial collapses in acute asthmatic attack
Authors: Sumalee Kiatboonsri, Siwaporn Lertpongpiroon, Thitiporn Suwatanapongched, Yuda Sutheerasan, Pongdhep Theerawit
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) is the best assessment of asthma severity during acute asthmatic attack (AAA). Since PEFR represents an effort-dependent flow from large airways, we wonder if the falls of PEFRs during AAA result from expiratory tracheobronchial collapses (TBC). This study aims to explore the existence of TBC during AAA and, if any, its influence on PEFR.

Methods: We conducted a cross sectional cohort in patients with AAA treated at the emergency department (ED). Along with the continued monitoring of PEFRs, TBC assessments by low dose high resolution computerized tomogram (HRCT) were performed twice for each patient, i.e. at ED (T1) and at 6th-8th week (T2) (PEFR variability <15%). TBCs in both periods were quantified and changes were compared with changes in the corresponding PEFRs.

Results: Of the 34 enrolled patients, 5 were excluded due to failures in forced expiratory maneuvers. At T1, all of the 29 patients exhibited variable degree of TBCs (% inspiration) (mean 44.05±19.79). 2nd HRCTs were not done in 5 patients for repeated exacerbations. Of the 24 patients who completed 2 HRCTs, 72.91% of them showed improvement of TBCs over time. Comparisons of the improvements of TBCs with those of PEFRs (% predicted) between T1 and T2 showed that TBC changes at the level of trachea near to the carina (L3) correlated well with PEFR changes (p<0.05, r=0.7). At T1, the magnitudes of TBCs at L3 also correlated with the corresponding PEFRs (p<0.05, r=0.5).

Conclusions: Patients with AAA demonstrated presences of TBCs of different severities which mostly improved with time. TBC at tracheal rings near to the carina was most prominent that influenced the changes of PEFRs. TBCs thus play roles in the falls of PEFRs during AAA.
The MOGE(S) Classification of Cardiomyopathy for Clinicians
Authors: Eloisa Arbustini, Navneet Narula, Luigi Tavazzi, Alessandra Serio, Maurizia Grasso, Valentina Favalli, Riccardo Bellazzi, Jamil A. Tajik, Robert O. Bonow, Valentin Fuster, Jagat Narula
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2014)
Effect of Small Doses of Alcohol on a Skill Resembling Driving
Authors: G. C. Drew, W. P. Colquhoun, H. A. Long
Journal: BMJ (1958)

Since the drinking of alcohol in one form or another is so common a characteristic of the social life of man in a variety of cultures, it would seem important that as much as possible should be known both of its physiological effects and of.its effects on behaviour.In fact, at the present time, very little precise information is available, in spite of an extensive literature on the subject.This literature has been reviewed, more or less comprehensively, periodically since the early part of this century (Fisk, 1917 ; Darrow, 1929 ; Emerson, 1933; M.R.C. Alcohol Investigation Committee, 1938 ; Jellinek and McFarland, 1940; Drew, 1950).The most striking feature to emerge from any such review is the marked lack of agreement between authors, amounting in many instances to direct contradiction of one another.This is especially true of the effects of smaller doses.Perhaps not surprisingly, doses of intoxicating strength have generally resulted in deterior- ation in efficiency in almost all aspects of behaviour tested.For doses below this level, however, the picture is not clear.Some authors have reported deterioration in performance however small the dose, some have failed to find any effects, while several have shown actual improvements following doses of the order of one single whisky.In part these discrepant findings reflect the unreli- ability of many of the results in this field, but in part they arise from the complexity of the effects of alcohol.For moderate and intoxicating levels it has been estab- lished that the effect of alcohol is related to its concentra- tion in the blood, and that the blood alcohol concentra- tion obtained from a given ingested dose depends both on the body weight of the recipient and on the rate at which the alcohol is absorbed into the blood (Winton and Bayliss, 1948).The rate of absorption, in turn, has Leen found to be dependent on the amount, type, and dilution of alcohol, the contents of the stomach, and the drinking habits of the individual (Goldberg, 1951).Previous reports further suggest that, apart from a slowly developed tolerance to alcohol from repeated exposure to it over a number of years, known as habitua- tion, there is also a more rapid adaptation to each dose consumed, so that it has a greater effect when the blood alcohol level is rising than when it is falling (Mellanby, 1919;
RADIOSENSITIVITY IN ALZHEIMER DISEASE AND PARKINSON DISEASE
Authors: JayH. Robbins, Fujio Otsuka, RobertE. Tarone, RonaldJ. Polinsky, RogerA. Brumback, AlanN. Moshell, LindaE. Nee, MaryB. Ganges, SophieJ. Cayeux
Journal: The Lancet (1983)
Serial PEF measurements detect occupational alveolitis and occupational asthma due to metal-working fluid
Authors: Vicky Moore, Arun Dev Vellore, Alastair Robertson, Wendy Robertson, Sherwood Burge
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction 

Serial measurements of Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF) are the most appropriate and available method for confirming occupational asthma. Changes in PEF might also occur in alveolitis.

Aims  

To compare work-related changes in PEF between workers with allergic alveolitis and occupational asthma with exposure to the same metal-working fluid aerosols.

Methods 

Symptomatic workers with restday improvement from an engineering factory were asked to measure PEF 8 times daily for 4 weeks at home and at work before remedial action in the workplace. Allergic alveolitis was diagnosed by an expert panel from combinations of systemic symptoms with breathlessness, audible crackles in the lungs, CXR or CT scan showing compatible interstitial changes and reduced DLCO. Occupational asthma was diagnosed from work-related wheeze or breathlessness and confirmed with physiological tests including serial PEF measurements. The Oasys PEF plotter was used to calculate differences between rest and workdays for mean PEF, diurnal variation and the scores used to confirm occupational asthma (Oasys, ABC and timepoint).

Results 

View this table:

Table 1





Conclusion 

Changes in serial PEF measurements are similar in workers with occupational allergic alveolitis and occupational asthma.
Nature via Nurture: Genes, Experience and What Makes Us Human
Authors: M. Hogenboom
Journal: BMJ (2003)

Matt Ridley reminds us that it was Francis Galton who began the nurture versus nature debate, in the 19th century. Galton, who was half cousin to Charles Darwin, also “invented” eugenics, the striving to improve the human race through “selective breeding.”

This debate—nurture versus nature—has more or less dominated the 20th century. At the two extremes were Stalin, with his communistic ideas about the influence of education and environment, and Hitler, with his eugenic ideas about …
Quantitative Hepatitis B Core Antibody Level Is a New Predictor for Treatment Response In HBeAg-positive Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Receiving Peginterferon
Authors: Feng-Qin Hou, Liu-Wei Song, Quan Yuan, Lin-Lin Fang, Sheng-Xiang Ge, Jun Zhang, Ji-Fang Sheng, Dong-Ying Xie, Jia Shang, Shu-Huan Wu, Yong-Tao Sun, Shao-Feng Wei, Mao-Rong Wang, Mo-Bin Wan, Ji-Dong Jia, Guang-Han Luo, Hong Tang, Shu-Chen Li, Jun-Qi Niu, Wei-dong Zhou, Li Sun, Ning-Shao Xia, Gui-Qiang Wang
Journal: Theranostics (2014)

A recent study revealed that quantitative hepatitis B core antibody (qAnti-HBc) level could serve as a novel marker for predicting treatment response. In the present study, we further investigated the predictive value of qAnti-HBc level in HBeAg-positive patients undergoing PEG-IFN therapy. A total of 140 HBeAg-positive patients who underwent PEG-IFN therapy for 48 weeks and follow-up for 24 weeks were enrolled in this study. Serum samples were taken every 12 weeks post-treatment. The predictive value of the baseline qAnti-HBc level for treatment response was evaluated. Patients were further divided into 2 groups according to the baseline qAnti-HBc level, and the response rate was compared. Additionally, the kinetics of the virological and biochemical parameters were analyzed. Patients who achieved response had a significantly higher baseline qAnti-HBc level (serological response [SR], 4.52±0.36 vs. 4.19±0.58, p=0.001; virological response [VR], 4.53±0.35 vs. 4.22±0.57, p=0.005; combined response [CR], 4.50±0.36 vs. 4.22±0.58, p=0.009)). Baseline qAnti-HBc was the only parameter that was independently correlated with SR (p=0.008), VR (p=0.010) and CR(p=0.019). Patients with baseline qAnti-HBc levels ≥30,000 IU/mL had significantly higher response rates, more HBV DNA suppression, and better hepatitis control in PEG-IFN treatment. In conclusion, qAnti-HBc level may be a novel biomarker for predicting treatment response in HBeAg-positive patients receiving PEG-IFN therapy.
Decreased Elastin Synthesis in Normal Development and in Long-term Aortic Organ and Cell Cultures Is Related to Rapid and Selective Destabilization of mRNA for Elastin
Authors: D.J. Johnson, P. Robson, Yin Hew, F.W. Keeley
Journal: Circulation Research (1995)

Abstract We have previously shown that aortic organ cultures from 1- to 3-day-old chickens initially mimic the high levels of elastin production seen in vivo. However, more prolonged incubation of these tissues results in decreased synthesis of elastin. In the present study, we demonstrate that decreased production of elastin in these aortic organ cultures is selective for elastin compared with collagen and is correlated with decreased steady state levels of mRNA for elastin. These decreases in steady state levels of elastin mRNA are due at least in part to a rapid and selective destabilization of mRNA for elastin, the half-life of which falls from ≈25 hours in fresh aortic tissues to ≈15 hours after incubation for only 8 hours. Destabilization of elastin mRNA can be prevented by incubation in the presence of blockers of DNA transcription (5,6-dichlorobenzimidazole riboside and actinomycin D) and mRNA translation (cycloheximide). Furthermore, the half-life of aortic elastin mRNA decreases from ≈25 hours in the 1-day-old chicken to ≈7 hours in the 8-week-old chicken, demonstrating that destabilization of mRNA is an important contributing factor in the decline in production of aortic elastin taking place during normal postnatal growth.
Novel germline APC gene mutation in a large familial adenomatous polyposis kindred displaying variable phenotypes.
Authors: R J Scott, R van der Luijt, M Spycher, J L Mary, A Muller, T Hoppeler, M Haner, H Muller, S Martinoli, P L Brazzola
Journal: Gut (1995)

The APC gene is mutated in the germline of people from families where there is a predisposition to develop polyposis coli. Many mutations have been described but the relation between their site and the phenotypic expression of the disease remains unclear. The most commonly seen mutation occurs at codon 1309. Many other mutations have been described towards the 5' end of exon 15 of the APC gene but comparatively few have been seen towards the 3' end. Recent reports have indicated the possibility of a functional boundary with respect to severity and age of onset of disease, which lies towards the 5' end of the gene. This report describes a large family whose affected members present with a very variable phenotype ranging from an early onset and severe form to a comparatively mild later onset one. The mutation that predisposes to disease in this family is at a previously undescribed site that lies towards the 3' end of exon 15 of the APC gene, which results in a stop codon. Interestingly, the stop codon is 63 codons downstream of the mutation and therefore may affect the expression of the disease. The addition of this mutation to the growing list of mutations described in the APC gene may provide some insight into the genotype/phenotype relation of the disease thus contributing to the understanding and significance of mutations at specific sites in the APC gene.
Immunoglobulin diversity gene usage predicts unfavorable outcome in a subset of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients
Authors: Renee C. Tschumper, Susan M. Geyer, Megan E. Campbell, Neil E. Kay, Tait D. Shanafelt, Clive S. Zent, Grzegorz S. Nowakowski, Timothy G. Call, Gordon W. Dewald, Diane F. Jelinek
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2008)

Survival of patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) can be predicted by analysis of mutations in the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable gene (IGHV). Patients without mutations (unmutated [UM]) are at greater risk for disease progression and death than patients with mutations (M). Despite this broad prognostic difference, there remains wide intragroup variation in the clinical outcome of UM patients, especially those with low/intermediate Rai risk disease. We evaluated UM B-CLL patients with low/intermediate Rai risk to determine the relationship between IGHV, IGH diversity (IGHD), and IGH joining (IGHJ) gene usage and time to treatment (TTT). Irrespective of IGHV usage, UM patients whose B-CLL cells expressed the IGHD3-3 gene had a significantly shorter TTT than other UM B-CLL patients, and specifically, use of the IGHD3-3 gene in reading frame 2 (RF2) predicted shorter TTT. As expected, Rai risk was the best single prognostic factor for TTT; however, IGHD usage was also a significant variable for TTT. Therefore, both IGHD gene and IGHD RF usage have prognostic relevance in UM B-CLL patients with low/intermediate Rai risk disease. In addition, these data support the concept that antigen-driven selection of specific Ig receptors plays a role in the clinical course of B-CLL.
Inhibitory Effects of Antioxidants on Neonatal Rat Cardiac Myocyte Hypertrophy Induced by Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Angiotensin II
Authors: Kazufumi Nakamura, Kazuo Fushimi, Hirosuke Kouchi, Koichiro Mihara, Masahiro Miyazaki, Tohru Ohe, Masayoshi Namba
Journal: Circulation (1998)

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and angiotensin II (Ang II) modulate heart failure in part by provoking the hypertrophic response. Signal transduction pathways of those factors are implicated in reactive oxygen intermediates (ROIs). Therefore, we hypothesized that TNF-alpha and Ang II might cause myocyte hypertrophy via the generation of ROIs.To test the hypothesis, we tested whether TNF-alpha and Ang II could induce the generation of ROIs and whether antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), vitamin E, and catalase might inhibit the hypertrophy in cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes. ROIs were measured by the ROI-specific probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate in cultured cardiac myocytes. We demonstrated that TNF-alpha and Ang II induced the generation of ROIs in a dose-dependent manner. TNF-alpha (10 ng/mL) and Ang II (100 nmol/L) enlarged cardiac myocytes and increased [3H]leucine uptake, and BHA (10 micromol/L) significantly inhibited both effects. Other antioxidants, such as vitamin E (1 microg/mL) and catalase (100 U/mL), also inhibited the enlargement of cardiac myocytes induced by TNF-alpha.These results indicate that TNF-alpha and Ang II cause hypertrophy in part via the generation of ROIs in cardiac myocytes.
Adult Kidney Tubular Cell Population Showing Phenotypic Plasticity, Tubulogenic Capacity, and Integration Capability into Developing Kidney
Authors: Akito Maeshima, Hiroyuki Sakurai, Sanjay K. Nigam
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2005)

Using in vivo bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling, a tubular cell population (label-retaining tubular cells [LRTC]) was identified recently in normal adult kidneys, which contributes actively to the regeneration process of the kidney after injury. Here, these LRTC are characterized in vitro. The LRTC population was isolated from BrdU-treated rat kidney by FACS. Both LRTC and non-LRTC underwent proliferation and maintained an epithelial phenotype in the presence of tubulogenic growth factors such as EGF, TGF-alpha, IGF-I, and hepatocyte growth factor. It is interesting that LRTC also proliferated without epithelial markers expression in the presence of soluble factors derived from an embryonic kidney metanephric mesenchyme cell line. The type of extracellular matrix strongly influenced the phenotype of LRTC. Furthermore, in three-dimensional collagen gel culture, LRTC formed tubule-like or tubulocystic structures in response to growth factors (hepatocyte growth factor and fibroblast growth factor) that are known to induce kidney cell tubulogenesis in vitro and/or participate in renal regeneration in vivo. In contrast, non-LRTC did not form these structures. When transplanted into the metanephric kidney, LRTC but not non-LRTC were integrated into epithelial components of nephron, including the proximal tubular cells and the ureteric bud. They also differentiated into fibroblast-like cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that LRTC are an adult kidney tubular cell population that shows phenotypic plasticity, tubulogenic capacity, and integration capability into the developing kidney.