tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
New medical association starts in South Africa
Authors: Pat Sidley
Journal: BMJ (1998)

South African doctors have reformed themselves into a new association in an attempt to eradicate past links with the apartheid era. What is significant about the new association is that many of the doctors who have been voted on to its council come from a prominent group of progressive doctors disaffected by apartheid.

The newly formed South African Medical Association is made up of the Medical Association of South Africa (MASA) and the Progressive Doctors Group. MASA was the largest and oldest group of doctors--it was …
Patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer treated with concurrent twice-daily chest radiotherapy and etoposide/cisplatin followed by cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine.
Authors: B E Johnson, J D Bridges, M Sobczeck, J Gray, R I Linnoila, A F Gazdar, L Hankins, S M Steinberg, M Edison, J N Frame, H Pass, J Nesbitt, D Holden, J L Mulshine, E Glatstein, D C Ihde
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1996)

A phase II trial in patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer treated with induction etoposide/cisplatin plus twice-daily chest radiotherapy was conducted in an attempt to increase response rates and prolong survival.Fifty-four previously untreated patients with limited-stage small-cell cancer were treated with etoposide/cisplatin and concurrent radiotherapy at 1.5 Gy twice daily for 3 weeks to a total dose of 45 Gy. Patients then received three more cycles of etoposide/cisplatin followed by four cycles of vincristine, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide or an individualized chemotherapy regimen.Nine patients are alive and free of cancer a median of 4 years (range, 2 to 7) from the start of treatment. Thirty-eight have had progression of their cancer at a median of 1.2 years (range, 0.5 to 5.4) and all have died of small-cell cancer. Thirteen of these 38 patients' (34%) only site of initial relapse was in the CNS and all died of CNS metastases. Five patients died during therapy or from its complications and two patients died of causes other than relapsed small-cell lung cancer and toxicity. The median survival time is 21.3 months, with an actual survival rate of 83% at 1 year, and actuarial survival rates of 43% at 2 years and 19% at 5 years.This combined modality regimen for patients with limited-stage small-cell lung cancer results in a 2-year survival rate of 43%, but the principal cause of death in these patients is still relapse of the original cancer. Isolated CNS metastases caused more than 30% of the cancer deaths.
Six cycles of ABVD in the treatment of stage I and II Hodgkin's lymphoma: a pilot study.
Authors: A Rueda, E Alba, N Ribelles, I Sevilla, I Ruiz, J Miramón
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1997)

Chemotherapy is the standard treatment in advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma and a therapeutic alternative for early stages. Although polychemotherapy with doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) is equivalent or superior to mechloretamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) in advanced disease, no series have been published using ABVD without associated radiotherapy in early stages. We report the results obtained with the administration of six cycles of ABVD alone in clinical stage I and II disease.From January 1990 to October 1994, 23 patients with stage I or II Hodgkin's lymphoma were treated with six cycles of ABVD; six patients who met the criteria for mediastinal bulky disease also received radiotherapy to the mediastinum.After six cycles, 20 complete responses (CRs) and three partial responses (PRs), which became CRs after radiotherapy, were obtained. Toxicity was moderate and manageable. With a median follow-up duration of 37 months (range, 12 to 75), three patients have relapsed and one has died. Overall and progression-free survival rates at 42 months are 95% and 84%, respectively.Six cycles of ABVD are effective and safe in the treatment of stage I and II Hodgkin's lymphoma, at least in the short term, but long-term observation data are not yet available.
Clustered Immunotherapy with Yellow Jacket Venom
Authors: H.‐J. Malling, R. Djurup, I. Søndergaard, B. Weeke
Journal: Allergy (1985)

To evaluate difference in clinical efficacy, side effects, in vivo and in vitro parameters, 25 patients allergic to Yellow Jacket were treated with clustered immunotherapy using either 7 or 14 days interval between clusters. Twenty‐one patients completed the 6 months’ treatment period and four were withdrawn due to adverse reactions (2 cases of anaphylactic shock). Sixteen patients were challenged by in‐hospital sting and the clinical efficacy was complete. Local side effects were observed in the majority of patients, but only rarely limited the course of immunotherapy. Skin sensitivity estimated as the venom concentration eliciting a wheal equal to histamine HCl 0.1 mg/ml using intradermal test was significantly reduced after 6 months of treatment. Specific IgE showed an initial increase, thereafter declining to pretreatment levels. IgG subclasses were determined by a triple antibody assay. Only subclasses 1 and 4 showed response. Subclass 4 showed a steady increase contrary to subclass 1 which decreased after reaching maintenance dose. No unambiguous relation between either the absolute value or the change of IgG 1 and IgG 4 at the time of challenge was observed in the patients who tolerated a sting. Furthermore, the IgG response was not correlated to the cumulative dose of venom administered. No simple regulatory function of IgG subclasses in the skin and IgE response was found, and the occurrence of local side effects did not seem to be determined by IgG antibodies. We conclude that clustered immunotherapy with Yellow Jacket venom is highly effective and that the frequency of side effects is acceptable. Neither the IgE nor the IgG response is significantly different with a 7‐ and 14‐day interval between clusters, indicating that a protective dose of venom might be reached within 1 month.
Paper on food banks does not justify a link to party politics
Authors: Z. Blake
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Your recent Editor’s Choice singles out David Cameron as “flummoxed” by questions about food banks in the leaders’ interviews.1 You then imply “a link between the current government’s austerity policies and food insecurity” when introducing Loopstra and colleagues’ paper.2

This paper shows that food bank establishment and activity correlates with markers of economic hardship and previous local food bank activity. The evidence …
Comparing LYVE-1 and D2-40 expression in small cell lung carcinomas (SCLC); association with clinical parameters and lymphatic invasion
Authors: Georgia Hardavella, Vasiliki Siozopoulou, Anna Batistatou, Petros Galanis, Yiotanna Dalavanga, Manos Alchanatis, Dimitrios Stefanou, Stavros Constantopoulos
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction:  Lymphangiogenesis is actively facilitating tumor metastasis.LYVE-1 and D2-40 are two new lymphatic endothelial markers;their expression and prognostic impact in SCLC still remain vague.   Aim:  To investigate the lymphangiogenetic expression in SCLC we measured the intratumoral lymphatic microvessel density (ILMVD), the lymphatic invasion (L.I) and their correlation with clinical parameters.   Materials and methods:  Retrospective study of 55 SCLC patients (mean age:68.1 years,range 40-89). Histological specimens from all patients were immunohistochemically stained for D2-40 (epitope of podoplanin) and LYVE-1 (CD44 homolog). Calculation of ILMVD and assessment of L.I were performed and correlation with clinical data followed.   Results:  D2-40 and LYVE-1 were expressed in all specimens whilst L.I in 59.6%. D2-40 and LYVE-1 ILMVD were associated with the stage at diagnosis (p=0.017 and p=0.03 respectively) and L.I (p=0.00 and p=0.02 respectively). D2-40 ILMVD was particularly associated with certain target organs for metastasis (liver:p=0.001,adrenals: p=0.046,brain: p=0.007). L.I was associated with stage (p=0.00) and all target organs for metastasis (p   Conclusions:  D2-40 and LYVE-1 and L.I were highly expressed in SCLC and independently associated with poor patient outcome, thus presenting new insights in prognosis. D2-40 presented a more potent role by associating with certain target organs for metastases. Defining subgroups of patients with poorer prognosis at the time of diagnosis could reinforce the development and application of new targeted therapeutic strategies.
Abstract 2980: Cerebral Embolism After Transapical Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Thorsten N Drews, Miralem Pasic, Stephan Dreysse, Semih Buz, Axel Unbehaun, Marian Kukucka, Alexander Mladenow, Roland Hetzer
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Objectives - Transapical aortic valve implantation is a new method for treatment of very high-risk patients with aortic valve stenosis. The risk of procedural cerebral embolism is unknown. We examined the incidence of postoperative neurological events and compared it with the results of pre-and postoperative computed tomography (CT). Methods - Between April 2008 and Mai 2009, 114 consecutive high-risk patients (mean age: 78±10 years; mean EuroSCORE: 39±20%; mean STS mortality score: 23±19%) underwent transapical aortic valve implantation. The patients were examined pre- and postoperatively for new neurological complications. Preoperative clinical neurological examinations and CT imaging data revealed the diagnosis of old single or multiple cerebral emboli or infarcts in 38 patients (33%). Postoperative CT examinations were performed during the first week after the operation. Results - Postoperatively, CT examinations of the brain revealed in six patients (5%) new ischemic areas with a diameter ranging bet...
Composite Hyoid-Sternohyoid Graft in the Correction of Established Subglottic Stenosis
Authors: A P Freeland
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1981)

A new technique for the treatment of subglottic stenosis is reported. A composite hyoid bone with sternohyoid muscle graft is used to replace the anterior arch of the cricoid, combined with a vertical split of the posterior lamina of the cricoid. Internal splinting is maintained with a Silastic mould. Ten patients with established subglottic stenosis, 7 from traumatic and 3 from non-traumatic causes, have been treated. All patients needed a tracheostomy for maintenance of an airway prior to operation. Nine patients were successfully decannulated two weeks after removal of the internal Silastic splint. Five of the 10 patients were children under the age of 13 years.
Body mass index, disease control and airway inflammation in asthmatic patients
Authors: Roberta Pisi, Marina Aiello, Panagiota Tzani, Emilio Marangio, Dario Olivieri, Alfredo Chetta
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  The association between overweight and asthma remains controversial.   Aim:  To investigate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), disease control and airway inflammation in an asthmatic population.   Methods:  We consecutively studied 408 patients (43±16 yr; 248 F). In all patients, BMI, spirometry, Asthma Control Test (ACT) and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO, ppb) were measured.   Results:  205 patients had a BMI > 25 kg/m 2  and, as compared to those with normal BMI, had lower values of FVC, FEV 1 , FEV 1 /FVC, FEF 25 , FEF 75  and FEF 25-75  ( p  for each comparison). The ratio between the number of patients with well controlled asthma (ACT ≥ 20) and that of patients with poor controlled asthma (ACT  106/99  vs 131/71; χ 2 = 7.227, p ). In patients with increased BMI, the odds ratio of uncontrolled asthma was 1.723 (95% CI = 1.157-2.566). No difference was observed in FeNO values between the two groups of patients.   Conclusions:  Our results show that in an asthmatic population, the increase in BMI is associated with poor spirometry and worse disease control, but not with FeNO values.
High-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell rescue in patients with recurrent and high-risk pediatric brain tumors.
Authors: M L Graham, J E Herndon, J R Casey, S Chaffee, G H Ciocci, J P Krischer, J Kurtzberg, M J Laughlin, D C Longee, J F Olson, N Paleologus, C N Pennington, H S Friedman
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1997)

PURPOSE We treated 49 patients with recurrent or poor-prognosis CNS malignancies with high-dose chemotherapy regimens followed by autologous marrow rescue with or without peripheral-blood stem-cell augmentation to determine the toxicity of and event-free survival after these regimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS Nineteen patients had medulloblastomas, 12 had glial tumors, seven had pineoblastomas, five had ependymomas, three had primitive neuroectodermal tumors, two had germ cell tumors, and one had fibrosarcoma. Thirty-seven received chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide 1.5 g/m2 daily x 4 and melphalan 25 to 60 mg/m2 daily x 3. Nine received busulfan 37.5 mg/m2 every 6 hours x 16 and melphalan 180 mg/m2 (n = 7) or 140 mg/m2 (n = 2). Three received carboplatin 700 mg/m2/d on days -7, -5, and -3 and etoposide 500 mg/m2/d on days -6, -4, and -2. All patients received standard supportive care. RESULTS Eighteen of 49 patients survive event-free 22+ to 55+ months (median, 33+) after transplantation, including nine of 16 treated before recurrence and nine of 33 treated after recurrence. There was one transplant-related death from pulmonary aspergillosis. Of five patients assessable for disease response, one had a partial remission (2 months), one has had stable disease (55+ months), and three showed progression 2, 5, and 8 months after transplantation. CONCLUSION The toxicity of these regimens was tolerable. Certain patients with high-risk CNS malignancies may benefit from such a treatment approach. Subsequent trials should attempt to determine which patients are most likely to benefit from high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell rescue.
Failure of supplementation with vitamin E to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in infants less than 1,500 g birth weight
Authors: JL Watts, R Milner, A Zipursky, B Paes, E Ling, G Gill, B Fletcher, C Rand
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1991)

In a randomized trial to determine whether oral vitamin E reduced stages III and IV bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by 50%, 268 infants were randomly allocated, after stratification by birth weight and severity of disease, to receive vitamin E 25 units or an indistinguishable placebo. The experimental (E) group and the control (C) group were similar in weight, gestational ages, Apgar scores, severity of illness, and initial oxygen and ventilator exposure. Serum vitamin E levels were significantly different within 48 h of administration and remained well above normal adult levels from the first week of life in the experimental group. There was no difference in the rates of early death, BPD at 28 days, or mortality from BPD. Severity was similar and no difference was seen in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis or sepsis. There was no evidence that vitamin E supplementation offered protection against chronic lung disease in infants less than 1,500 g birth weight.
Osteopontin and soluble mesothelin-related peptide levels in malignant and benign diseases due to environmental asbestos exposure and healthy people with environmental asbestos exposure
Authors: Mehmet Bayram, Isa Döngel, Ali Akbas, Nur Dilek Bakan, Ismail Benli
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Objective: To determine osteopontin and soluble mesothelin-related peptide (SMRP) levels in malignant mesothelioma (MM) patients, in subjects with pleural plaques (PP) due to environmental asbestos exposure and in healthy subjects with environmental asbestos exposure.

Methods: Blood samples were taken from 279 residents from villages close to ophiolitic units (OU) (serpentin asbest containing) with PP on chest X-ray, 123 healthy subjects from villages close to OU, 120 healthy subjects from villages >26 km distant to OU and 24 MM patients.

Results: Mean serum osteopontin levels for MM, PP, asbestos-exposed healthy subjects and healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos were 21.207, 8.956, 9.453 and 9.725 ng/L respectively. Mean serum SMRP levels for MM, PP, asbestos-exposed healthy subjects and healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos were 4.59, 1.10, 1.11 and 1.12 ng/L respectively. Mean levels of both biomarkers were significantly higher in MM patients. The comparisons of biomarkers levels between the other three groups revealed no significant difference. Area under ROC curve was 0.86, sensitivity 75%, specificity 86% for osteopontin (cutoff value:17.273 ng/L) detecting MM. Area under ROC curve was 0.75, sensitivity 58%, specificity 83% for SMRP (cutoff value:1.63 ng/L) detecting MM. No difference was found between the areas under ROC curves of the two biomarkers in the diagnosis of MM.

Conclusion: Osteopontin and SMRP levels are higher in MM patients than in subjects with PP and healthy subjects with environmental asbestos exposure. The two biomarkers have no superiority to each other.
Novartis agrees to pay $390m in US kickback case
Authors: Michael McCarthy
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Novartis AG, the Swiss drug company, has agreed to pay $390m (£255m; €352m) to settle a lawsuit in which the US government claimed that the company had paid kickbacks to specialty pharmacies to boost sales of its drugs.

The lawsuit filed by the US Department of Justice had initially sought $3.35bn in fines and damages, charging that the kickback …
Multimodal therapy for the management of nonpelvic, localized Ewing's sarcoma of bone: intergroup study IESS-II.
Authors: E O Burgert, M E Nesbit, L A Garnsey, E A Gehan, J Herrmann, T J Vietti, A Cangir, M Tefft, R Evans, P Thomas
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1990)

Two hundred fourteen eligible patients with previously untreated, localized Ewing's sarcoma of bone were randomized on IESS-II to receive Adriamycin (ADR; doxorubicin; Adria Laboratories, Columbus, OH), cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dactinomycin by either a high-dose intermittent method (treatment [trt] 1) or a moderate-dose continuous method (trt 2) similar to the four-drug arm of IESS-I. Patient characteristics (sex, primary site, type of surgery) were stratified at the time of registration; these and other patient characteristics (age, time from symptoms to diagnosis, race) were distributed similarly between treatments. Surgical resection was encouraged, but not mandatory. Local radiation therapy was the same as for IESS-I. The median follow-up time is 5.6 years. The overall outcome was significantly better on trt 1 than on trt 2. At 5 years, the estimated percentages of patients who were disease-free, relapse-free, and surviving were 68%, 73%, and 77% for trt 1 and 48%, 56%, and 63% for trt 2 (P = .02, .03, and .05, respectively). The major reason for treatment failure for both treatment groups was the development of metastatic disease. The lung was the most common site of metastases followed by bone sites. The combined incidence of severe or worse toxicity (67%) was comparable between the treatments; however, severe or worse cardiovascular toxicity was significantly greater on trt 1. Tne only treatment-associated deaths (N = 3) were on trt 1 and were cardiac-related.
INTRACTABLE PUSTULAR ERUPTIONS OF THE HANDS AND FEET..
Authors: JOHN EVERALL
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1957)

Journal Article INTRACTABLE PUSTULAR ERUPTIONS OF THE HANDS AND FEET.: A Review of 70 Patients. Get access JOHN EVERALL, M.R.C.P. JOHN EVERALL, M.R.C.P. Dermatological Tutor, The General Infirmary at Leeds Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar British Journal of Dermatology, Volume 69, Issue 7-8, 1 July 1957, Pages 269–272, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2133.1957.tb13266.x Published: 01 July 1957
Influence of smoking among residents doctors in a tertiary teaching hospital and their attitude of giving smoking cessation advice
Authors: Wassim Zakaria, Abdalla Khoury
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction: Smoking among resident doctors would be an obstacle to effective Smoking prevention, in particular the practice of minimal advice.  Objectives: To assess the Smoking habits of resident doctors in a tertiary teaching Hospital and to study the link between their Smoking status and their practice of minimal Smoking cessation advice in 2011 in a legislative context unfavorable to smokers.  Methods: From a total 477 resident doctors in Aleppo University Hospital, 466 doctors l answered a survey (response rate:97.6%) investigating their own Smoking habits and how they approach patients who smoke.  Results: The Prevalence of active Smoking among responders was(24%)[35% were Male, and 4% Female], 4% were former smokers and 72% never smoked. Regular smokers (58%)smoked an average 15 cigarettes a day and [43%were nicotine dependant (5%) strongly]. 66% of smokers doctors wish to stop Smoking an more than 50% of them wish to consult Anti-Smoking clinic. When consulting doctors systematically addressed smoking habits(62%) said that they gave minimal smoking cessation advice, in contrast with (87%) of non smokers doctors. The incidence of Smoking in the family9s smoker resident doctors was(64%)in contrast with non smokers (41%).  Conclusions: Resident doctors who smoked were less prone to ask their patients if they smoke (38% versus 13% of non-smokers: P=0.003) and they believed that their smoking does not influence their practice of giving minimal smoking advice.
Alprazolam-induced dyscontrol in borderline personality disorder
Authors: David L. Gardner, Rex W. Cowdry
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1985)

The authors report a significant increase in dyscontrol in patients with borderline personality disorder who were taking alprazolam during a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. They suggest that caution be used in prescribing alprazolam to patients with similar histories.
Cognitive dysfunction is greater in patients hospitalised with COPD exacerbations than with worsening heart failure
Authors: Mohani Bajaj, Andrew Tappouni, Michael Tumilty, James Dodd, Paul Jones, Emma Baker
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction   People with COPD have cognitive dysfunction, which is greater in those hospitalised for exacerbations than in stable outpatients [Dodd et al Chest 144:119-27].   Aims   We tested the hypothesis that cognitive dysfunction is a disease-specific feature of COPD exacerbations by comparing cognition in patients hospitalised with COPD exacerbations or with worsening heart failure.   Methods   Patients hospitalised with COPD exacerbations or congestive or left sided heart failure (HF) without previous stroke, neurological disease or alcohol dependence completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Hospital Anxiety and Depression score (HAD) and underwent spirometry and review of clinical records.   Results   Age, acute illness severity and comorbidities were similar in COPD and HF.  MoCA was lower in COPD (21.0±5.8) than in HF (24.9±3.6, p=0.013). Visuospatial/executive function (COPD 2.7±1.5; HF 3.9±1.3, p=0.008) and attention (COPD 3.8±1.7; HF 5.0±1.3, p=0.014) were impaired in COPD and anxiety and depression (HAD. COPD 19.6±9.8; HF 13.9±7.5, p=0.045) were increased. On multiple linear regression, HAD (p=0.01), pack years (p=0.033) and age (p=0.008), but not primary diagnosis (COPD/HF) or gender, were independently associated with MoCA.   Conclusions   Hospitalised COPD patients with exacerbations have greater cognitive impairment than those with worsening heart failure. Differences may be explained by greater smoking load and more anxiety and depression.