tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopy has much to offer
Authors: S. E Habib
Journal: BMJ (1996)

Orchidopexy before age of 10 is best for undescended testes ED1TOR,-Chris Dawson and Hugh Whitfield's article on common paediatric problems in urology suggests that an intra-abdominal testis diagnosed after the age of 2 should be left in situ to preserve hormonal function until after puberty, when orchidectomy could then be performed.'We are aware of the need for brevity in ABC series, but we think that this suggestion is unusual and open to debate.The authors make no distinction between uni- lateral and bilateral cases of undescended testis.The policy that they advocate confers no obvious endocrine advantage in unilateral cases.In bilat-
Abstract 5845: TRPV4 Mediates Fluid Shear Stress-induced Ca2+ Influx in Endothelial Cells
Authors: Suelhem A Mendoza, Aaron H Bubolz, David D Gutterman, David X Zhang
Journal: Circulation (2009)

The transient receptor potential vallinoid type 4 (TRPV4) channel, a mechanosensitive Ca2+-permeable channel expressed in endothelial cells of several species and vascular beds, has been implicated...
In vitro teratology.
Authors: B A Schwetz, R E Morrissey, F Welsch, R A Kavlock
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1991)

The purpose of this conference was to reevaluate the need for and use of in vitro teratology assays; to examine the validation process for in vitro tests; and to discuss progress in the validation of in vitro teratology screens. Participants enthusiastically supported further development of short-term in vivo and in vitro systems both as prescreens for developmental toxicity and as experimental systems to explore mechanisms of action of toxicants. The group strongly endorsed the development of an updated reference list ("gold standard") of known developmental toxicants and nontoxicants as essential to further progress in developing and validating prescreening efforts. Independently, an expert group should further evaluate the performance characteristics for a validated prescreen. The limits of usefulness of prescreens for product development, regulatory use, and mechanistic investigations need to be clearly defined. Finally, too few in vitro teratology prescreens have been evaluated under multiple-laboratory conditions with common, agreed-upon test agents to draw firm conclusions regarding the merit and reproducibility of in vitro teratology prescreens. There was general agreement regarding the need to move several of the assays further along the validation pathway, at least using a short list of reference compounds.
Spanish flu epidemic in 1918 in Geneva, Switzerland
Authors: C  E Ammon
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2002)

In Geneva, Switzerland, the Spanish flu epidemic affected more than 50% of the population. The mortality was higher among those aged between 20–49 years and among men. The socioeconomic impact was very important, as the outbreak led to severe dysfunctions, including in health services. This epidemic shows the socio-economical burden that may be associated with influenza and highlights the need for pandemic preparedness.
Abstract 16969: Plaque Attenuation Pattern Assessment to Predict Advanced Atherosclerotic Lesions in Coronary CT Angiography
Authors: Pal Maurovich-Horvat, Christopher Schlett, Hatem Alkadhi, Matthias Kriegel, Masataka Nakano, Fumiyuki Otsuka, Paul Stolzmann, Hans Scheffel, Maros Ferencik, Renu Virmani, Udo Hoffmann
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Introduction: We sought to determine the accuracy of qualitative assessment of attenuation patterns of non-calcified plaque by CT to differentiate between early and advanced atherosclerotic lesions as defined by histology. Methods: Overall 611 histological sections from 21 coronary arteries were studied. The coronaries were filled with iodinated methylcellulose and scanned with CT (GE, CT 750HD). Histological sections with an increment of 1.5 mm were prepared and matched with cross-sectional CT images. The images were read randomly for the presence of non-calcified (NP), mixed (MP), calcified plaque (CP). The NCP-s and the non-calcified portion of MP-s were further assessed for the pattern of plaque attenuation and classified as homogenous (HP) or heterogeneous. Plaques that appeared heterogeneous were further stratified into those with and without napkin-ring sign (NRS and non-NRS). Results: No plaque was detected in 134 (21.9%), NCP in 254 (41.6%), MP in 191 (31.3%), and CP in 32 (5.2%) CT cross-sections. Among NCP components we identified HP in 207 (46.5%), non-NRS plaque in 200 (44.9%) and NRS plaque in 38 (8.6%) cross sections. The absence of plaque had excellent sensitivity and negative predictive value [99.3% (95% CI: 95.9-99.9%) and 99.3% (95% CI: 95.9-100.0%); respectively]. The specificities of NCP and MP to identify advanced lesions were moderate (58.1%, 95% CI: 53.4-62.7% and 71.9%, 95% CI 67.4-76.0%, respectively), similarly to the homogenous and heterogeneous plaques (42.8%, 95% CI: 37.4-48.2% and 57.2%, 95% CI: 51.8-62.6%, respectively). In contrast, the specificity of NRS plaque to identify advanced lesions was excellent (98.9%, 95% CI: 97.4-99.6%). The overall diagnostic performance of the attenuation pattern analysis to identify advanced lesions was better than that of the conventional plaque scheme (area under the curve 0.761 vs. 0.678, respectively; p=0.0012). Conclusions: The CT finding of NRS is highly specific for the presence of advanced atherosclerotic plaque. The assessment of the plaque attenuation pattern has significantly higher accuracy to identify advanced plaques than the conventional CT plaque scheme. The validity of these findings needs to be demonstrated in vivo.
Abstract 16016: A Soluble Inhibitor Depresses Na/K ATPase Activity in Cardiomyopathic Hearts from Uremic Rats
Authors: Davor Pavlovic, Dunja Aksentijevic, Anne-Marie L Seymour, William Fuller, Michael J Shattock
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Chronic kidney disease is associated with a cardiomyopathy characterised by hypertrophy, hypertension, myocardial fibrosis, reduced cardiac output and increased arrhythmias. We have previously show...
Abstract 756: Continuous Subcutaneous Delivery Of Apolipoprotein B-derived Peptides Induces T Cells Anergy And Reduces The Progression Of Established Atherosclerosis In Mice
Authors: Olivier Herbin, Hafid Ait Oufella, Gunilla N Fredrikson, Benjamin Aubier, Jan Nilsson, Regine Merval, Alain Tedgui, Ziad Mallat
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall promoted by both innate and adaptive Th1-driven immunity. Recent studies identified a number of native and MDA-modified peptid...
Abstract 16370: Hexokinase-Induced Residue Specific Phosphorylation of Cardiac Mitochondrial Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel
Authors: Yifan Zhou, Qunli Cheng, Molly Pellitteri-Hahn, Martin Bienengraeber, Michael Olivier, Zeljko J Bosnjak, Wai-Meng Kwok
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Introduction: The signaling pathways that protect the heart during ischemia-reperfusion injury ultimately converge onto the mitochondria. Yet, the mitochondrial targets have not been clearly establ...
Diagnostic validity of schizophreniform disorder
Authors: S M Strakowski
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1994)

The author examined the validity of schizophreniform disorder as defined in DSM-III and DSM-III-R by critically reviewing the current literature.Thirty publications that met specific inclusion criteria were identified and reviewed. To organize information relevant to the question of validity, the data were divided into three general classes of validators: antecedent, concurrent, and predictive. When possible, meta-analyses of specific validators were performed according to the summary odds ratio method of Mantel-Haenszel.The findings of this review failed to provide support for the validity of schizophreniform disorder, as it is currently defined, as a distinct diagnostic entity. In addition, the review did not provide strong support for schizophreniform disorder as representing a subtype of schizophrenia or affective illness. Instead, the data suggest that the current diagnostic criteria for schizophreniform disorder identify a heterogeneous group of patients with new-onset schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and atypical affective disorder and a small subgroup with a remitting nonaffective psychosis.This review suggests that the diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder has limited clinical utility. Patients meeting criteria for schizophreniform disorder should instead be diagnosed as having psychotic disorder not otherwise specified until additional clinical information (e.g., course of illness) becomes available. Future research will require prospective longitudinal follow-up of patients with new-onset affective and nonaffective psychoses to identify the subgroup with "true" schizophreniform disorder, i.e., a remitting nonaffective psychosis.
Abstract 2238: Targeting Cognitive Impairment in Heart Failure with a Memory Intervention
Authors: Angela P Clark, Graham McDougall, Hsing-Mei Chen, Ashley Davila, Carol Delville, Glenda Joiner-Rogers, Sheryl Innerarity, Marty Meraviglia, Janis Carelock, Shannon Patton
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background: Cognitive impairment has been reported up to 1.96 times greater in people with chronic heart failure and may affect patient outcomes by impairing the ability to integrate new informatio...
Quality of care for hospitalized depressed elderly patients before and after implementation of the Medicare Prospective Payment System
Authors: K B Wells, W H Rogers, L M Davis, K Kahn, G Norquist, E Keeler, J Kosecoff, R H Brook
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1993)

The authors evaluated the impact of Medicare's Prospective Payment System on aspects of quality of care and outcomes for depressed elderly inpatients in acute-care general medical hospitals.The depressed elderly inpatients (N = 2,746) were hospitalized in 297 acute-care general medical hospitals. The authors used a retrospective before-and-after design, controlling for differences over time in sickness at admission. Quality of care and outcomes were assessed through clinical review of explicit and implicit information in the medical records; secondary data sources provided information on postdischarge outcomes.After implementation of the prospective payment system 1) a higher percentage of patients had clinically appropriate acute-care admissions; 2) the initial assessment of psychological status by the treating provider was more complete; 3) the quality of psychotropic medication management, as rated by the study psychiatrists, improved; 4) the rates of any inpatient medical or psychiatric complication, of discharge to another hospital or a nursing home, and of inpatient readmission declined; and 5) there was no marked change in the percentage of patients rated by study clinicians as having acceptable overall clinical status at discharge or the rate of mortality 1 year after admission.After the implementation of the Medicare Prospective Payment System, the quality of care for depressed elderly inpatients improved and there was no marked increase in adverse clinical outcomes. Despite these gains, after implementation the quality of care was moderate at best and over one-third of the patients had unacceptable clinical status at discharge.
Chemotherapy and the Nervous System
Authors: J. B. Posner
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (1980)

The problems of systemic chemotherapy and its effects on both central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms and the nervous system itself are enormous. There are little data available (although that does not prevent many of us from having strong opinions), and there are many areas of controversy. What I would like to do in this discussion is address very briefly 3 aspects of systemic chemotherapy and the CNS, reviewing what some of the available data are and, in addition, what some of the problems which face us in the future might be.
Abstract 5066: Substance P Mediated Adventitial Mast Cell Activation Induces Intraplaque Hemorrhage in Advanced Atherosclerosis
Authors: Ilze Bot, Saskia C de Jager, Martine Bot, Sandra H van Heiningen, Theo J van Berkel, Jan H von der Thüsen, Erik A Biessen
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Previously, we and others have shown that mast cells, present in intima and adventitia of advanced atherosclerotic lesions, play an important role in plaque progression and destabilization. However, the nature of the endogenous trigger for activation of these (peri)vascular cells during atherosclerosis is still unresolved. In this study, we show that perivascular mast cell content as demonstrated by CD117 staining correlates with the number of neurofilament + nerve fibers in the adventitia of human coronary atherosclerotic plaque specimens (P&lt;0.05, r=0.42), suggestive of neural regulation of mast cell activation. Our attention turned to the neuropeptide substance P (SP) as mediator of mast cell activation via the neurokinin-1 receptor. Local perivascular administration of SP (0.1 nmol in 25% (w/v) F-127 pluronic gel) to advanced carotid artery plaques in apoE −/− mice did not affect plaque size at 3 days after challenge (SP: 67±14*10 3 μ m 2 versus controls: 51±10*10 3 μ m 2 , P=NS), however the number of adventitial mast cells was significantly enhanced in SP treated mice compared to PBS controls (4.9±0.8 versus 2.2±0.5 mast cells/mm 2 adventitial tissue, P&lt;0.01). Also, mast cell activation status was increased in the SP challenged group (56±9% compared to 29±9% in controls, P&lt;0.05). This was accompanied by a significant increase in the incidence of intraplaque hemorrhages (IPHs) in SP treated mice (5/12 compared to 0/15 in controls, P=0.01). SP mediated mast cell recruitment was inhibited by co-administration of the neurokinin-1 receptor antagonist Spantide-I (2.6±0.4 mast cells/mm 2 adventitial tissue, P&lt;0.01), while in these mice hardly any IPHs occurred (1/16, P=0.06). Furthermore, SP was not effective in inducing IPHs in advanced carotid artery plaques of mast cell deficient apoE −/− Kit(W −sh /W −sh ) mice (1/18, P&lt;0.05), establishing the critical involvement of mast cells in SP elicited plaque destabilization. In conclusion, our data suggest that neurotransmitters such as SP are capable of promoting mast cell dependent plaque destabilization and our study thus provides a new, direct link between neural factors and vascular inflammation involving mast cells, which may be particularly relevant in acute cardiovascular syndromes.
Strontium-89 combined with gemcitabine in hormonal-resistant prostate cancer: Results of a phase I-II study
Authors: N. Maimon, D. Keizman, I. Stephansky, M. Levita, A. Vexler, M. J. Inbar, R. Ben Yoseph
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008)

16133 Background: Strontium-89 (Sr-89) is a radionuclide particle that precipitates in bone, and has a role in the control of pain in prostate cancer patients. Several studies reported on additional beneficial effects in combination with chemotherapy. There is little information regarding the combined treatment of Sr-89 and Gemcitabine in prostate cancer. The aim of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of Sr-89 given in combination with Gemcitabine in patients with hormonal-resistant prostate cancer with painful bony metastases. Methods: All patients with hormonal-resistant prostate cancer were eligible to this study.Gemcitabine was given at a loading dose of 1000 mg/m2 on day 1, and 100 (dose level 1) or 200 (dose level 2) mg/m2 on day 29 and once weekly for 7 weeks. A single dose of strontium-89 (4mCi) was administered on Day 8. Results: 9 patients were registered. 5 patients were treated at Dose Level 1, without dose-limiting toxicity. Pain relief was achieved in 60% (3/5). Decrease of PSA >50% was observed in 40% (2/5). 4 patients were treated at Dose Level 2. Pain relief was achieved in 75% (3/4). Decrease of PSA >50% was observed in 25% (1/4). Side effects were drug eruption in one patient and non specific chest pain. Conclusions: The combination of Sr-89 and Gemcitabine was relatively well tolerated at the doses of 4 mCi and 100 or 200 mg/m2 respectively and was associated with pain relief and a decrease of PSA. Further studies investigating this regimen are warranted. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Abstract 17128: Subacute Treatment With Rapamycin Reverses Cardiac Aging by Proteome Remodeling and Improved Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism
Authors: Ying Ann Chiao, Dao-Fu Dai, Pabalu Karunadharma, Nathan Basisty, Haiwei Gu, Simon C Johnson, Danijel Djukovic, Daniel Raftery, Michael MacCoss, Peter S Rabinovitch
Journal: Circulation (2013)

Caloric restriction of mice is known to attenuate age-related impairment in diastolic function. Rapamycin, a caloric restriction mimetic, is protective in models of cardiac hypertrophy and heart fa...
Abstract 14880: Mortality, Appropriate and Inappropriate Shock in Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators for Primary Prevention: A Nationwide Cohort Study
Authors: Peter Weeke, Jens B Johansen, Ole D Jørgensen, Jens C Nielsen, Mogens Møller, Regitze Videbæk, Michael V Højgaard, Sam Riahi, Peter K Jacobsen
Journal: Circulation (2012)

Objective: To evaluate mortality and the incidence of appropriate- and inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks as well as the associated risk factors in ICD patients with ...
Abstract 1066: Ultrasound-targeted Plasmid Delivery of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Angiopoietin-1: Combination Gene Therapy for Therapeutic Angiogenesis
Authors: Alexandra H Smith, Michael A Kuliszewski, Hiroko Fujii, Duncan J Stewart, Jonathan R Lindner, Howard Leong-Poi
Journal: Circulation (2008)

We have previously shown that ultrasound-mediated (UM) delivery of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plasmid-bearing microbubbles promotes therapeutic angiogenesis. While VEGF is important during the initiation of angiogenesis, it results in primarily immature vessels, which are prone to late regression. Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 is a potent growth factor that acts to stabilize the neovasculature, later in the angiogenic process. We hypothesized that temporal delivery of VEGF and Ang-1 plasmid DNA would result in a more sustained angiogenic response, as compared to VEGF alone, in the setting of severe chronic ischemia. Methods : Unilateral hindlimb ischemia was produced by iliac artery ligation in 30 rats. At day 14 post-ligation, microvascular blood velocity (β) and flow (MBF) in the proximal hindlimb muscles were assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEU). UM-delivery of plasmid (500 μg cDNA)-bearing microbubbles (1×109), was then performed at pre-specified time points, with treatment groups including VEGF alone at day 14; VEGF at day 14 followed by Ang-1 at day 28; and control rats receiving no therapy (n=10 per group). β and MBF were re-assessed at day 28 and 8 wks post-ligation. Results : Relative MBF (normalized to the contralateral normal leg) remained reduced at all time points after ligation in the control group. In VEGF-alone treated animals, MBF in the ischemic leg increased 2 wks after delivery (0.48 ± 0.19 to 0.82 ± 0.23, p &lt; 0.001), but regressed over the next 4 wks (0.61 ± 0.14 at 8 wk, NS vs. 2 wks). In the VEGF/Ang-1 treated animals, MBF in the ischemic leg also increased 2 weeks after VEGF delivery (0.39 ± 0.19 to 0.69 ± 0.28, p &lt; 0.01); however, vascular regression was prevented by late Ang1 delivery (0.83 ± 0.20 at 8 wks, p &lt; 0.005 vs. 2 wks and p&lt;0.01 vs VEGF alone at 8 wks). At week 8, relative β values were greater in VEGF/Ang-1 treated compared to VEGF-alone treated animals (0.87 ± 0.33 to 0.60 ± 0.23, p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions : Compared to delivery of VEGF alone, delivery of Ang-1 plasmid DNA at 2 wks post-VEGF gene delivery results in sustained improvement in MBF, with prevention of late vascular regression. The greater microvascular blood velocity in VEGF/Ang-1 treated muscle may signify improved vascular functionality with late Ang-1 therapy.
The limits to demand for health care Commentary: An open debate is not an admission of failure
Authors: S. Frankel, S. Ebrahim, G. Davey Smith, B. New
Journal: BMJ (2000)

# The limits to demand for health care {#article-title-2}

There are a number of historical, political, and economic explanations for the tradition of underinvestment in the NHS, but one insidious disincentive will provide a continuing brake on expansion. This is the expectation that in a publicly funded healthcare system any increase in expenditure will be followed only by further failure, although at an increased cost. Further, the imbalance between demand and supply is assumed to be deteriorating as the population ages, new technologies appear, and expectations rise.1 This orthodoxy has become so pronounced that questioning the linkage between particular aspects of failure in healthcare delivery and an overarching mismatch between supply and demand can be dismissed as an idealistic act of denial.

These problems are most commonly discussed in the idiom of rationing. In rationing the concern is to curtail access to health care through measures that may be, according to the perspective of the commentator, most likely to enhance effectiveness; be efficient, equitable, ethical, or beneficial to the independent sector; or be politically feasible. The rationing debate came to the fore during a period of recession, so that “choices” in health care involved choosing to offer less. The conventional, but implausible, insistence that the term rationing has a neutral meaning will be tested in the welcome new circumstance in which healthcare expenditure in the United Kingdom is set to expand substantially. But what are the grounds for the view that legitimate demand in most areas of provision must exceed realisable supply?

#### Summary points

The rationing debate has been conducted almost exclusively through assertion and political analysis

Conventional assumptions of an imbalance between demand and supply are not supported by evidence

Pessimism about adverse future trends in demand arising from an ageing population, the costs of innovation, and rising public expectations are similarly unsupported by good evidence

Many perceived deficiencies …
Abstract 13863: Left Ventricular Dyssynchrony during Lower Leg Positive Pressure Assessed by Real-time 3-dimensional Echocardiography
Authors: Kenya Kusunose, Hirotsugu Yamada, Susumu Nishio, Noriko Tomita, Shuji Hayashi, Sachiko Bando, Sahika Hisaoka, Toshiyuki Niki, Koji Yamaguchi, Yoshio Taketani, Takashi Iwase, Takeshi Soeki, Tetsuzo Wakatsuki, Masashi Akaike, Masataka Sata
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Introduction: Dyssynchronous myocardial contraction influences left ventricular (LV) function and is associated with a poor prognosis in heart failure. However, it is not elucidated whether loading condition influences LV dyssynchrony. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the dyssynchrony in dilated hearts is depend on preload and the dependency may affect the response of cardiac output during preload augmentation. Methods: A total of 16 dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) patients (63±6 years old) and 20 age matched healthy control patients (68±6 years old) underwent echocardiography. Real-time 3 dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) was performed during 90 mmHg of leg positive pressure (LPP). The regional volume time curves were derived for 16 segments of the LV from 3D data set. The standard deviation of the time to the regional LV minimum systolic volume (Tmsv) for all 16 segments (Tmsv 16-SD) was assessed as an asynchrony index. This parameter was expressed as a percentage of the RR interval. LV end-diastolic an...
Abstract 16600: Prognostic Value of Peak Exercise Oxygen Consumption and Bnp Levels in Ambulatory Patients With Advanced Heart Failure Undergoing Evaluation for Heart Transplantation
Authors: Tomoko S Kato, Elias Collado, Tuba Khawaja, Meaghan Jones, Paula Williams, Donna Mancini, P. Christian Schulze
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background. Peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2max) is widely used to select candidates for heart transplantation (HTx). The use of beta-blockers has shifted the prognostic impact of VO2max and t...