tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Effect of BMI on asthma control, asthma severity and quality of life in adult patients with asthma
Authors: Aysegul Altintop, Haydar Karakus, Zeynep Aytemur, Suleyman Hacievliyagil, Hilal Ermis, Munevver Erdinc
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

We examined effects of body mass index (BMI) on quality of life, asthma severity and treatment response of disease in patients with asthma.

Demographic data, occupation and education status, symptoms, smoking, allergy, atopy, additional diseases, age started asthma, age diagnosed asthma, and drugs of subjects were recorded, and body mass index was (BMI) calculated. Hospital-Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaires (AQLQ) in the subjects were evaluated.

The sample consisted of 414 subjects (73% female) with a mean age of 47,6±13,8 years. Regarding chronic severity, 9,8% were intermittent, 63,2% mild persistent, 24,4% moderate persistent, and 2,6% severe persistent. Furthermore, 44,1% of the subjects were controlled asthma, 47,9% partly controlled,%8 uncontrolled. Patients were considered to be obese if their BMI was ≥30 kg/m2. BMI was mean 26,62±5,37 kg/m2 in men and 28,88±6,21 kg/m2 in women (p<0.05). There was no correlation between BMI and severity of asthma, asthma control. There was a positive correlation between BMI and age started asthma (p<0.05). Regarding AQLQ results, there were negative correlations between scores of symptoms, activity limitations, emotional function, environmental stimuli and severity asthma (p<0.05). There were negative correlations between only environmental stimuli, activity limitations and BMI (p<0.05). There was no correlations between BMI and HADS depression-anxiety scores, physician-diagnosed depression-anxiety.

Our findings suggest that obesity is associated with poor asthma-specific quality of life. BMI control was important as well as optimal asthma therapy in patients with asthma for optimal asthma control.
Determinants of dyspnea in stable COPD patients
Authors: Thierry Perez, Jean Louis Paillasseur, Pierre Regis Burgel, Nicolas Roche
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  Dyspnea is a major symptom in COPD, but its determinants remain poorly understood, with usually moderate correlation with clinical and lung function characteristics.   Aim of study:  To analyse in a multivariate model the correlates of dyspnea in a large COPD cohort, including both clinical and resting lung function data.   Methods:  Dyspnea was evaluated by the mMRC scale and the baseline dyspnea index (BDI) in 239 patients from the multicenter French COPD cohort Initiatives BPCO. A logistic ordinal regression (with stepwise ascending and descending analysis) was performed with the following variables: age, sex, BMI, FEV1, FVC, GOLD stage, IC, IC/TLC ratio, anxiety and depression scores (HAD; significant if ≥ 10), number of exacerbations, cardiac failure, history of venous thrombo-embolism   Results:  For MRC score, the following variables were significant contributors to the model: BMI, FEV1, thrombo-embolic history, exacerbation rate, heart failure, HAD depression score. Estimated r 2  of the model was 0,33. For the BDI scale, only HAD depression, FEV1, exacerbation rate and heart failure were significant contributors. Estimated r 2  of the model was 0,29.   Conclusion:  Dyspnea correlates in COPD include FEV1, HAD depression score, exacerbation frequency and heart failure. MRC and BDI were explained by slightly different contributors. Contrary to what could be expected, sex, age, and resting hyperinflation did not contribute significantly to dyspnea intensity.
Muscle Power Is an Independent Determinant of Pain and Quality of Life in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Kieran F. Reid, Lori Lyn Price, William F. Harvey, Jeffrey B. Driban, Cynthia Hau, Roger A. Fielding, Chenchen Wang
Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology (2015)

This study examined the relationships between leg muscle strength, power, and perceived disease severity in subjects with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in order to determine whether dynamic leg extensor muscle power would be associated with pain and quality of life in knee OA.Baseline data on 190 subjects with knee OA (mean ± SD age 60.2 ± 10.4 years, body mass index 32.7 ± 7.2 kg/m(2) ) were obtained from a randomized controlled trial. Knee pain was measured using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, and health-related quality of life was assessed using the Short Form 36 (SF-36). One-repetition maximum (1RM) strength was assessed using the bilateral leg press, and peak muscle power was measured during 5 maximum voluntary velocity repetitions at 40% and 70% of 1RM.In univariate analysis, greater muscle power was significantly associated with pain (r = -0.17, P < 0.02) and also significantly and positively associated with SF-36 physical component summary (PCS) scores (r = 0.16, P < 0.05). After adjustment for multiple covariates, muscle power was a significant independent predictor of pain (P ≤ 0.05) and PCS scores (P ≤ 0.04). However, muscle strength was not an independent determinant of pain or quality of life (P ≥ 0.06).Muscle power is an independent determinant of pain and quality of life in knee OA. Compared to strength, muscle power may be a more clinically important measure of muscle function within this population. New trials to systematically examine the impact of muscle power training interventions on disease severity in knee OA are particularly warranted.
Murine Lymphoma L5178Y Cells Resistant to Purine Antagonists: Differences in Cross-Resistance to Thioguanine-Platinum(II) and Selenoguanine-Platinum(II)&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: F Kanzawa, M Maeda, T Sasaki, A Hoshi, K Kuretani
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1982)

To determine whether the antitumor activities of thio-guanine-platinum(II) [TG-Pt(II)] and selenoguanine-platinum(II) [SeG-Pt(II)] are due to direct actions of these compounds or to the actions of their hydrolysis products, studies were made on a purine antagonistresistant, murine lymphoma L5178Y/MP subline that lacked the anabolic enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase necessary for tumor inhibition. The L5178Y/MP subline proved to be highly resistant to both TG-Pt(II) and thioguanine; the resistance ratios to the two compounds were almost identical. The subline showed high resistance to selenoguanine, but the cross-resistance to SeG-Pt(II) was negligible. Whether the compounds exhibit the delayed cytotoxicity characteristic of purine antagonists was also investigated. Delayed cytotoxicity was demonstrated for TG-Pt(II) as well as for thioguanine and other purine antagonists but not for SeG-Pt(II) or cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II). Experiments on cross-resistance and delayed cytotoxicity showed differences in the cytotoxicities of TG-Pt(II) and SeG-Pt(II): TG-Pt(II) exerted its activity through its hydrolysis product thioguanine, whereas SeG-Pt(II) compound was cytotoxic itself.
Aetiology of pulmonary diseases in immunocompromised patients
Authors: N Heurlin, C Brattstrom, B Lonnqvist, L Westman, C Lidman, J Andersson
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1991)

Fibreoptic bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), transbronchial lung biopsy (TBB) and brushing was performed, in 134 episodes of pulmonary disease in 118 compromised patients. Sixty eight of the patients were infected with immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), 18 were renal and pancreas transplant recipients, 7 were liver and 15 were bone marrow transplant recipients, and 10 patients were undergoing immunosuppressive and/or cytotoxic drug therapy. Pneumocystis carinii (PC) was the predominant pathogen in HIV-1 infected patients. It was considered to be the aetiological cause of pneumonia in 54/82 (66%) episodes of lung complications noted in these patients. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) was the most common micro-organism in transplant recipients. CMV pneumonia was diagnosed in 22/42 episodes of pulmonary disease in these patients. CMV was detected by bronchoscopy procedures at a relatively high frequency of 36/82 (44%) episodes in HIV-1 infected patients. However, after analysis of clinical information, cultures from leucocytes and autopsy findings, CMV seemed to be involved in the pathogenicity of pneumonia in only two out of the 36 patients. Bacterial aetiology, including mycobacterial agents, was unusual, but was the major cause of pulmonary infections in 6/10 episodes in patients undergoing extensive immunosuppressive and/or cytotoxic drug therapy. Bronchoscopy was helpful in establishing correct aetiology in 98/134 (73%) episodes of pulmonary disease. Growth of Candida albicans and bacteria should always be viewed sceptically because of the possibility of contamination from colonization in the upper respiratory tract.
Early, intermediate and late infectious complications after transcatheter or surgical aortic-valve replacement: a prospective cohort study
Authors: M. Falcone, A. Russo, M. Mancone, G. Carriero, G. Mazzesi, F. Miraldi, M. Pennacchi, F. Pugliese, L. Tritapepe, V. Vullo, F. Fedele, G. Sardella, M. Venditti
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2013)

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) has been proposed to treat older surgical high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. There are no data regarding short-term and long-term infectious complications in these patients. The objective of this study was to define the incidence, aetiology and outcome of early and late infectious complications following TAVI compared with patients >65 years old undergoing traditional surgical aortic replacement (SAR). This was a prospective observational study evaluating all consecutive patients who underwent TAVI or SAR. Follow up was performed up to 1 year after the procedure of valve implantation. Fifty-one patients underwent TAVI and were compared with 102 patients who underwent SAR. Compared with SAR patients, those who underwent TAVI had lower incidence of early post-operative (11.7% vs 26.4%, p 0.04), intermediate (5.9% vs 17.6%, p 0.01) and late (7.8% vs 11.7%, p 0.03) infections. Among SAR patients the most common infections were bloodstream infections, pneumonias, urinary tract infections and sternal wound infections. Patients who underwent TAVI had a longer survival without infection (358 days vs 312.9, p 0.006). There were no significant differences in 12-month crude survival between the two study populations. Despite a high frequency of coexisting illnesses, patients undergoing TAVI develop few infectious complications. TAVI appears to be a reasonable and safe option in high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis.
Carcinogenic Properties of Orthotolidine (3,3′-Dimethylbenzidine)
Authors: Gennady B. Pliss, Mark A. Zabezhinsky
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1970)

Journal Article Carcinogenic Properties of Orthotolidine (3,3′-Dimethylbenzidine) Get access Gennady B. Pliss, M.D., Gennady B. Pliss, M.D. The Prof. N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, Leningrad, U.S.S.R. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar Mark A. Zabezhinsky Mark A. Zabezhinsky The Prof. N. N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, Leningrad, U.S.S.R. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 45, Issue 2, August 1970, Pages 283–295, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/45.2.283 Published: 01 August 1970 Article history Received: 04 February 1970 Accepted: 17 April 1970 Published: 01 August 1970
Prospective Randomized Trial of Melphalan and Prednisone Versus Vincristine, Carmustine, Melphalan, Cyclophosphamide, and Prednisone in the Treatment of Primary Systemic Amyloidosis
Authors: Morie A. Gertz, Martha Q. Lacy, John A. Lust, Philip R. Greipp, Thomas E. Witzig, Robert A. Kyle
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: Primary systemic amyloidosis is an immunoglobulin deposition disorder in which insoluble light chains cause organ dysfunction and death. The established conventional therapy is treatment with melphalan and prednisone. We investigated whether treatment with multiple alkylating agents improved the response rate or survival time, compared with melphalan and prednisone therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We treated 101 patients with biopsy-proven primary amyloidosis. The patients were randomly assigned to receive melphalan and prednisone (52 patients) or vincristine, carmustine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone (49 patients). Patients were stratified according to the presence of cardiac involvement, time from diagnosis to randomization, serum beta 2 -microglobulin level, and whether peripheral neuropathy was the major manifestation of the disease. RESULTS: The median duration of survival after randomization was 29 months, with no differences in survival time between the two groups. There were 29 patients who fulfilled the response criteria: 15 in the vincristine, carmustine, melphalan, cyclophosphamide, and prednisone arm and 14 in the melphalan and prednisone arm. CONCLUSION: Therapy with multiple alkylating agents did not result in a higher response rate or longer survival time, compared with standard melphalan and prednisone treatment in patients with primary systemic amyloidosis.
Genomic spectra of biliary tract cancer
Authors: Hiromi Nakamura, Yasuhito Arai, Yasushi Totoki, Tomoki Shirota, Asmaa Elzawahry, Mamoru Kato, Natsuko Hama, Fumie Hosoda, Tomoko Urushidate, Shoko Ohashi, Nobuyoshi Hiraoka, Hidenori Ojima, Kazuaki Shimada, Takuji Okusaka, Tomoo Kosuge, Shinichi Miyagawa, Tatsuhiro Shibata
Journal: Nature Genetics (2015)
Immunoglobulin E–induced Passive Sensitization of Human Airways
Authors: PATRICK BERGER, ANDREW F. WALLS, ROGER MARTHAN, J. MANUEL TUNON-de-LARA
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1998)

In vivo, IgE production is related to bronchial hyperresponsiveness and, in vitro, passive sensitization of human airways with asthmatic serum containing a high concentration of IgE enhances the contractile response to a variety of agonists. However, cell types implicated in this IgE sensitization are not fully determined. The aim of this study was to determine IgE-bearing cells during passive sensitization with special reference to mast cells. Peripheral bronchi were dissected out from 10 lung specimens obtained at thoracotomy and processed into glycolmethacrylate resin. Sections, each 2 μ m thick, were passively sensitized by incubation for 2 h at 37 ° C in either buffer supplemented with monoclonal IgE or asthmatic serum with a high concentration of IgE ( ⩾ 1,000 IU/ml). Immunohistochemistry was performed using monoclonal antibodies directed against the epsilon chain, and markers of the various IgE-bearing cells (e.g., AA1, antichymase). The number of IgE-bearing cells was significantly higher in passively sensitized specimens as compared with nonsensitized specimens (6.63 ± 1.71 versus 4.29 ± 1.35/mm2; p = 0.013, n = 10). Mast cells represented 65% of IgE-bearing cells, 41.6 and 23.4% for TC and T subtypes, respectively. These results indicate that mast cell is the main cell type involved in IgE-induced passive sensitization. The involvement of mast cell–derived tryptase in the mechanisms of IgE-related hyperresponsiveness should be further examined.
Is an EGFR mutation associated with lower glucose metabolism in the FDG-PET?
Authors: Gregor Förster, Jens Kollmeier, Martin Raible, Turna Köcer, Sergej Griff, Dirk Kaiser, Torsten Bauer
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background/Aim:  In non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), new therapies that target specific oncogenic pathomechanisms like the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were developed. Positron emission tomography (PET) using fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is routinely implemented in the diagnosis and staging of NSCLC. In this study, we analysed the correlation between molecular markers like EGFR and the glucose metabolism of NSCLC.   Methods:  80 patients with NSCLC were examined with FDG-PET/CT using standard scanning protocols; routinely the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the tumour was determined. The demographic criteria of all patients were similar; all underwent surgical excision of the tumour. The tumour tissue was characterized histological and by molecular typing, including the EGFR status. The SUV was correlated with diverse parameters.   Results:  The tumour histology showed in 36 patients a squamous cell carcinoma (45%), in 33 an adenocarcinoma (41%) and in 11 other tumour entities (14%), the average SUVmax were 12.1±4.8 (±SD), 9.0±4.4 and 11.9±4.8, respectively. In only 5 patients an activating EGFR-mutation was found, all others showed the EGFR wild-type. All but one mutation were found in patients with adenocarcinoma (12.1% of that histology); these tomours showed a very low SUVmax of 4.1±0.9. In contrast, the one EGFR-mutated squamous cell carcinoma showed a very high SUV of 20.3.   Conclusion:  In our patient cohort with NSCLC, all patients with adenocarcinoma and EGFR mutation showed a low glucose metabolism. This finding may suggest that these tumours have down regulated metabolism and may be anticipated by lower SUV in FDG PET scans.  This study was supported by the Oskar-Helene-Heim foundation.
Students Sitting Medical Finals–-Ready to be House Officers?
Authors: P B Goodfellow, P Claydon
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2001)

An initial survey of students approaching qualification and the preregistration house officer year revealed anxiety about competence in several important clinical skills. A questionnaire study was then undertaken to assess, first, the extent to which students had attained the skills required for the preregistration year and, second, the amount of training in these skills provided during the preregistration year. 122 medical students taking their final examinations were asked about training and practice in eight core clinical skills, and 84 graduates from the same school, approaching the end of their preregistration year, were asked about postgraduate training in these skills. The response rate of each group was 100%. Of the eight skills studied, most had been performed few times by the students at qualification. Less than half the current preregistration house officers could recall training being given in any of the skills studied. There were no significant differences in house-officer training between teaching hospitals and district general hospitals. Regarding needlestick injuries, nearly two-thirds of preregistration house officers were unable to recall any training at either undergraduate or postgraduate level. These results suggest that training in clinical skills can be improved. Training is already changing with use of clinical skills laboratories and logbooks. We also recommend mandatory needlestick training both in undergraduate programmes and in induction courses for preregistration house officers.
Paclitaxel and carboplatin in patients with metastatic or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. A phase II study
Authors: S. Hiller, H.-G. Mergenthaler
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2004)

5579 Background: Paclitaxel and cis- or carboplatin have shown efficacy in metastatic or recurrent head & neck cancer when administered in two- to four-weekly cycles. We assumed that a dose-dense weekly therapy with reduced single doses could show tolerability advantages while maintaining efficacy. Methods: We recruited patients with histologically proven metastatic, residual, or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the head or neck, who had no options for surgery or radiotherapy (RT). Patients with contraindications to chemotherapy, an ECOG status >2 and a life-expectancy <12 weeks were excluded. Patients received on an outpatient basis six weekly courses of paclitaxel 90 mg/m2 as a 60 min infusion after usual premedication, followed by carboplatin dosed to AUC=2 as a 30 min infusion (six courses=one cycle). Patients showing progression (PD) went off study. Complete or partial responders (CR, PR) or those showing no or minimal change (SD) received a second therapy cycle. Tumour status was assessed after each cycle. Doses were reduced (paclitaxel 80 mg/m2; carboplatin AUC=1) on signs of haematotoxicity or Grade 3 mucositis Results: : We recruited 52 patients (43 male, 9 female; median age=58.5 years; median ECOG status=1). All patients had previously received RT, 42 had surgery. Tumour stage was T3 or T4 in 30/52 patients, N2 in 25/52, M0 in 42/52; tumour grade was G2 in 22/52 and G3 in 24/52. Patients received 1 to 18 therapy courses (median: 11). In 45 patients response could be assessed. Both confirmed and unconfirmed response rates were 60% (confirmed: CR 2%; PR 20%; SD 38%). Median time to progression in confirmed CR+PR was 309 days, median time to progression in all patients 113 days. Median survival time was 195 days. Grade 3 or 4 toxicities were rare: Anorexia 6 of 47 evaluable patients, dysphagia 1/50, headache 1/51, motoricity 2/50, nausea 1/51, haemoglobin 1/52, ALAT 1/50 Conclusions: Our dosing schedule of paclitaxel and carboplatin was well tolerated and efficacious. Its response rate and survival time are comparable to cisplatin-based inpatient therapies, its tolerability profile makes it suitable for outpatient therapy. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Incidence, case fatality and genotypes causing Clostridium difficile infections, Finland, 2008* *Parts of the results were previously presented at the 19th Annual Scientific Meeting of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) 03/2009, San Diego, CA, USA and the 19th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) 05/2009, Helsinki, Finland.
Authors: S.M. Kotila, A. Virolainen, M. Snellman, S. Ibrahem, J. Jalava, O. Lyytikäinen
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2010)
Autologous Bone Marrow Transplantation Following Chemotherapy and Irradiation in Dogs With Spontaneous Lymphomas&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: C A Bowles, M Bull, K McCormick, M Kadin, D Lucas
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1980)

Thirty dogs with spontaneous lymphomas were administered two to six cycles of chemotherapy and were randomized into 3 groups to receive 800 rads of total body irradiation and autologous bone marrow transplantation. Of 10 dogs irradiated after chemotherapy-induced remission and infused with remission marrow (group 1), 8 (80%) had successful grafts and experienced remissions lasting 62–1,024 days (median, 174 days). Five dogs were tumor-free after 6 months and 1 dog was tumor-free after 2 years. Of 9 dogs irradiated during remission and infused with remission marrow mixed with autologous tumor cells (group 2), 6 (66%) had remission lasting 15–45 days. All dogs with successful grafts in group 2 died with progressive lymphomas within 6 months of irradiation. Eleven dogs with progressive tumor growth (relapse) following chemotherapy were irradiated and infused with remission marrow (group 3). Tumor remission lasting 39–350 days was observed in 5 dogs (45%) in this group, and 6 dogs died in less than 30 days. Dogs in groups 1–3 had median survival times of 216, 60, and 45 days, respectively. Days to white blood cell and platelet engraftment were comparable for dogs in the 3 groups. The prolonged survival times for dogs in group 1 compared to dogs in groups 2 and 3 suggest that protocols involving irradiation and autologous marrow grafting in this model would be most effective when these protocols are applied to animals having a minimum tumor burden at the time of irradiation and when the grafting is done with tumor-free autologous marrow.
Lenalidomide In Combination With R-CHOP (R2-CHOP) In Patients With High Burden Follicular Lymphoma: Phase 2 Study
Authors: Herve Tilly, Franck Morschhauser, Olivier Casasnovas, Thierry Jo Molina, Nicolas Mounier, Gilles Andre Salles, Steven Le Gouill, Serge Bologna, Olivier Tournilhac, Jose Cabecadas, Reda Bouabdallah, Jean Gabarre, Thierry Lamy, Corinne Haioun
Journal: Blood (2013)