tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Job exposure matrix development for SOC 2000 occupational codes
Authors: David Fishwick, Om Kurmi, Helen Chambers, Lesley Rushton, Paul Cullinan, Jon Ayres, Steve Sadhra
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction: Workplace exposures cause a significant proportion of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Population based studies can improve the understanding of this causal relationship, but are limited in their use by difficulties in accurately defining relevant inhaled workplace exposures.  Methods: A SOC 2000 job exposure matrix (JEM) was developed. For each of the 359 four digit codes, the likelihood of exposures to gases, vapours, fumes, fibres, dusts, mists and allergens (GVFFDMA) was assigned as either exposed or unexposed. Four expert raters independently rated exposures and gained consensus over four rounds of exposure classification.  Results: 194 (54%) of the SOC codes were assigned as exposed to at least one of the pre-defined categories (GVFFDMA), and 165 codes (46% of the total) were assigned as not exposed. Sixty five codes (18.1%) were assigned as exposed to gases, 83 (23.1%) to vapours, 98 (27.3%) to fumes, 29 (8.1%) to fibres, 153 (42.6%) to dusts and 61 (17.0%) to mists. 102 (28.4%) were assigned as exposed to an agent thought to cause asthma. Combinations of exposures within a code were common; for example, 10% of codes were assigned a single exposure category, whilst 13.9% were assigned two, and 11.7% assigned three.  Discussion; A JEM for use with SOC 2000 codes has been developed, using a set of a priori defined rules. This will assist attribution of possible harmful workplace exposures in future population-based studies where SOC codes are known. Given that exposure was attributed irrespective of its likelihood to cause COPD, this JEM could also be applied to studies to assess risks of other respiratory diseases, including asthma. Further validation work is in progress.
Autologous bone marrow transplantation for patients with poor-prognosis lymphoma.
Authors: S C Gulati, B Shank, P Black, J Yopp, B Koziner, D Straus, D Filippa, S Kempin, H Castro-Malaspina, I Cunningham
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1988)

Review of prognostic factors at Memorial Hospital in New York City has shown that adult patients with large-cell lymphoma (diffuse histiocytic lymphoma by Rappaport classification) who have high lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and/or bulky mediastinal or abdominal disease are destined to do poorly with conventional combination chemotherapy, with a 2-year disease-free survival of about 20%. Patients who relapse after conventional combination chemotherapy have a similar poor prognosis. Thirty-one such patients with lymphoma were studied to evaluate the efficacy of intensive radiotherapy (hyperfractionated total body irradiation [TBI] [1,320 rad]), and cyclophosphamide (60 mg/kg/d for two days) followed by autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT). Our results show a disease-free survival advantage (P = .002) for 14 patients who underwent ABMT immediately after induction of remission with 79% surviving at a median follow-up 49.2+ months, compared with a median survival of 5.2 months for 17 patients administered ABMT while in relapse and/or after failing conventional treatment. Our results support the use of aggressive therapy as early treatment for patients with poor prognostic features.
Response to Comment on Castellaneta et al. High Rate of Spontaneous Normalization of Celiac Serology in a Cohort of 446 Children With Type 1 Diabetes: A Prospective Study. Diabetes Care 2015;38:760–766
Authors: Stefania Castellaneta, Ruggiero Francavilla
Journal: Diabetes Care (2015)

We read with interest the comment by Maltoni et al. (1) concerning the possibility that, differently from what we have recently reported (2), in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) anti-endomysial antibodies (EmAs) might take several years to become negative despite an unrestricted diet and that this behavior might also extend to the tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGAs). Although they raise an interesting hypothesis, we believe that some considerations are needed.

First, the overall setting described in the article by Salardi et al. (3) is not comparable with ours (2) because of the different epoch of …
Phase Ii Study Evaluating Imatinib to Induce Progression Arrest in Recist Progressive Desmoid Tumors not Amenable to Surgical Resection with R0 Intent or Accompanied By Unacceptable Function Loss - a Study of the German Interdisciplinary Sarcoma Group (Gisg)
Authors: B. Kasper, V. Grünwald, P. Reichardt, S. Bauer, G. Rauch, M. Sommer, P. Hohenberger
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)
Clinicopathological features of the pulmonary aspergillosis with chronic interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Masahiro Shimada, Akira Hebisawa, Junko Suzuki, Hirotoshi Matsui, Atsuhisa Tamura, Takeshi Fukami, Ken Ohta
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background: The number of patients with pulmonary aspergillosis occurring with interstitial pneumonia (IP) is increasing. In addition to the difficulty in diagnosis of asperigillosis in the destructed lung by IP, aspergillosis might complicate management of chronic interstitial pneumonia when considering immunosuppressive therapy.

Object: To elucidate clinicopathological characteristics of pulmonary aspergillosis in the lung with chronic interstitial pneumonia and of IP infected with Aspergillus .

Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed by pathology as pulmonary aspergillosis infected in the IP lung between April 1, 1990 and March 31, 2013 was included in this study. We retrospectively reviewed medical records for clinical and radiological findings as well as pathological findings.

Results: Registered cases consisted of 4 surgical resection and 14 autopsies with 13 males and 5 females. Positive aspergillus antigen was detected in 7/14, and positive aspergillus antibody in 7/17. All of the isolated fungi were Aspergillus fumigatus. Chronic interstitial pneumonia was 9 idiopathic and 9 secondary cases. Histological findings revealed 13 UIP, 1 fNSIP and 4 unclassified cases. Steroid therapy was administered in12/18 and immunosuppressant in 6/18. Although 17 cases were consistent with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, 1 case was consistent with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

Conclusion: During follow-up of chronic interstitial pneumonia, especially UIP pattern, possibility of Aspergillus infection must be considered. In addition to the radiological findings, antigen and antibody measurement together with sputum culture might be helpful to confirm the diagnosis.
Article
Authors: Susan Loppert, Rosalia Lelchuk Staricoff, James Scott
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2001)

Arguing solely from an opinion-based evaluation of the Exeter Health Care Arts Project, Professor Michael Baum concludes that ‘the notion of evidence-based art is as absurd as an Impressionist school of science’.

It is not evidence-based art but evidence of the responses to art which we at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital Arts are seeking to establish. To that effect, two years ago we set up a research project—A Study of the Effects of the Visual and Performing Arts in Healthcare—conducted by RLS, winner of one of the Wellcome Trust's first SciArt awards for her project Fast Blue, Slow Red: the Brain's Construction of Colour and with 25 years' experience in medical research. With backing from our hospital's research committee, we formulated a protocol to conduct a study including physiological and biological responses in the presence or absence of works of art or live music with controlled trials. After the first year the King's Fund, impressed by the importance of the research—the first such scientific evaluation of the arts in healthcare as opposed to the reams of anecdotal evidence of which the Exeter evaluation is an example—has funded the rest of the three-year study, which, it is hoped, will conclude in June 2002, with the findings published thereafter by the King's Fund.
Giving all pregnant women iodine supplements could save costs of cognitive impairment, study finds:
Authors: Susan Mayor
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Giving all women iodine supplements during pregnancy, even in countries such as the United Kingdom where iodine deficiency is only mild, could result in huge cost savings for health services by reducing preventable cognitive impairment in offspring, a modelling study has shown.

The study, published in the Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology ,1 used data from a systematic review together with expert opinion to model the cost effectiveness of iodine supplementation in pregnant women in the UK.

Iodine deficiency in pregnancy is associated with impaired …
A memorable patient: A happy coincidence
Authors: R. Grainger
Journal: BMJ (1999)

In the mid-1960s I worked on St Helena. At that time mail came at regular but infrequent intervals on the Union Castle Line ships, which than had the mail contract between the United Kingdom and South Africa. The BMJ arrived at about six weekly intervals so it took some time to catch up on reading the current journals. Early in 1967a bundle of journals arrived which included a 1966 issue in which …
Many herbal products sold as food supplements don’t contain key ingredients
Authors: Saleyha Ahsan
Journal: BMJ (2015)

A BBC investigation has found that some herbal remedies sold as food supplements do not contain the main ingredient as marketed.

The BBC Two television series Trust Me, I’m a Doctor , working with University College London School of Pharmacy, tested more than 70 commonly used herbal remedies. The findings feature in a programme broadcast on the channel on Wednesday 15 July at 8 pm.

As a nation the United Kingdom spends £118m (€165m; $185m) on …
Actions of adrenergic and cholinergic drugs on renal tubular cells.
Authors: L C Garg
Journal: Pharmacological Reviews (1992)

There is convincing evidence to suggest that there are direct effects of adrenergic agents on renal tubules. During the last several years, considerable progress has been made in determining the type of adrenoceptors present in renal tubular cells through the use of radioligand binding and signal transduction methods. The receptor data are summarized in table 6. Almost all major nephron segments seem to have alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. However, there are few data describing the subtypes of alpha 1- or alpha 2-adrenoceptors in these segments. beta-Adrenoceptors are present in the CNT and collecting ducts of almost all species and in the thick ascending limbs of rats and mice. Adrenergic mediated signal transduction has been examined in some nephron segments, but virtually nothing is known about the relationship between the generation of adrenoceptor-mediated second messengers and changes in phosphorylation/activity of transport proteins (ion channels, ion pumps) in different types of renal tubular cells. There is general agreement that gluconeogenesis in the PCT is mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors through the PI and Ca2+ messenger system. Evidence also indicates that the increase in Na+ transport associated with renal nerve stimulation or adrenergic agonists in the PCT or the loop of Henle is mediated by alpha 1-adrenoceptors. Adrenergic agents modulate the effect of other hormones, such as PTH and vasopressin, on renal tubule transport by a decrease in cAMP, and this effect is mediated by alpha 2-adrenoceptors. There may be some interaction between the two alpha subtype-mediated effects in some nephron segments. beta-Adrenergic agonists stimulate cAMP formation in the PST, thick ascending limb (rat and mouse), CNT, and collecting duct segments. The physiological role of the beta-adrenoceptors in the PST is not known. beta-Adrenergic agonists stimulate sodium reabsorption by activation of the basolateral Cl- channel in the thick ascending limbs of rat and mice. The activation of beta-adrenoceptors in the CNT and CCD increases Cl- reabsorption and HCO3- secretion by stimulation of Cl/HCO3 exchange in the apical membrane of type B intercalated cell. The antikaliuretic effect of beta-adrenergic agonists is probably due to the stimulation of K+ reabsorption in type A intercalated cells in the CCD and OMCD. In the case of cholinergic drugs, the data in the literature are consistent with a model in which cholinergic agents increase papillary blood flow, resulting in the washout of the hypertonic medullary interstitium. This leads to a decrease in water abstraction out of the descending limb of Henle's loop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Role of Lymph Node Dissection in Primary Surgery for Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Elizabeth G. Grubbs, Douglas B. Evans
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2007)

The preoperative evaluation of the clinically N0 neck and the operative management of cervical lymph nodes in patients with papillary and medullary thyroid cancer remains controversial. The appreciation that even patients with low-risk disease have a significant risk for recurrence has generated interest in a more comprehensive preoperative evaluation of the neck and has renewed debate on the extent of lymphadenectomy at the time of thyroidectomy. The authors recommend using preoperative ultrasound before thyroidectomy for all patients with thyroid cancer and before any subsequent surgeries for recurrent disease to identify the extent of lymph node metastases and thereby facilitate complete surgical removal of all gross disease in the neck. The optimal surgical procedure for removing cervical lymphadenopathy is compartment-oriented neck dissection based on the findings from preoperative ultrasound.
Prevalence of hiatus hernia in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and associations with disease severity
Authors: Melissa McDonnell, Mohammed Ahmed, Deidre Wall, John Bruzzi, Michael O'Mahoney, David Breen, Anthony O'Regan, J.J. Gilmartin, Robert Rutherford
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: An increased prevalence of hiatus hernia (HH) has been reported in several respiratory diseases. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HH by computed tomography (CT) among a well-defined cohort of stable non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis patients and determine correlations between HH and disease severity.  Methods: A retrospective observational cohort study in consecutive bronchiectasis patients who had undergone investigation in our institution over an 18-month period was performed. Data was collected on baseline variables, microbiology, lung function and radiology. Imaging was independently assessed by a blinded thoracic radiologist to determine presence of HH and extent of bronchiectatic disease.  Results: 81 patients were found to have confirmed bronchiectasis on high resolution (HRCT) imaging. 29 (35.8%) were confirmed to have HH on CT (mean age 64.4 years, 72.4% females, body mass index 29.4). Of the remaining 57 patients, mean age was 61.6 years, 65.4% females, BMI 26.1. A higher proportion of HH-positive patients had high BMI (p=0.05). HH-positive patients were found to have an increased frequency of cystic bronchiectasis (HH-positive 31.0%, HH-negative 11.5%, p=0.03) and an increased number of bronchiectatic lobes affected (2.62 versus 2.17, p=0.033) compared with HH-negative patients. There was no predilection for any particular lobe. A trend in reduced FEV1% in HH-positive patients was noted (78.6% versus 90.3%, p=0.091) A lower frequency of Haemophilus influenza was observed in HH-positive patients (p=0.089).  Conclusions: In this cohort, HH correlated with increased extent and severity of radiological disease with a trend towards reduced lung function.
Recurrence Patterns of Hepatocellular and Fibrolamellar Carcinoma After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Hans J. Schlitt, Michael Neipp, Arved Weimann, Karl J. Oldhafer, Ekkehard Schmoll, Klaus Boeker, Björn Nashan, Stefan Kubicka, Hansjörg Maschek, Günter Tusch, Rudolf Raab, Burckhardt Ringe, Michael P. Manns, Rudolf Pichlmayr
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

Tumor recurrence is the major limitation of long-term survival after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC). Understanding tumor-biologic characteristics is important for selection of patients and for development of adjuvant therapeutic strategies.The study included 69 patients who underwent potentially curative liver transplantation for HCC/FLC and survived for more than 150 days; minimum follow-up was 33 months. Frequency, localization, and timing of recurrence were analyzed and compared with primary tumor and patient characteristics.Tumor recurrence was observed in 39 patients at 67 locations. Hematogenous spread was the major route of tumor recurrence (87%), and the most frequent sites were the liver (62%), lung (56%), and bone (18%). Parameters associated with recurrence were absence of cirrhosis, tumor size greater than 5 cm, more than five nodules, vascular infiltration, and International Union Against Cancer (UICC) stage IVA. Selective intrahepatic recurrence was found in nine patients (23%); it was associated with highly differentiated tumors, lack of vascular infiltration, and male sex. Recurrence at multiple sites was found predominantly in young patients (< or = 40 years) and for multicentric (> 5) primary tumors. Recurrences were observed within a wide time range after transplantation (43 to 3,204 days; median, 441 days); late recurrences (> 1,000 days, n = 8) were associated with highly differentiated or fibrolamellar tumors and low UICC stages. Surgical treatment was the only therapeutic option associated with prolonged survival after recurrence.In transplant recipients, hepatocellular carcinomas vary considerably in their pattern and kinetics of metastases. Tumor cells may persist in a dormant state for long time periods before giving rise to clinical metastases. Surgical treatment of recurrence should be considered whenever possible.
Abstract 9689: Nitinol Stents Implantation Improves Clinical Outcome After Endovascular Therapy in Hemodialysis Patients with Superficial Femoral Artery Lesions
Authors: Yoshihiro Kawamura, Hideki Ishii, Kouhei Yoneda, Kazuhiro Kawashima, Daisuke Kamoi, Takashi Sakakibara, Kyuuichi Furuhashi, Toru Aoyama, Yoshitaka Kumada, Hiroshi Takahashi, Miho Tanaka, Toyoaki Murohara
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: Although endovascular therapy (EVT) has become widely performed for peripheral artery disease, high restenosis rate remains major problem after EVT to lesion of superficial femoral artery (SFA). Recently, it has been reported that nitinol stent implantation reduced restenosis in SFA after EVT in general population, however, the clinical outcome is little known in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate whether nitinol stent implantation improves clinical outcome after EVT to SFA lesions in HD patients. Methods: A total of 173 consecutive patients underwent nitinol stents implantation (NS group) were compared with 75 patients received stainless steel stents implantation in the preceding 5 years (SS group). We analyzed incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) including target lesion revascurlarization (TLR), major amputation and death. To minimize the differences in both groups, a propensity-matched analysis using logistic model including male, age, traditional risk factors, critical limb ischemia (CLI) and TASC C+D lesions was performed. Each patients implanted with stainless steel stents were matched with up to two patients implanted with nitinol stents with two-digit propensity score (AUC = 0.63 using ROC analysis). Results: Baseline characteristics were comparable in both groups. On Kaplan-Meier analysis, 5-year freedom rate from MACE was higher in NS group than in SS group (51.8% vs. 24.4%, p&lt;0.0001). After adjustment, nitinol stent implantation was an independent predictor of reducing MACE [HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.25-0.65, p=0.0002]. After the propensity score matching, 106 patients in NS group and 66 patients in SS group were matched. Still, freedom from MACE was higher in NS group than in SS group (47.7% vs. 24.6%, p&lt;0.0001). Even after adjustment for other variables, implantation of nitinol stent predicted reduction of MACE (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.28-0.79, p=0.0045). Nitinol stent implantation was also a predictor for not only preventing TLR (HR 0.35, 95%CI 0.18-0.68, p=0.0020) but also limb salvage (HR 0.26, 95%CI 0.07-0.96, p=0.043). Conclusion: Nitinol stent implantation improved clinical outcome after EVT compared to stainless steel stents in HD patients with SFA lesions.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Long-Term Outcomes After Septal Reduction Therapy in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Max Liebregts, Pieter A. Vriesendorp, Bakhtawar K. Mahmoodi, Arend F.L. Schinkel, Michelle Michels, Jurriën M. ten Berg
Journal: JACC Heart Failure (2015)
Abstract 1068: Genetic Evidence for a Central Role of cGMP-Dependent Protein Kinase I Alpha in Regulating Cardiac Hypertrophy <i>In Vivo</i>
Authors: Robert M Blanton, Mark Aronovitz, Alexandra Dabreo, Richard H Karas, Michael E Mendelsohn
Journal: Circulation (2007)

The nitric oxide-cGMP-dependent protein kinase pathway is a central regulator of cardiovascular physiology. Protein Kinase G I (PKGI), a principle mediator of this pathway, has been implicated as a negative regulator of cardiac hypertrophy, but the specific mechanisms involved are unknown. To test the hypothesis that PKGIα regulates cardiac hypertrophy, we characterized the cardiac phenotype of mice homozygous for a mutant form of PKGIα in which critical amino acids in the N-terminal leucine zipper (LZ) motif have been substituted to disrupt PKGIα LZ binding to specific downstream effector proteins. In the unstressed state, male PKG Iα leucine zipper mutant ( LZM) mice develop progressive LV hypertrophy compared with wild type (WT) littermates with LV mass/tibia length 12.3% greater at 30 weeks of age (p=0.05), and 27% greater at 60 weeks (p=0.001). Compared with WT littermates, the hearts of 30 week old PKGIα mutants are hypercontractile with decreased end systolic diameter (p=0.02) and increased fractional shortening on echocardiography (p=0.03). Invasive hemodynamics demonstrate that LZM mice also have increased LV systolic pressure (p=0.04), developed pressure (p=0.05), and LV dP/dt max (p=0.13). To evaluate the response to hemodynamic stress, cardiac hypertrophy was induced by transaortic constriction (TAC) in male WT and LZM mice. TAC resulted in early mortality in the LZM mice (60%) compared to the WT (19%) mice at 21 days post procedure (p=0.008), with evidence of accelerated LV hypertrophy in the mice that died early (LV mass/tibia length 9.8 mg/mm in the early LZM deaths vs 7.2 mg/mm in WT survivors, p&lt;0.001). Additionally, the LZM early deaths had evidence of congestive heart failure with increased RV mass (RV mass/ tibia length 1.8 mg/mm in LZM early deaths vs 1.2 mg/mm in WT survivors, p&lt;0.05), and increased lung mass (23.1 mg/mm LZM early deaths vs 12.5 mg/mm in WT survivors, p&lt;0.005). These findings support that the N-terminal LZ domain of PKGIα is required for suppression of cardiac hypertrophy. The early mortality following TAC in the LZM mice also suggests a critical role for PKGIα in attenuating pathologic cardiac remodeling, identifying PKGIα as an attractive candidate drug target for prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and failure.