tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Impaired lung function in 'healthy' preterm infants: Interpretation using new equipment-specific reference equations
Authors: Ines de Mir, Olaia Sardon, Paula Corcuera, Manuel Sanchez Solis, Araceli Caballero, Virginia Perez, A.F. Hoo, Janet Stocks, Eduardo Gonzalez Perez-Yarza, Antonio Moreno-Galdó
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Even in the absence of overt respiratory disease during the neonatal period, reduced lung function has been reported in preterm infants. Meaningful interpretation of such results is, however, dependent on availability of appropriate controls and/or reference equations.

Objectives. To assess the applicability of equipment-specific reference equations in healthy Spanish White fullterm infants, and the impact of preterm delivery on lung function during the first year of life.

Methods . Lung function was measured under chloral sedation in clinically stable and asymptomatic 'healthy' preterm (30-35.8 w) and fullterm babies, using the CareFusionTM Masterscreen BabyBody equipment according to ERS/ATS guidelines. Data were expressed as z-scores to adjust for sex, age and body size (Lum, Ped Pulm 2010; Nguyen, Ped Pulm 2013;).

Results. 79 term and 77 preterm infants were studied at mean (SD) corrected postnatal age of 5.92 (0.8) months (term) and 5.95 (1.01) months (preterm). No differences were found either in tidal breathing parameters or Rrs.

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Conclusions. Mean z-scores for term infants were all within 0.3 z-scores of the predicted published norms, suggesting that these equations are appropriate for Spanish infants Compared to term controls, 'healthy' preterm infants had significantly lower V'maxFRC, FEV0.5 and FEF25-75.
Chromosome Abnormalities of Leukemia Cells in Adult Patients With T-Cell Leukemia
Authors: Kanji Miyamoto, Noriko Tomita, Akio Ishii, Hiroshi Nonaka, Toshihumi Kondo, Toshio Tanaka, Ko-ichi Kitajima
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1984)

Chromosomes of 30 patients with adult T-cell leukemia were analyzed. Chromosome abnormalities were found in all the patients examined. The modal chromosome number of abnormal cells was hypodiploid in 2 patients, diploid in 14, and hyperdiploid in 9. The remaining 5 patients had bimodal chromosome numbers (diploid and hyperdiploid modes). Although all the patients showed various numerical or structural chromosome abnormalities, they also had common chromosome abnormalities. Aberrations of chromosome 1 were noted in 20 of the 30 patients, aberrations of chromosome 3 were seen in 20, trisomy 6 or 6q- was found in 17, aberrations of chromosome 10 were noted in 16, aberrations of the long arm of chromosome 14 were seen in 9, and trisomy 18 was seen in 7. There was no particular relationship between the difference in clinical symptoms and disparity in chromosome abnormalities.
Cardiac toxicity of bone marrow transplantation: predictive value of cardiologic evaluation before transplant.
Authors: B Hertenstein, M Stefanic, T Schmeiser, M Scholz, V Göller, M Clausen, D Bunjes, M Wiesneth, J Novotny, M Kochs
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1994)

PURPOSE This study analyses the risk of cardiac complications and its individual predictability in bone marrow transplantation (BMT). PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred seventy patients undergoing allogeneic (n = 150) or autologous (n = 20) BMT were evaluated by physical examination, history, rest and exercise ECG, chest x-ray, two-dimensional echocardiography, and radionuclide ventriculography (RNV) before BMT, and monitored for 3 months thereafter. RESULTS Following BMT, cardiac toxicity occurred in eight patients (4.7%). Three patients (1.8%) developed life-threatening toxicity (pericardial effusion and left ventricular failure, n = 2; sudden cardiac arrest, n = 1). Thirty-eight patients (22%) had pathologic findings before BMT. In 22 patients, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) determined by RNV was reduced to less than 55%. This was the only abnormality in 17 patients and was generally mild, with a lowest EF of 42%. There was no correlation between overall results of cardiologic evaluation before BMT and cardiac toxicity. Cardiotoxic events occurred more frequently in patients with a reduced EF (P &lt; .05). However, this was restricted to minor cardiac events. Life-threatening cardiac toxicity was not significantly increased in patients with pathologic results before BMT. Moreover, none of the patients with an EF less than 50% developed cardiac toxicity. CONCLUSION Life-threatening cardiac toxicity is rare after BMT, occurring in less than 2% of all patients. Although the occurrence of cardiac toxicity is correlated with a reduction of EF before BMT, life-threatening cardiac toxicity cannot be predicted in individual patients.
Tamoxifen and toremifene in breast cancer: comparison of safety and efficacy.
Authors: A U Buzdar, G N Hortobagyi
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1998)

PURPOSE Tamoxifen is currently the standard hormonal treatment of breast cancer, both for metastatic disease and in the adjuvant setting. A new antiestrogen, toremifene, was approved recently for use in managing metastatic breast cancer in postmenopausal women. METHODS Toremifene is structurally similar to tamoxifen, differing only by a single chlorine atom, and has a similar pharmacologic profile. The major difference between the two compounds is in the preclinical activity; chronic, high-dose tamoxifen is hepatocarcinogenic in the rat, whereas toremifene is not. Neither agent is hepatocarcinogenic in mice, hamsters, or humans; therefore, clinical relevance of the rat data may not be significant. RESULTS In a worldwide phase III trial, the two agents demonstrated comparable efficacy and safety against metastatic breast cancer. Both agents have shown a significant hypocholesterolemic effect after long-term administration. CONCLUSION Due to the paucity of long-term clinical data on toremifene, important unresolved questions remain, which include its effects on bone mineral density, the frequency of cardiac events, and the risk for endometrial cancer. Tamoxifen has been associated with maintenance of bone mineral density, a reduction in cardiac events, and a slightly increased risk of endometrial cancer. Toremifene is not likely to be used as second-line therapy after tamoxifen failure due to cross-resistance, and its ultimate place in therapy of advanced breast cancer remains to be determined.
Abnormal frontal lobe phosphorous metabolism in bipolar disorder
Authors: R F Deicken, G Fein, M W Weiner
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1995)

Abnormalities in frontal lobe phosphorous metabolism in patients with bipolar disorder have been reported, but many of the patients studied were receiving lithium. In this study, medication-free bipolar patients were examined to determine abnormalities in frontal lobe high-energy phosphorous metabolism.In vivo phosphorous-31 magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging was performed on 12 unmedicated, euthymic bipolar patients and 16 healthy comparison subjects. The percentages of total phosphorous signal for phosphomonoesters, inorganic phosphate, phosphodiesters, phosphocreatine, and beta-ATP were calculated.In relation to the comparison group, the patients with bipolar disorder had significantly lower phosphomonoester values and higher phosphodiester values in both the left and right frontal lobes. The patients also had a significantly higher right-to-left ratio of frontal lobe phosphocreatine. No other differences in phosphorous metabolites or lateralized asymmetries were noted.This preliminary study provides support for abnormal frontal lobe phosphorous metabolism in bipolar disorder.
Carcinoma of the Colon — Association with Low Dietary Vitamin A in Females: Preliminary Communication
Authors: G H Tomkin, Louise Scott, C Ogbuah, Margaret O'Shaughnessy
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1986)

Seventeen patients with non-metastatic carcinoma of the colon (9 male, 8 female) were compared with age- and sex-matched controls in a study examining the relationship of diet and altered cholesterol metabolism with carcinoma of the colon. Bile acid excretion in the faeces was significantly less in cancer patients ( P &gt; 0.001), and a significantly lower intake of retinol ( P &gt; 0.01) and vitamin A ( P &gt; 0.05) was demonstrated in female cancer patients. There was no difference between patients and controls in hepatic cholesterol enzyme activity or in fasting plasma lipid levels.
Improved Prognosis in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia: Experience of 62 Cases over 2-Year Period
Authors: Alistair Marshall, Edward Sumner
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1982)

During 1979 and 1980, 62 babies with congenital diaphragmatic hernia were admitted to the Hospitals for Sick Children. All 62 babies underwent surgical closure of the anatomical defect. There were 44 survivors and 18 deaths, a survival rate of 71%. Both the number treated and the overall survival rate were greater than any series reported for a similar period. The number of admissions may reflect earlier diagnosis and improved resuscitation, with safer and more rapid transfer to our units. The improved survival must be mainly attributed to our experience over the past few years which has consolidated understanding and methods of management and led to a close cooperation between surgeon and anaesthetist both in immediate management and in postoperative care.
Specificity of the Relationship Between Thymic Alkaline Phosphatase Activity and Lymphoma Development in Strain C57BL Mice&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN3"&gt;3&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Bengt A. M. Lagerlöf, Henry S. Kaplan
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1967)

Experiments were undertaken to confirm and elucidate the significance of the observation, previously reported by other investigators, that alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, normally not demonstrable in the thymic lymphoid cells of adult C57BL mice, appears during the development of radiation-induced thymic lymphomas. Histochemical studies revealed faint AP in the thymus of 17-day embryos but none in the thymic lymphoid cells of newborn C57BL mice or in those of older mice up to 180 days of age. Thymic AP did not appear in response to adrenalectomy or the administration of corticosteroids in thymolytic doses, though the latter treatment sharply increased splenic AP activity. Splenic AP activity was also increased in neonatally thymectomized animals that developed the wasting syndrome and in others with spontaneous runting. Histochemical and histopathological studies were performed on consecutive serial sections of samples from the thymuses of C57BL mice killed at various intervals after (a) exposure to whole-body irradiation; (b) thigh-shielded irradiation; (c) intrathymic injection of a passage line of a leukemogenic virus (RLV) originally extracted from a radiation-induced lymphoma; and (d) saline injection. Preliminary studies on the variation of AP activity during serial transplantation of virus-induced lymphomas are also reported. The data support the view that the development of AP activity in murine thymic lymphomas is a specific response induced concomitantly with and directly related to the neoplastic transformation per se, and not merely a reflection of cellular immaturity or a nonspecific response to trophic or involutional stimuli.
A Critical Role of the Transcription Factor Fli‐1 in Murine Lupus Development by Regulation of Interleukin‐6 Expression
Authors: Shuzo Sato, Mara Lennard Richard, Danielle Brandon, Joy N. Jones Buie, Jim C. Oates, Gary S. Gilkeson, Xian K. Zhang
Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology (2014)

The Fli-1 transcription factor is implicated in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), both in humans and in animal models. Dysregulation of interleukin-6 (IL-6) is also associated with SLE. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether Fli-1 directly regulates the expression of IL-6.Sera were collected from wild-type and Fli-1-heterozygous (Fli-1(+/-) ) MRL/lpr mice, and the concentration of IL-6 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Expression of IL-6 in the kidney was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis. T cells were isolated from wild-type and Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice and stimulated with CD3/CD28 beads, and the concentration of IL-6 in the supernatants was measured by ELISA. MS1 endothelial cells were transfected with Fli-1 and control small interfering RNA, and the production of IL-6 was compared after lipopolysaccharide stimulation. A chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay was performed to determine whether Fli-1 binds to the IL-6 promoter region. Transient transfections with the NIH3T3 cell line were performed to examine whether Fli-1 regulates the expression of IL-6.Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice had significantly decreased IL-6 levels in sera and reduced expression of IL-6 in kidneys as compared to their wild-type littermates. T cells isolated from Fli-1(+/-) MRL/lpr mice produced less IL-6 than did those from wild-type mice. Inhibiting the expression of Fli-1 in endothelial cells resulted in reduced production of IL-6. The ChIP assay revealed direct binding of Fli-1 to 3 regions within the IL-6 promoter. Fli-1 activated transcription from the IL-6 promoter in a dose-dependent manner.The direct regulation of IL-6 expression by Fli-1 represents one possible mechanism for the protective effect of decreased Fli-1 expression in lupus.
Metabolic Properties of Mouse Transplantable Adenocarcinoma. II. Substrate Utilization by Homogenates&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Aristide Floridi, Antonio Caputo
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1971)

The oxidation of some Krebs cycle substrates by homogenates of submaxillary gland adenocarcinoma and of normal submaxillary gland and the effect of diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN) on the oxygen consumption in C3H mice were investigated. Homogenates of normal tissue had a higher basal rate of oxygen consumption, but the percentual increases after substrates were added were smaller than those in homogenates of tumors. Adding DPN not only raised the basal oxidation rate of the tumor homogenates to values similar to normal tissue, but also raised the percentual increases. The extent of the increase in the tumor homogenates was also greater than that of the increase in the normal submaxillary gland. However, the total rates of oxygen consumption (with or without added substrates and/or DPN) were usually higher in the normal tissue homogenates than in tumor homogenates.
Tuberculin Reaction in Cancer Patients, “Mantoux Release,” and Lymphosuppressive-Stimulatory Factors2
Authors: A. M. Steward
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1973)

The Mantoux response was evaluated in 2 groups of patients with carcinoma. In 47 patients with primary carcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract, breast, and prostate, the Mantoux responses were depressed before primary tumor resection, compared with 25 patients tested after resection and with 62 normal controls. Fifty-nine patients with bronchial carcinoma had normal or stronger reactionsthan controls. Old Tuberculin 1:1000 and later Purified Protein Derivative 1:5000 were used. The Mantoux response increased 2–6 weeks after primary tumor resection in 6 of 7 patients with colon and rectal cancer, in 16 of 24 with bronchial cancer, and in 2 after estrogen treatment for prostate cancer. This increase in response appeared to be a “release” of preexisting sensitivity, suppressed in the presence of the tumor, rather than a conversion from an “intrinsic” negativity to positivity. Mantoux release indicated a change in immunologic status after treatment and did not necessarily indicate curative surgery. The suppression of response was associated with a circulating immunosuppressive factor in 11 of 16 patients examined: Serum suppressed tuberculin-induced lymphocyte DNA synthesis, but in higher dilution DNA synthesis was stimulated. This appeared to be one cause of Mantoux depression, and changing titer following tumor resection appeared to be one cause of Mantoux release. This clinical picture may resemblethe nonspecific immunosuppression seen in mice during experimental tumor induction, but a more specific relationship cannot be discounted.
Cultured normal human bronchial epithelial cells may produce collagen type I stimulation with TGF-b
Authors: Kenya Kohyama, Naoto Fueki, Risako Seki, Akemi Kohyama, Takenori Okada, Hironori Sagara
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

The clinical characteristics of asthma can be logically explained by asthma-specific airway inflammation and airway remodeling, the details of which have been recently elucidated. Airway remodeling is an important feature of chronic airway disease, but the mechanisms involved remain unclear.  Since TGF-b has been implicated in the development of airway remodeling in asthma based on its strong capacity to induce extracellular matrix (ECM) production, it is possible that Smad7 may also play some roles in the regulation of the process.   Method:  We analyzed using by real time RT-PCR and Western blotting method.We thought to determine the relationships between Collagen type I production in normal human bronchial cell line (NHBE).  Normal human bronchial epithelial cells (NHBE) cells stimulated with Th2 type cytokine TGF-beta or regulately cytokine IL-10. Production levels of Type I collagen was expressed in cultured epithelial cells NHBE stimulation with TGF-b.  Furthermore, collagen type I production in NHBE cells stimulation with TGF-b up-regulate in a dose and time dependent manner. And also we found that protein levels of collagen type I were increased from activated NHBE cells stimulating with TGF-b.  In contrast, IL-10 decreased collagen type I expression in NHBE cells.  In conclusion, these findings suggested bronchial epithelial cells may produce collagen type I production and IL-10 is a key cytokine possible make an important role of airway remodeling.
Defining Cancer Care Quality or Delivering Quality Cancer Care?
Authors: Matt Brow, J. Russell Hoverman, Debra Patt, Bill Herman, Diana Verrilli, Jody Garey, Roy Beveridge
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2013)

Many in the oncology world see as accepted that quality and value are difficult to define and that no specialty-wide consensus is likely to be reached in the short term about how to measure and report success at improving either.Others find the definition just beyond their grasp and suggest that, like pornography, they know it when they see it.Large organizations, publications, conferences, and processes have sprung up around the concept, and various attempts have been made to develop "measures of quality" that can characterize a practice or physician in this area.This work includes ongoing efforts within and among the National Quality Forum, NCCN, ASCO, The US Oncology Network (The Network), the Community Oncology Alliance, and Ontario Cancer Care to identify quality measures-many of which focus on surrogate processes or activities that should lead to quality.Instead, however, we believe this effort and investment should focus on outcomebased measures, and we offer a paradigm for measuring interventions:• Quality is the efficient delivery of evidence-based care by trained clinicians in an accessible setting.• In this context, value is providing higher quality care at the same cost, or the same quality at a lower cost.
Increased risk of mortality in COPD patients using tiotropium respimat vs. tiotropium Handihaler
Authors: Katia Verhamme, Ana Afonso, Silvana Romio, Bruno Stricker, Guy Brusselle, Miriam Sturkenboom
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background: Tiotropium is a long-acting, once daily anticholinergic drug that is delivered via Handihaler (dry powder inhaler) or via Respimat (soft mist inhaler). Data from RCTs suggest that use of tiotropium Respimat is associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Objectives: To explore the risk of mortality in users of either tiotropium Handihaler or tiotropium Respimat.

Methods: Within the IPCI database, a Dutch GP database, we defined a source population of patients > 40 years with at least 1 year of follow-up. The study ran from 2008 to 2011. Patients were followed from start of the study until the patient died or end of follow-up. Date and cause of death were verified for all patients. From the source population, we defined a cohort of tiotropium users (Handihaler and/or Respimat) and created episodes of use. To assess the risk of dying, we considered a 30-day carry-over effect. The risk of mortality was calculated using a Cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Crude and adjusted HRs were calculated with corresponding 95% CI.

Results: From the source population, we defined a tiotropium cohort of 11,287 users providing 24,540 episodes of use. 496 patients died while being exposed to either Handihaler or Respimat. Use of Respimat was associated with an increased risk of dying (HRcrude 1.52, 95% CI 1.24-1.87) and this association remained upon adjustment (HRadj 1.33, 95% 1.07-1.65). The association was strongest for incident users and cardiovascular or cerebrovascular death, but due to low numbers not longer statistically significant (HRadj 1.87, 95% CI 0.74-4.73).

Conclusions: Use of tiotropium Respimat vs tiotropium Handihaler is associated with a 30% increase of mortality.
Longitudinal assessment of respiratory function in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD): The effect of steroid therapy
Authors: Antonella LoMauro, Marianna Romei, Sandra Gandossini, Maria Grazia D'Angelo, Andrea Aliverti
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

DMD causes progressive lethal respiratory muscle weakness and the long-term effects of cortico-steroids on respiratory function is still under debate.  We aim to investigate the effect of steroid therapy on a longitudinal study in our cohort of DMD patients.  Since 2006, we have been monitoring the respiratory function in 95 DMD patients (age range: 6-24 years) who were evaluated once per year until the age of 10-11 years or until wheelchair bounding and then twice per year after wheelchair bounding or first signs of respiratory or cardiac impairment, making a total of 429 evaluations. During every visit, forced vital capacity, nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation and the supine abdominal percentage contribution to resting tidal volume (an index of the action of the diaphragm 1 ) were respectively measured with spirometry, pulse oximetry and opto-electronic plethysmography. 46 patients underwent continuous therapy with steroid for at least 2 years while 49 never assumed steroid or they did it for l 2 years and used as controls.  No differences (p=0.12) were found in forced vital capacity, nocturnal saturation and action of the diaphragm between the 231 evaluations of the steroid group and the 198 evaluations of the controls (figure).  The steroid therapy seems not to have ameliorative effects on the respiratory function decline in DMD patients.   1 Lo Mauro et al, Eur Respir J. 2010 May;35(5):1118-25