tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Congenital Laryngeal Stridor
Authors: W A MORTON, F R JOHNSTONE
Journal: BMJ (1965)

MEDIBLJORNA 1393 Sweden,'" Finland," and Japan.'2Moreover, a decrease in the frequency of calculi commonly associated with infection by organisms that split urea has been noted in Finland'" and Boston'4 and has been attributed to the use of antibiotics.Uric-acid stones appear to be on the increase in Texas,'5 Sweden, and Denmark,'6 but the opposite trend has been seen in Finland."IRemarkably little is known about the geographical distri- bution of stone in the urinary tract in the British Isles to-day.There are several reasons for this.It is largely a disease of young adults, and though the recurrence rate is high'7 the disease is frequently self-limiting and mortality statistics do not therefore reflect the actual morbidity.A short paper by G. S. Anderson'8 from Stornoway is one of the few recent attempts to establish the true incidence of urinary-tract calculus in a closed community.His main finding is that the annual hospital-admission rate for stone in the outer Hebrides was 69 patients per 100,000 population in the years 1957 to 1961.In the absence of figures from other parts of Britain, this report can be compared only with the available reports in Europe and the U.S.A.The highest incidence reported so far appears to be 193 per 100,000 in South Carolina,'" and the lowest 19 per 100,000 in Sweden.'0Thus Anderson's
Agreement of severity stages and exacerbations building the new COPD risk groups
Authors: Selina Dürr, Stefanie Zogg, Sabrina Maier, Esther Helen Steveling, David Miedinger, Jörg Daniel Leuppi
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: The guidelines of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease proposed a new classification of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients into risk groups A to D, which allows a better reflection of the complexity of COPD.  Aims: Our aim was to investigate the agreement of spirometer-based severity classification and number of exacerbations, when classifying patients into risk groups A to D. We hypothesized that classification either by severity stages or number of exacerbations yield similar risk group classifications.  Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the University Hospital Basel, Switzerland. 87 patients with stable COPD were investigated and classified into risk groups A to D. Severity stages were determined using spirometry, whereas number of exacerbations in the last 12 months was assessed by asking the patients. Moreover, the COPD assessment test (CAT) was completed by every patient. To test the interrater agreement, Cohen’s Kappa was calculated.  Results: By using severity stages, there were 29 (33%) patients in risk group A, 40 (46%) in B, 1 (1%) in C and 17 (20%) in D. When using number of exacerbations, there were 30 (35%) patients in risk group A, 48 (55%) in B, 0 (0%) in C and 9 (10%) in D. The interrater agreement between severity stages and number of exacerbations was kappa=0.31, indicating only a slight agreement. Moreover, the correlation between forced expiratory volume in 1 second in % of predicted and number of exacerbations was weak (r=-0.33, p=0.003).  Conclusions: When classifying COPD patients into risk groups A to D, the use of objectively measured severity stages might be more accurate than using number of exacerbations.
Abstract 3264: Remarkable Differences in calculating the Cardiovascular Risk according the Framingham-, Procam- and ESC Risk-Scores. First Results of the DETECT Study
Authors: Sigmund Silber, Barbara M Richartz, Frauke Jarre, David Pittrow, Jens Klotsche, Lars Pieper, Wilhelm Kirch, Hans-Ulrich Wittchen
Journal: Circulation (2008)

The identification of high-risk patients is of utmost importance for an intensive and effective primary prevention program. Currently, three different scores are used to identify high-risk patients: In the USA, the Framingham risk score, in Germany the Procam risk score and in Europe the European Society of Cardiology ESC) recommended ESC risk score. There is, however, little knowledge how these three risk scores compare to each other in the same population. Therefore we calculated the individual risk of 7519 pats with no known cardiovascular disease according to these three scoring systems. In the DETECT study, 55 518 patients in 3188 primary care offices were enrolled. A representative subgroup of 7,519 randomly chosen patients participated in a cohort sub-study. According to the Framingham-Procam- and ESC-Score, the individual 10-year-risk was determined and patients were _ategorized into groups of high, medium or low risk. The mean 10-year cardiovascular risk is estimated by the PROCAM score at 4.4%, with the ESC score at 8.8% and with the Framingham-Score at 11.5%. The number of patients assigned to a group differs most for the high risk group (please see table ). Unexpectedly, major discrepancies were observed in the same pats, if the Framingham, Procam- or ESC score was used, especially in the identification of high-risk pats. Follow-up will show, which of these risk scores will best predict the actual occurrence of cardiovascular events. Results:
Genetic susceptibility to the respiratory effects of air pollution
Authors: I A Yang, K M Fong, P V Zimmerman, S T Holgate, J W Holloway
Journal: Thorax (2008)

There is large variation between individuals in their response to air pollutants. This review summarises the existing evidence that genetic factors influence the mechanisms of lung injury caused by air pollutants. Genetic association studies have compared the adverse effects of air pollutants between subjects with specific genotypes in biologically relevant genes. In human studies of ozone exposure, polymorphisms in oxidative stress genes (NQO1, GSTM1, GSTP1) modify respiratory symptoms, lung function, biomarkers and risk of asthma. Inflammatory gene polymorphisms (TNF) influence the lung function response to ozone, and the effect of different levels of ozone on the development of asthma. Polymorphisms in oxidative stress genes (GSTM1, GSTP1) alter the response to combined exposure to ragweed pollen and diesel exhaust particles. Importantly, polymorphisms in an oxidative stress gene (GSTM1) have predicted patients with asthma who benefit from antioxidant supplementation in Mexico City, which has chronically high ozone exposure. Genetic linkage studies of families have not been feasible for studying the effects of air pollution in humans, but some progress has been made with pedigrees of specially bred mice, in identifying chromosomal regions linked to effects of ozone or particles. A high priority now, in addition to avoiding exposure in the most susceptible people, is to clearly identify the most effective and safe chemopreventive agents for individuals who are genetically susceptible to the adverse effects of air pollution (eg, antioxidants to be taken during high ozone levels).
Enhanced influenza surveillance on Réunion Island (southern hemisphere) in the context of the emergence of influenza A(H1N1)v
Authors: E D’Ortenzio, C Do, P Renault, F Weber, L Filleul
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2009)

With the winter season on the southern hemisphere that starts in Réunion Island in June seasonal influenza activity usually increases shortly afterwards. The new influenza A(H1N1)v virus is rapidly spreading worldwide and may reach the island during the coming winter season. We have therefore enhanced influenza surveillance to detect the introduction of influenza A(H1N1)v, monitor its spread and impact on public health and characterise potential viral changes, particularly if seasonal influenza A(H1N1), resistant to oseltamivir, co-circulates with A(H1N1)v.
Cause‐specific long‐term mortality rates in patients recovered from community‐acquired pneumonia as compared with the general Dutch population
Authors: A.H.W. Bruns, J.J. Oosterheert, M.C. Cucciolillo, R. El Moussaoui, R.H.H. Groenwold, J.M. Prins, A.I.M. Hoepelman
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2010)
Proneness of TLR5 deficient mice to develop colitis is microbiota dependent
Authors: Vishal Singh, Beng San Yeoh, Frederic Carvalho, Andrew T Gewirtz, Matam Vijay-Kumar
Journal: Gut Microbes (2015)

Alterations in the gut microbiota have been implicated to play a role in potentiating inflammatory bowel diseases in both humans and mice. Mice lacking the flagellin receptor, toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5), are prone to develop spontaneous gut inflammation, but are significantly protected when treated with antibiotics or maintained in germ-free conditions. However, given that the incidence of spontaneous inflammation in TLR5KO mice is quite variable in conventional conditions (typically ∼10% show clear colitis), this result is far from definitive and does not rule out that TLR5KO mice might be prone to develop inflammation even in the absence of a microbiota. Herein, we demonstrate that neutralization of IL10 signaling induces colitis in 100% of TLR5KO mice which provide a more rigorous approach to evaluate the role of microbiota in gut inflammation. Mice treated with antibiotics or maintained in germ-free condition are substantially protected against IL-10R neutralization-induced colitis, underscoring that gut inflammation in TLR5KO mice is dependent upon the presence of a gut microbiota.
Changes in prescriped inhaled COPD medication during a 3 year period in Denmark. A registry study
Authors: Jens Dollerup, Charlotte Suppli Ulrik, Torben Brunse Højmark, Kim Rose Olsen, Peter Vedsted
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) represents a major – and increasing – health problem in the world. In Denmark, COPD is the fourth most frequent cause of death with approximately 3,200 deaths per year. The general practitioners (GP) are often the first healthcare contact for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and initiate the treatment.  Aims: To access the changes and pattern in prescribed inhaled medication prescriped to COPD patients in primary care in Denmark in the period from 2008 to 2010.  Methods: As a follow up to the study by (Ulrik C.S.  et al .  Prim Care Respir J  2012 Oct 16. pii: pcrj-2012-07-0109.), a register study was performed in order to evaluate the changes in prescribed inhaled medication in primary care in Denmark in the period from 2008 to 2010. The nationwide Danish prescription register database was used. COPD was defined as age 40+ years and at least two prescriptions for inhaled medication.  Results: 202 GP9s representing more than 5% of Danish GP9s was included with a total of 22,841 COPD patients over the 3 year period. A total of 26,437,832 defined daily doses (DDD) were registered within the R03 segment. Almost all mono therapies were significant declining over time except for the group of long acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA) that increased with 285,900 DDD (p  Conclusion: Significant changes were registered within prescribed inhaled COPD medication during the period 2008 to 2010 in Denmark.
Benefit of pulmonary rehabilitation in candidates for lung transplantation
Authors: Martin G. Dierich, Thomas Fuehner, Tobias Welte, Gregor Warnecke, Jens Gottlieb
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  The benefit of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) before lung transplantation (LTx) is unknown. Candidates for LTx reveal drawbacks due to chronic pulmonary diseases (COPD, interstitial lung disease (ILD), cystic fibrosis (CF), pulmonary hypertension (PH), bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome post LTx (BOS), other). Hypothesis: an inpatient 3-week PR improves functional status (forced expiratory volume in 1 sec. (FEV1), vital capacity (VC), 6 min. walk distance (6-MWD), peak work load in bicycle exercise testing (PWL)), activities in daily life (ADL: Barthel9s Index) and health related quality of life (HRQOL: Short Form (SF) 36 questionnaire and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)) in candidates awaiting LTx.   Methods:  168 patients (m/f: 74/94, age 49.4±12.0 yrs.) before LTX (COPD n = 68, ILD n = 39, CF n = 27, PH n = 3, BOS n = 18, other n = 13) attended a 3 week inpatient PR. Functional status, ADL and HRQOL (SF 36, HADS) were assessed at admission and completion of PR.   Results  (mean ± SD): 6-MWD (250±118 to 284±118 m, p   0.26).   Conclusion:  A 3-week inpatient PR has a remarkable benefit in patients with end stage pulmonary disease awaiting LTx. Functional status and HRQOL improve significantly. Inpatient PR must be regarded as part of best practice management to optimize physical condition and mental health in candidates for LTx.
Phylogenetic place of guinea pigs: no support of the rodent-polyphyly hypothesis from maximum-likelihood analyses of multiple protein sequences.
Authors: Y Cao, J Adachi, T Yano, M Hasegawa
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1994)

Graur et al.'s (1991) hypothesis that the guinea pig-like rodents have an evolutionary origin within mammals that is separate from that of other rodents (the rodent-polyphyly hypothesis) was reexamined by the maximum-likelihood method for protein phylogeny, as well as by the maximum-parsimony and neighbor-joining methods. The overall evidence does not support Graur et al.'s hypothesis, which radically contradicts the traditional view of rodent monophyly. This work demonstrates that we must be careful in choosing a proper method for phylogenetic inference and that an argument based on a small data set (with respect to the length of the sequence and especially the number of species) may be unstable.
Health professionals' attitudes to MMR vaccine
Authors: J. Howell
Journal: BMJ (2001)

Editor—Petrovic et al describe some of the uncertainties of health professionals involved in giving vaccinations.1 A degree of vulnerability is evident in the decreased rates of vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) and the negative publicity in the media. We suggest a way of increasing confidence clinically by improving the supply of information.

We have been concerned for some time about the lack of an up to date version of the Department of Health's “green book,” Immunisation against Infectious Disease. These concerns are reinforced by the controversy surrounding vaccine programmes such as against measles, mumps, and rubella. The green book is a convenient form of evidence and advice covering the main vaccinations delivered through the NHS and is regarded as the Bible by many health professionals. A wide range of NHS staff is given responsibility for implementing these major public health programmes and other protective immunisations. These staff become accountable for the standard of the service provided but are currently impeded by a lack of updated, timely, and accessible information.

The green book was published in 1990, 1992, and 1996; the 1996 edition states on page 13 that its recommendations “reflect present national immunisation policy,” although clearly it is five years out of date.2 Updated information either has been sent out in loose-leaf form or is available on the internet, but these sources may not be readily available to community nurses as they carry out their immunisation clinics. Access to a copy of the book is more likely.

If the British National Formulary were published only every four years or so and prescribers had to rely on companies sending out individual updates on their products they might feel vulnerable when prescribing. Would it not be possible to publish the green book every six months with the latest advice and evidence then available to all health professionals? A similar initiative has just been funded so that professionals can have access to the BMJ's Clinical Evidence, also published every six months.

We suspect that the cost would be offset by the ability of health professionals to provide consistent and current advice. This would increase the public's confidence in the effectiveness of the immunisation programmes and probably increase compliance to achieve higher rates of vaccination. The least that can be done is to offer an improved supply of the best information available for the sake of health professionals, parents, and patients.
Nedaplatin plus docetaxel versus cisplatin plus docetaxel for advanced or relapsed squamous cell carcinoma of the lung (WJOG5208L): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial
Authors: Takehito Shukuya, Takeharu Yamanaka, Takashi Seto, Haruko Daga, Koichi Goto, Hideo Saka, Shunichi Sugawara, Toshiaki Takahashi, Soichiro Yokota, Hiroyasu Kaneda, Tomoya Kawaguchi, Seisuke Nagase, Tetsuya Oguri, Yasuo Iwamoto, Takashi Nishimura, Yoshihiro Hattori, Kazuhiko Nakagawa, Yoichi Nakanishi, Nobuyuki Yamamoto
Journal: The Lancet Oncology (2015)
Sleep apnoea in patients with renal transplantation
Authors: Antigone Fritz, Oliver Vonend, Lars Christian Rump
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Sleep apnoea is an important risk factor for cardiovascular mortality. With up to 50%, cardiovascular events are the major cause of death in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Moreover, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) often limit the long term survival after successful kidney transplantation.

Therefore a consequent detection and reduction of cardiovascular risk factor should be a major goal in patients with ESRD in particular for patients on the waiting list. Sleep apnoe (SA) has a prevalence of 30-80% in dialysis patients. The diagnosis of SA is difficult in patients with ESRD since conventional questionnaires are often misleading.

We started a study to investigate the prevalence of sleep apnoe in patients with renal transplantation. The study collective includes over 130 patients, more than 50 of them received a living transplantation. The prevalence of sleep apnoea in our study group was round about 40%. There was no influence of the typical risk factors for sleep apnoea such gender and BMI in our patient collective. The age (P=0,003) and the co-existence of other cardiovascular diseases (p<0,001) were the most important risk factors for sleep apnoea. Also typical dialysis parameters like diuresis and time on dialysis influences the appearance of sleep apnoea. Notably symptoms like sleepiness and snoring or the Epworth Sleepiness Scale were not usefull to detect sleep apnoea in our study collective.

The study will be finished in summer 2011. Further study datas will be expected. For conclusion we can summarize that it is very usefull to screen everybody on the waiting list for kidney transplantation because it presents a very common cardiovascular risk factor in patients with renal disease.
Prevalence of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among smokers attending primary health care facilities in Georgia
Authors: Ketevan Nemsadze, Tamaz Maglakelidze, Ivane Chxaidze, Nino Kiknadze
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background.  The prevalence of COPD in Georgia is suspected to be high due to high smoking rate, but the real data is unknown.   The aim  of the study was to assess the prevalence of COPD among smokers more than 40 years of age attending primary healthcare (PHC) facilities in Georgia.   Methods.  The World Health Organization proposed questionnaire were filled in patients who visited for any reasons PHC in 10 districts of Georgia. The patients were placed into one of four diagnostic categories (mild, moderate, severe, very severe stage).   Results . Out of 4275 patients 2268 (53.5%) were current and past-smokers, among them 2054 male (90.5%) and 214 female (9.5%). Out of those 2268 patients 360 subjects were eligible for data analysis (with chronic dyspnea, cough, and sputum production). 351 patients performed spirometry and 9 patients were excluded because of poor spirometry maneuvers. Of the 351 patients 92 (26.2%) showed airflow limitation.  Most of the subjects (42 patients, 45.6%) had moderate disease (stage II). Thirty patients (32.6%) had an FEV1 less than 50% predicted (stage III); The stage I of COPD were stated in 13 subjects (14.1%). Seven cases (7.6%) of very severe COPD (stage IV) were diagnosed. Airflow limitation was significantly related to male gender and cumulative pack-years.   Conclusion:  It was shown that there are potentially a number of COPD cases that are undiagnosed by GP9s in Georgia. Use of spirometry as a routine test for smoker patients will help in early detection and correct diagnosis of COPD, which subsequently will help in implementation of preventive measures.
Abstract 829: High Plasma Levels of Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 Alpha Predict a Worse Prognosis in Patients with Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Yasushi Kodama, Aritaka Makino, Keita Sano, Isao Takishima, Masamitsu Hirano, Takamitsu Nakamura, Yukio Saito, Kazuto Nakamura, Yoshinobu Kitta, Ken-ichi Kawabata, Jyun-ei Obata, Kiyotaka Kugiyama
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Stromal cell-derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1α) is expressed in injured myocardium and plays a key role in the repair of the injured myocardium. This study examined whether SDF-1α in the circulation may have a prognostic information in patients with heart failure (HF). SDF-1α levels in plasma from a peripheral vein (PV) were measured using ELISA in 297 patients with chronic HF defined by the Framingham criteria, who had LV functional abnormalities (102 patients in NYHA class II, 65 in NYHA III, 32 in NYHA IV), and in 50 age- and sex-matched controls. The levels were also measured in plasma from the aorta (AO) and the coronary sinus (CS) in a subgroup of 82 HF patients. Then, all patients with HF were prospectively followed for 60 months or until occurrence of cardiac death or hospitalization with worsening HF. PV levels of SDF-1α were higher in HF patients than controls (2661 ± 67 vs. 2320 ± 55 pg/mL, p &lt; 0.01), and patients with higher NYHA class had higher SDF-1α levels (ρ = 0.41, p &lt; 0.0001). The PV levels of SDF-1α were similar between patients with ischemic HF (n = 204) and non-ischemic HF (n = 93). During follow-up, 19 cardiac death and 69 hospitalization occurred. The PV levels of SDF-1α were higher in patients with an event than those without an event (2820 ± 78 vs. 2490 ± 38 pg/mL, p &lt; 0.01). In a multivariate Cox hazards analysis, a higher level of SDF-1α (&gt; 3040 pg/mL, defined by ROC analysis) was a predictor of events that was independent of age, LVEF, use of medications, and BNP levels (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2–4.2, p &lt; 0.01). Moreover, the CS - AO difference in SDF-1α levels, reflecting release from the heart, was higher in patients with (n = 21) than without an event (n = 67) (80 ± 46 vs. −32 ± 33 pg/mL, p &lt; 0.01). The CS - AO difference in SDF-1α levels was positively correlated with the PV levels (r = 0.22, p &lt; 0.05). Both the CS - AO difference in SDF-1α levels and the PV levels had a significant positive correlation with PV levels of BNP and an inverse correlation with LVEF. Higher SDF-1α levels in the peripheral circulation independently predict a worse outcome in patients with chronic HF. SDF-1α is released from the heart in proportion to the severity of LV dysfunction via a compensatory mechanism and may partly contribute to increased circulating levels of SDF-1α in chronic HF.