tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Preliminary results of the pilot pneumonia multicentric study in the GABRIEL network for etiological agents identification
Authors: Valentina Picot, Melina Messaoudi, Jean-Noel Telles, Florence Komurian-Pradel, Guy Vernet, Hubert Endtz, Glaucia Paranhos-Baccala
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background and Aims. The final purpose of the Pilot Multi-centric Pneumonia Study (launched in 2010) is to provide information on the pneumonia etiology (viruses and bacterial) to improve case management of the pneumonia ill child.  Methods. A hospital-based case-control study has been carried-out in 10 centers located in 9 countries over 3 continents. 826 cases and 791 controls out of 2,000 under 5 years of age were enrolled. Respiratory specimens and whole blood were collected from all pneumonia cases and controls to identify viruses or bacteria using real-time multiplex PCR assays. S. pneumoniae was serotyped in positive samples.  Results. The main bacterial agent found in cases and control respiratory samples were S. pneumoniae (58% and 40%, respectively). S. aureus, H. influenzae b, M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae were less represented (18% to 0.1%). For the viral population, RSV was the principal agent found (26% in cases and only at 5% in controls). HMPV, PIV-3 and Influenza-A/B were found mainly in cases. Rhinoviruses were found equally in controls and cases (around 21%). The main S. pneumoniae serotypes represented were 6A/B; 14; 19A; 19F and 5. The viral and S. pneumoniae serotype populations were different in each country. These results while preliminary are nonetheless interesting.  Conclusions. The objective of this study is to identify the etiologies of pneumonia among hospitalized children in developing and emergent countries. The results will improve individual care and propose appropriate public health policies. The results should permit a better implementation of targeted curative or preventive measures.
Use of Auditory Evoked Responses as a Measure of Recovery from Benzodiazepine Sedation
Authors: K R Milligan, J Lumsden, R C Howard, J P Howe, J W Dundee
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1989)

The amplitude of the P300 component of auditory evoked responses was found to be depressed by benzodiazepine sedation and was subsequently used to monitor the recovery of volunteers sedated with midazolam. The amplitude of the evoked responses was found to be highly correlated with blood midazolam levels but to be no more sensitive than standard psychomotor testing in assessing recovery from sedation.
High expression of midkine in the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Sandra Jovic, Sara Nordin, Arne Egesten
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Mutations in the CFTR gene result in impaired host defense during cystic fibrosis (CF), where Pseudomonas aeruginosa becomes a key pathogen. We investigated the expression pattern of the antibacterial growth factor midkine in CF and possible interference with its activity by the altered airway microenvironment. High midkine expression was found in CF lung tissue compared with controls, involving epithelium of the large and small airways, alveoli, and cells of the submucosa (i.e. neutrophils and mast cells). In CF sputum, midkine was present at 100-fold higher levels but was also subject to increased degradation, compared with midkine in sputum from healthy controls. Midkine had a bactericidal effect on P. aeruginosa but increasing salt concentrations and low pH impaired the activity. Molecular modeling suggested that the effects of salt and pH were due to electrostatic screening and a charge-neutralization of the membrane, respectively. Both neutrophil elastase and elastase of P. aeruginosa cleaved midkine to smaller fragments, resulting in impaired bactericidal activity. Thus, midkine is highly expressed in CF but its bactericidal properties may be impaired by the altered microenvironment as reflected by the in vitro conditions used in this study.
Mutagenicity of Extracts of Pickled Vegetables Collected in Linhsien County, a High-Incidence Area for Esophageal Cancer in Northern China&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: S H Lu, A M Camus, L Tomatis, H Bartsch
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1981)

Extracts of pickled vegetables commonly consumed in Linhsien County, a high-incidence area for esophageal cancer in Northern China, were studied for mutagenicity. The liquid residue from ethereal extracts produced a dose-dependent increase of mutants in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains; mutagenicity required the presence of a fortified liver microsomal activation system induced by Aroclor 1254 in adult male BD VI inbred rats. An amount of extract equivalent to 2.8 g fresh pickled vegetables produced sixfold (75 revertants/g) and twofold (45 revertants/g) increases in revertant frequencies in strains TA98 and TA100, respectively. Roussin's red methyl ester, a tetranitroso compound, [(NO)2Fe(CH3S)]2, not previously reported to occur in nature, was isolated and identified from the ethereal extracts. The synthetic compound was mutagenic in strain TA100 in the presence of a liver activation system, producing 25 revertants/mumol. Findings on the presence of mutagenic compounds in pickled vegetables were discussed in relation to their possible etiologic role in cancer of the esophagus in Linhsien County.
Rheumatic Fever and Streptococcal Infection. Unravelling the Mysteries of a Dread Disease.
Authors: A TYNDALL
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1998)

Rheumatic Fever and Streptococcal Infection . Unravelling the Mysteries of a Dread Disease . By Benedict F Massell. (Pp 394; $25). Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1997. ISBN 0-674-76877-9.

For most physicians reading this book in the developed world, rheumatic fever is a condition studied at medical school, rarely encountered in clinical practice and not considered a “dread disease” in comparison with, for example AIDS. Armed with the Jones criteria and bountiful antibiotics we feel confident in dealing with rheumatic fever, sometimes forgetting that in the developing world it remains a major problem, and that mini epidemics still occur in the USA and Europe.

This extraordinary work from Dr Benedict Massel is a timely reminder that rheumatogenic group A haemolytic streptococci are still present and still defying an effective vaccine development.

Dr Massel has accomplished in one concise and readable book (286 pages of …
BAL findings in idiopathic NSIP and IPF
Authors: Micaela Romagnoli, Claudia Ravaglia, Sara Tomassetti, Christian Gurioli, Carlo Gurioli, Gian Luca Casoni, Venerino Poletti
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

The role of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) in differentiating idiopathic NSIP (iNSIP) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is still controversial. Some authors described that BAL lymphocytosis is more likely suggestive of NSIP rather than IPF, that BAL neutrophilia is more suggestive of IPF, whereas other authors reported that BAL findings are not discriminating between NSIP and IPF.

BAL findings were retrospectively assessed in 57 patients, 26 with a histologically proven diagnosis of iNSIP (surgical lung biopsy n=19, criobiopsies n=7), and 31 with a diagnosis of IPF. BAL was obtained before lung biopsy, or at the first patient evaluation for some of the IPF patients. All patients underwent bronchoscopy during stable clinical conditions, and BAL excluded malignancy and/or infections in all cases. All patients were discussed at a multidisciplinary approach.

BAL total and differential cell counts did not differ between iNSIP (20 fibrosing, and 6 cellular) and IPF. The median (range) lymphocytes% was 11.5 (2-75) in iNSIP, and 7 (1-48) in IPF; the median (range) neutrophils% was 10.5 (0-59) in iNSIP, and 20 (1-83) in IPF. In the iNSIP group (age 56±12 years) patients were significantly younger than in IPF (age 70±6.6; p<0.0001), with a predominance of females (iNSIP n=17; IPF=22). One patient in the iNSIP group (3.8%) and 15 patients in the IPF group (48%) died during follow up. BAL findings were not predictive of survival nor of changes in lung function.

In conclusion, BAL findings are not helpful to discriminate the diagnosis between iNSIP and IPF patients. However, these data suggest that there might be different clinical-biological phenotypes in both iNSIP and IPF patients.
Efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of an oral recombinant Helicobacter pylori vaccine in children in China: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial
Authors: Ming Zeng, Xu-Hu Mao, Jing-Xin Li, Wen-De Tong, Bin Wang, Yi-Ju Zhang, Gang Guo, Zhi-Jing Zhao, Liang Li, De-Lin Wu, Dong-Shui Lu, Zhong-Ming Tan, Hao-Yu Liang, Chao Wu, Da-Han Li, Ping Luo, Hao Zeng, Wei-Jun Zhang, Jin-Yu Zhang, Bo-Tao Guo, Feng-Cai Zhu, Quan-Ming Zou
Journal: The Lancet (2015)
Abstract 18448: Beta-adrenergic Receptors are Downregulated in Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Authors: Shelley D Miyamoto, Brian L Stauffer, Kurt W Haubold, Penny L Nelson, Allen M Medway, Matthew Friedrich, Biagio A Pietra, Kurt R Stenmark, Carmen C Sucharov
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Failure of the systemic right ventricle (RV) in children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a leading cause of death and indication for heart transplantation. In adult heart failure stu...
Association Between Plasma Level of Galectin-9 and Survival of Patients With Drug-Induced Acute Liver Failure
Authors: Hugo R. Rosen, Scott W. Biggins, Toshiro Niki, Jane Gralla, Holly Hillman, Mitsuomi Hirashima, Michael Schilsky, William M. Lee, W.M. Lee, Anne M. Larson, Iris Liou, Timothy Davern, Oren Fix, Michael Schilsky, Timothy McCashland, J. Eileen Hay, Natalie Murray, A. Obaid S. Shaikh, Andres Blei, Daniel Ganger, Atif Zaman, Steven H.B. Han, Robert Fontana, Brendan McGuire, Raymond T. Chung, Alastair Smith, Robert Brown, Jeffrey Crippin, Edwin Harrison, Adrian Reuben, Santiago Munoz, Rajender Reddy, R. Todd Stravitz, Lorenzo Rossaro, Raj Satyanarayana, Tarek Hassanein, Grace Samuel, Ezmina Lalani, Carla Pezzia, Corron Sanders, Nahid Attar, Linda S. Hynan, Valerie Durkalski, Wenle Zhao, Catherine Dillon, Holly Battenhouse, Tomoko Goddard
Journal: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2015)
Inadequacy of ultrasonography for monitoring response to treatment of liver metastases.
Authors: A Giovagnoni, A Piga, G Argalia, G M Giuseppetti, P Ercolani, R Cellerino
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1993)

We prospectively evaluated the clinical efficacy of ultrasonography (US) in monitoring the effect of medical treatment in patients with liver metastases, by comparing serial US assessment with serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evaluation and clinical outcome in a group of 41 patients with solid tumors.Both examinations were performed in patients with metastatic liver disease at the start of a new treatment modality and monthly thereafter for 3 months; close monitoring was prolonged beyond the third month in cases in which there was disagreement between the two techniques and the clinical course was not conclusive.Planned follow-up was completed in 37 cases. There was limited concordance between the two examinations: in 21 cases only (56.8%), US and MRI gave concordant information on the evolution of hepatic metastases; in eight cases, both agreed on progression of disease (PD), in 11 cases on stable disease (SD), and in one case each on partial response (PR) and complete response (CR). In the remaining 16 cases (43.2%), there was disagreement between the two examinations. On the basis of subsequent clinical course, this discrepancy was shown to be due to US inadequacy in 13 cases and to MRI inadequacy in one case; in two cases, the clinical course was not conclusive. The most striking limits of US appeared to be twofold: (1) a progressive appearance, with chemotherapy, of a diffusely inhomogeneous structure of the liver, resulting in obscuration of focal lesions (and a subsequent judgement of CR) in cases in which lesions were, on the contrary, detected at MRI and usually confirmed by subsequent clinical course; and (2) false US-determined PD in cases in which lesions proven at baseline MRI were noted at US only after one to two courses of therapy.We conclude that US, which is known to be inaccurate for screening of liver metastases, is unreliable for the follow-up of metastatic liver disease; despite its wide availability, low cost, and noninvasiveness, critical therapeutic decisions should not be made based on the outcome of this test.
Abstract 2684: Modulators of Normal ECG Intervals Identified in a large Electronic Medical Record
Authors: Andrea Havens, Jonathan Schildcrout, Dan Masys, Justin Weinter, Jill Pulley, Melissa Basford, Dan Roden, Joshua Denny
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Background: Normal ECG intervals were derived from small studies nearly 50 years ago, mostly in Caucasian males. Methods: This analysis was conducted in the Vanderbilt Synthetic Derivative, a de-id...
The SHIP-Trend study – Epidemiology of sleep apnoea in Germany
Authors: Ingo Fietze, Alexander Blau, Isabella von Mengden, Sandra Zimmermann, Beate Diecker, Claudia Biro, Iris Rieger, Katharina Lau, Anne Obst, Henry Voelzke, Ralf Ewert, Martin Glos, Thomas Penzel
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

The SHIP-TREND study (Study of Health in Pomerania) is the first German population based study which implemented polysomnography (PSG) as one of the key investigations. 6000 inhabitants are drawn from the inhabitants registry. The main focus of SHIP-Trend is a full body MRI to evaluate the health status in northeast of Germany. An increased cardiovascular risk has been found in this region.

C ardiorespiratory PSG will be performed in all subjects between 20 and 79 years of age which agreed to participate. These subjects completed the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI scale), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Restless- Legs Syndrome Diagnostic Index (RLS-DI). Additionally all participants answered some specific questions about sleep duration and quality.

Until December 2010 2769 volunteers entered the study and 966 of them underwent PSG. In a preliminary analysis 502 subjects were analyzed (225 female, 277 male). The mean age was 53,03 years. 117 of 502 subjects (23.31%) showed an apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) greater than 15 per hour sleep. There was a significant difference in gender when investigating the prevalence of obstructive and central apnoeas. Mean AHI in women was 7.2 per hour sleep and in men 13.4 per hour sleep. Independent of gender AHI increased with age.

There is a high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnoea in pommeranian population. Men showed more nocturnal breathing events than women. We detected in both groups a progression of breathing events with age. After completing all subjects the influence of BMI and comorbid conditions will be analyzed.
Diffuse Panbronchiolitis and IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Céline Tossier, Charles Pilette, Laurent Guilleminault, Matthias Buchler, Anne de Muret, Patrice Diot, Sylvain Marchand Adam
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2014)

Chronic infections of respiratory tracts are suspected to promote the development of IgA nephropathy. From the study of one case, we discuss the hypothesis that infections by pseudomonas aeruginosa might promote an increased bronchial production of IgA1, which could pass in the serum and settle into immune complexes in the kidney. A 67 years old woman presented simultaneously IgA nephropathy and diffuse panbronchiolitis. The evolution was marked by repeated infections by pseudomonas aeruginosa. The study of lung biopsy by immunohistochemistry showed intense expression of IgA1 in bronchioles, increased when compared to large bronchi. In contrast, expression of the transport receptor (pIgR) was decreased in inflamed bronchioles and preserved in bronchi. The BAL during an infection by pseudomonas aeruginosa showed increased secretory (S-) IgA with predominance of S-IgA1 (28.6 µg/mL versus S-IgA2 8.4µg/mL). In the sera collected during two infectious episodes and compared with an inter-critical sample, we found an increased IgA1 (776 and 549µg/mL versus 455µg/mL), associated with increased polymeric IgA (estimated at 40-50%, versus normally  10%). The increased expression of IgA1 in bronchiolar tissue, BAL and serum in the case of our patient further suggests a putative link between IgA nephropathy and diffuse panbronchiolitis, through exuberant production of IgA1 induced by pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
Variation in Delivery of Palliative Radiotherapy to Persons Dying of Cancer in Nova Scotia, 1994 to 1998
Authors: Grace M. Johnston, Christopher J. Boyd, Paul Joseph, Maureen MacIntyre
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: To examine sociodemographic and clinical variables associated with provision of palliative radiotherapy (RT) to persons dying of cancer. METHODS: The Nova Scotia Cancer Registry was used to identify 9,978 adults who were dying of cancer between 1994 and 1998 in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. RT records from between April 1992 and December 1998 were obtained from the provincial treatment database. Multivariate analysis identified factors associated with two sequential decisions determining provision of palliative RT in the last 9 months of life: likelihood of receiving an RT consultation with a radiation oncologist and, given a consultation, likelihood of being treated with palliative RT. RESULTS: The likelihood of having a consultation decreased with age (20 to 59 years v 80+ years: odds ratio [OR], 4.43 [95% confidence interval, 3.80 to 5.15]), increased with community median household income (&gt; $50,000 v &lt; $20,000: OR, 1.31 [1.02 to 1.70]), was higher for residents closer to the cancer center (&lt; 25 km v 200+ km: OR, 2.47 [2.16 to 2.83]), increased between 1994 and 1998 (OR, 1.34 [1.16 to 1.56]), varied by cause of death (relative to thoracic cancers, head and neck: OR, 1.75 [1.31 to 2.33]; gynecologic: OR, 0.35 [0.27 to 0.44]), and was greater for those who had prior RT (OR, 2.20 [1.89 to 2.56]). Similar associations were observed when outcome was the provision of palliative RT given a consult, with one notable exception: prior RT was associated with a lower likelihood of receiving palliative RT (OR, 0.48 [0.40 to 0.58]). CONCLUSION: Variations observed in delivery of palliative RT should prompt further investigation into equity of access to clinically appropriate, palliative radiation consultation and treatment.
DEMENTIA PARALYTICA ACCOMPANIED BY MANIC-DEPRESSIVE AND SCHIZOPHRENIC PSYCHOSES
Authors: D. ROTHSCHILD
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1940)

In five clinically and serologically typical cases of dementia paralytica, there developed features strongly suggestive of manic-depressive or schizophrenic psychoses. Long-section studies of the cases pointed to the conclusion that these features were not merely a part of the neurosyphilitic disease but were manifestations of true manic-depressive and Schizophrenic psychoses which pursued their own lines of development independent of the organic disease. Anatomic observations available in one case supported this view. It is believed that manic-depressive or schizophrenic psychoses accompany dementia paralytica too frequently to be regarded as accidental concomitants of the latter. Apparently they are directly provoked by the organic brain disease.
Medicolegal and compensation aspects of occupational asthma
Authors: JD Dewitte, M Chan-Yeung, JL Malo
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1994)

The medicolegal aspects (primary prevention, secondary prevention or surveillance) and the system of compensation (tertiary prevention) for occupational asthma are reviewed in this article. Due to the significant medical, medicolegal, social and financial consequences, it is of the utmost importance that the diagnosis of occupational asthma be proved by objective means, whenever feasible. Compensation for temporary and permanent disability/impairment should be offered to workers. Attempts to retain subjects rapidly and efficiently are preferable, as occupational asthma generally affects young workers. The evaluation of permanent asthma and the awarding of relative permanent disability compensation should be effected 2 yrs after exposure to the causative agent has ended, as asthma generally persists even after exposure to the causative agent ceases. A tabulated review of prevailing medicolegal compensation systems in various countries is presented. Data on an evaluative assessment of the Quebec system of compensation are included.
Spectral biomarkers for chemoprevention of colonic neoplasia: a placebo-controlled double-blinded trial with aspirin
Authors: Hemant K Roy, Vladimir Turzhitsky, Ramesh Wali, Andrew J Radosevich, Borko Jovanovic, Gary Della'Zanna, Asad Umar, David T Rubin, Michael J Goldberg, Laura Bianchi, Mart De La Cruz, Andrej Bogojevic, Irene B Helenowski, Luz Rodriguez, Robert Chatterton, Silvia Skripkauskas, Katherine Page, Christopher R Weber, Xiaoke Huang, Ellen Richmond, Raymond C Bergan, Vadim Backman
Journal: Gut (2015)

<h3>Objective</h3> A major impediment to translating chemoprevention to clinical practice has been lack of intermediate biomarkers. We previously reported that rectal interrogation with low-coherence enhanced backscattering spectroscopy (LEBS) detected microarchitectural manifestations of field carcinogenesis. We now wanted to ascertain if reversion of two LEBS markers spectral slope (SPEC) and fractal dimension (FRAC) could serve as a marker for chemopreventive efficacy. <h3>Design</h3> We conducted a multicentre, prospective, randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled, clinical trial in subjects with a history of colonic neoplasia who manifested altered SPEC/FRAC in histologically normal colonic mucosa. Subjects (n=79) were randomised to 325 mg aspirin or placebo. The primary endpoint changed in FRAC and SPEC spectral markers after 3 months. Mucosal levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)1A6 genotypes were planned secondary endpoints. <h3>Results</h3> At 3 months, the aspirin group manifested alterations in SPEC (48.9%, p=0.055) and FRAC (55.4%, p=0.200) with the direction towards non-neoplastic status. As a measure of aspirin9s pharmacological efficacy, we assessed changes in rectal PGE2 levels and noted that it correlated with SPEC and FRAC alterations (R=−0.55, p=0.01 and R=0.57, p=0.009, respectively) whereas there was no significant correlation in placebo specimens. While UGT1A6 subgroup analysis did not achieve statistical significance, the changes in SPEC and FRAC to a less neoplastic direction occurred only in the variant consonant with epidemiological evidence of chemoprevention. <h3>Conclusions</h3> We provide the first proof of concept, albeit somewhat underpowered, that spectral markers reversion mirrors antineoplastic efficacy providing a potential modality for titration of agent type/dose to optimise chemopreventive strategies in clinical practice. <h3>Trial Number</h3> NCT00468910