tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Smoking cessation: Results of three year's activity
Authors: Francesca Becciu, Maria Francesca Polo, Sandra Manca, Sonia Serreri, Piero Pirina
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction:  Cigarette smoking is widely considered the most common cause of cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases and smoking cessation programs are effective in the treatment of this condition.   Aims:  To analyse the results of our protocol for smoking cessation after three years of activity; to check the efficacy of follow up; to value the drug success rate of NRT (Nicotine Replacement Therapy), Varenicline and association between Varenicline and Nicotine Inhaler.   Methods:  from June 2006 to December 2010 we enrolled 445 subjects, 163 men (37%) and 282 women (63%). All patients who participated in our protocol, which includes a course of three sessions and counselling combinated with drug therapy (Nicotine Therapy Replacement and/or Varenicline), were called by phone in February 2011.   Results:  The mean age of our patients was 49±11 years and the mean smoking exposure 34 pack/years. The degree of nicotine dependence tested with Fagerstrom Questionnaire was very low (0-2) in 9% of patients, low (3-4) in 17%, medium (5-6) in 34%, high (7-8) in 30% and very high (9-10) in 10%.  The average of Exhaled Carbon Monoxide (CO) was 25±13 ppm.  The abstinence rate was: after a month 71%, 3 months 38.4%, 6 months 37.9%, 1 year 37.8%, 2 years 36.3% and 3 years 26.5%.  The drug therapy success rate was 37.2% for NRT, 28.5% for Varenicline and 34.2% for Varenicline associated with Nicotine Inhaler as needed.   Conclusions:  Our results confirm the importance of follow up and regular phone calls in improving outcomes in smoking cessation.  The NRT has showed the best success rate and the efficacy of Vareniclina can be improved with Nicotine Inhaler association: maybe we can consider this drug combination like an emerging treatment.
Books Received
Authors: W Katon, E Lin, M Von Korff, J Russo, P Lipscomb, T Bush
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1991)

The DSM-III-R diagnosis of somatization disorder requires that a patient have a specific number of medically unexplained somatic symptoms. This number of symptoms was developed by committee consensus, and it is not clear whether patients with this specific number of symptoms can be differentiated from patients with lower but still substantial numbers of somatic symptoms.Fifty-one percent of 767 high utilizers of two primary care clinics were identified as distressed by an elevated SCL anxiety, depression, or somatization scale score or by their primary care physician. The Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) was completed on 119 distressed high utilizers who were randomly assigned to an intervention group in a controlled trial of psychiatric consultation. The 119 distressed high utilizers were separated into four categories according to the number of unexplained somatic symptoms found on the DIS and were compared on demographic, psychiatric distress, disability, medical, and health utilization variables.The data suggest that many clinical and behavioral features of somatization are significantly more common in patients with four to 12 medically unexplained somatic symptoms rather than changing dramatically at the diagnostic threshold for somatization disorder. The data also showed that patients who meet the DSM-III-R criteria for somatization disorder are severely ill and have a high burden of psychiatric illness and disability.The results suggest that the DSM-IV somatoform disorders section should include somatization disorder, an abridged definition of somatization disorder often associated with anxiety and depression, as well as a type of somatization associated with an adjustment disorder.
The role of soluble guanylyl cyclase in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Constantinos Glynos, Lisa L. Dupont, Theodoros Vassilakopoulos, Andreas Papapetropoulos, Peter Brouckaert, Athanassios Giannis, Guy F. Joos, Ken R. Bracke, Guy G. Brusselle
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Rationale: Soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), a cyclic guanosine 59-monophosphate–generating enzyme, regulates smooth muscle toneandexertsantiinflammatoryeffectsinanimalmodelsofasthma and acute lung injury. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), primarily caused by cigarette smoke (CS), lung inflammation persists and smooth muscle tone remains elevated, despite ample amounts of nitric oxide that could activate sGC. Objectives: To determine theexpression and functionof sGCinpatients with COPD and in a murine model of COPD. Methods: Expression of sGCa1, a2, andb1 subunits was examined in lungs of never-smokers, smokers without airflow limitation, and patients with COPD; and in C57BL/6 mice after 3 days, 4 weeks, and 24 weeks of CS exposure. The functional role of sGC was investigatedinvivobymeasuringbronchialresponsivenesstoserotoninin mice using genetic and pharmacologic approaches. Measurements and Main Results: Pulmonary expression of sGC, both at mRNA and protein level, was decreased in smokers without airflow limitation and in patients with COPD, and correlated with disease severity (FEV1%). In mice, exposure to CS reduced sGC, cyclic guanosine 59-monophosphate levels, and protein kinase G activity. sGCa1 2/2 mice exposed to CS exhibited bronchial hyperresponsiveness to serotonin. Activation of sGC by BAY 58-2667 restored the sGC signaling and attenuated bronchial hyperresponsiveness in CS-exposed mice. Conclusions: Down-regulation of sGC because of CS exposure might contribute to airflow limitation in COPD.
Pathophysiology and burden of infection in patients with diabetes mellitus and peripheral vascular disease: focus on skin and soft-tissue infections
Authors: M. Dryden, M. Baguneid, C. Eckmann, S. Corman, J. Stephens, C. Solem, J. Li, C. Charbonneau, N. Baillon-Plot, S. Haider
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2015)

Diabetes mellitus affects 284 million adults worldwide and is increasing in prevalence. Accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with diabetes mellitus contributes an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases including peripheral vascular disease (PVD). Immune dysfunction, diabetic neuropathy and poor circulation in patients with diabetes mellitus, especially those with PVD, place these patients at high risk for many types of typical and atypical infections. Complicated skin and soft-tissue infections (cSSTIs) are of particular concern because skin breakdown in patients with advanced diabetes mellitus and PVD provides a portal of entry for bacteria. Patients with diabetes mellitus are more likely to be hospitalized with cSSTIs and to experience related complications than patients without diabetes mellitus. Patients with PVD requiring lower extremity bypass are also at high risk of surgical site and graft infections. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent causative pathogen in cSSTIs, and may be a significant contributor to surgical site infections, especially in patients who are colonized with MRSA on hospital admission. Patients with cSSTIs and diabetes mellitus or PVD experience lower clinical success rates than patients without these comorbidities, and may also have a longer length of hospital stay and higher risk of adverse drug events. Clinicians should be vigilant in recognizing the potential for infection with multi-drug-resistant organisms, especially MRSA, in these populations and initiating therapy with appropriate antibiotics.
Decametoxine efficiency in the treatment of infectious exacerbation of asthma
Authors: Mykola Gumeniuk, Svitlana Panchuk
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background. Epidemiological research shows that respiratory viral infection is the most common cause of acute asthma exacerbations (in 80-85% of children and 75% of adults) and complicates and prolongs its course. An important component of the pathogenic impact of respiratory viral infection is mucociliary clearance worsening and bacteria promotion to the lower respiratory tract. Thus, liquidation of infectious factors in patients with asthma in combination with basic therapy may contribute to the improvement of the clinical course of the disease. In vitro studies antiseptic for topical use decametoxine has shown bactericidal and virucidal action against major viral and bacterial infectious agents that cause asthma exacerbations. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of decametoxine in patients with infectious exacerbation of asthma.

Methods. The main group consisted of 26 patients (11 men and 15 women, 29-63 years old) with infective moderate (21 patients) and severe (5 patients) asthma exacerbations, in whom basic therapy was supplemented with inhalations of 4 ml 0.02% sol. decametoxine via nebulizer twice a day for 10 days. The control group (11 persons) consisted of patients with infectious exacerbation of asthma who received only basic therapy.

Results. In patients of the main group compared to control significantly earlier normalized body temperature and symptoms of intoxication (HR, RR, weakness) was noticed; also reduced the frequency of dyspnea, which led to a reduction in length of hospitalization.

Conclusions. In patients with infectious exacerbation of asthma supplement the basic treatment by decametoxine inhalations can improve the clinical course of the disease.
Quality of life in obstructive lung diseases
Authors: Paulo Matos, Claudia Santos, Pedro Ferreira, Tiago Alfaro, Emilia Faria, Maria João Matos
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction: The quality of life burden of respiratory diseases like Asthma or COPD is significant, both in emotional and physical aspects, but not only explained by airflow limitation and pulmonary functional status.

Objectives: To compare the quality of life of patients with persistent asthma and COPD in similar functional profiling.

Methods: Study included 13 consecutive patients with COPD and 13 consecutive patients with moderate or severe persistent asthma, followed at our Center, taking chronic daily medication. All patients showed similar functional profile in spirometry (FEV1 between 50 and 80% of predicted). They answered an health related quality of life survey (SF-36), which assesses mental and physical components. Characteristics as co-morbidities, smoking and frequent symptoms were also evaluated.

Results: Of the 13 COPD patients, 11 were males presenting higher average age than the asthmatic group (65.6 ± 9.8). The asthmatic group had FEV1 values slightly less severe than the COPD group (62.6 ± 6.4; 56.9 ± 4.5), statistically significant difference (t-test p = 0.015). For symptoms such as dyspnea, wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness results were similar in two groups. Co-morbidities were more prevalent in the COPD group. Patients with persistent asthma had average lower values of all 8 parameters in survey, results were all statistically significant (t-test p <0.03), except for the RE.

Conclusion: Patients with persistent asthma, even with slightly less severe functional values than COPD patients and with fewer co-morbidities, had higher physical and mental disease impact.
Drug points: Transient hemiparesis with topiramate
Authors: L. J Stephen, J. E Maxwell, M. J Brodie
Journal: BMJ (1999)

Proteinase-activated receptor (PAR)<sub>2</sub> is activated by trypsin-like serine proteinases and has been implicated in intestinal inflammation. However, its role in the regulation of intestinal mucosal function remains unclear. Using the intestinal epithelial cell line, SCBN, we have studied the stimulus-secretion coupling mechanisms of PAR<sub>2</sub>-induced epithelial chloride transport, focusing on cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 activities and prostaglandin (PG) E<sub>2</sub> secretion. SCBN monolayers were grown on Snapwell supports, mounted in modified Ussing chambers, and exposed to the activating peptide, SLIGRL-NH<sub>2</sub> (50 μM), to activate PAR<sub>2</sub>. Pretreatment with inhibitors of cytosolic PLA<sub>2</sub> (cPLA<sub>2</sub>) (AACOCF3, arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone), COX-1 [SC560, 5-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1<i>H</i>-pyrazole], and COX-2 (celecoxib) resulted in a significant concentration-dependent attenuation of PAR<sub>2</sub>-induced changes in short-circuit current. Immunoblot analysis showed a PAR<sub>2</sub>-induced increase in cPLA<sub>2</sub> phosphorylation that was blocked by the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitor, PD98059 [2-(2-amino-3methoxyphenyl)-4<i>H</i>-1benzopyran-4-one, C<sub>16</sub>H<sub>13</sub>NO<sub>3</sub>], and the pan-protein kinase C inhibitor, GFX (bisindolylmaleimide). PAR<sub>2</sub> stimulation also resulted in a large increase in the production of PGE<sub>2</sub> as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and was also blocked by PD98059 and GFX. Immunofluorescence and immunoblot analysis determined that EP2 and EP4 are expressed at the basolateral membrane of SCBN cells. Through the use of selective inhibitors (EP2, AH6809 [6-isopropoxy-9-oxoxanthene-2-carboxylic acid]; EP4, GW627368X [<i>N</i>-{2[4,9-diethoxy-1-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2<i>H</i>-benzo[<i>f</i>]isoindol-2-yl)phenyl] acetyl}benzene sulphonamide]), it was found that both EP2 and EP4 were involved in mediating the PAR<sub>2</sub>-induced chloride secretory response. We conclude that basolateral PAR<sub>2</sub> activation induces epithelial chloride secretion that is mediated by cPLA<sub>2</sub>, COX-1, COX-2, and the subsequent release of PGE<sub>2</sub>. The production of PGE<sub>2</sub> results in an autocrine secretory response that is dependent on basolateral EP2 and EP4 receptors.
Alcohol advertising: the last chance saloon
Authors: Gerard Hastings, Oona Brooks, Martine Stead, Kathryn Angus, Thomas Anker, Tom Farrell
Journal: BMJ (2010)

Research has established that alcohol advertising,1-3 like that for tobacco4 and fast food,5-7 influences behaviour. It encourages young people to drink alcohol sooner and in greater quantities. From a public health perspective, advertising of alcohol should clearly be limited. The United Kingdom has opted for a system of self regulatory controls that focuses primarily on the content of advertisements, with some limitations on the channels that can be used. This is overseen by the Advertising Standards Authority, through the Committee of Advertising Practice, which represents the interests of advertisers, agencies, and media owners.    As part of its alcohol inquiry, the House of Commons health select committee wanted to explore the success of self regulation. It obtained a large number of internal marketing documents from alcohol producers and their communications agencies in order to examine the thinking and strategic planning that underpin alcohol advertising and hence show not just what advertisers are saying, but why they are saying it. Here we present the key insights to emerge.
<i>CCR</i> 20th Anniversary Commentary: Simpson's Paradox and Neoadjuvant Trials
Authors: Lisa A. Carey
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2015)

The research article by Carey and colleagues, published in the April 15, 2007, issue of Clinical Cancer Research, described the relationship between response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and outcome by tumor subtype. Today neoadjuvant clinical trials are often designed to provide correlative data to help identify predictive biomarkers or to focus on poor-risk patients identified by residual disease after neoadjuvant treatment.
Equipment management in intensive care home mechanical ventilation
Authors: Vanessa Kaes, Yahya Abazed, Gerhard Laier-Groeneveld
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

If routine change of the ventilator tubes, sterile tracheal suctioning, regular change in tracheal canula is beneficial in a home care setting is not known. Patients discharged from intensive care units to intensive care home mechanical ventilation in Germany follow the hygienic management of the discharging unit or the company providing home care. Therefore different home care settings can be studied on their effect on infections and exacerbations.  Methods: A questionnaire was developed to investigate patients under invasive or noninvasive intensive care home mechanical ventilation and their caregivers for hygienic behavior and frequency of infections. Infections were defined either as infections judged by the patient or caregiver, period of antibiotic therapy or period of increased mucus secretions.  Results: 214 patients and their caregivers returned the questionnaire. They reported 2.35 infections, 4.68 periods of increased secretion and 2.2 periods of antibiotic therapy per year in the overall group. Incidents were higher in COPD than neuromuscular disorders, higher during invasive than noninvasive ventilation and higher with higher PEEP but independent from ventilation pressure. Incidents were independent from change of HME, tracheal canula and sterile or nonsterile tracheal suctioning but higher with more frequent change of the ventilator tubes.  Conclusion: In an intensive care home mechanical ventilation setting infective exacerbations are relevant. However a routine change of the tracheal canula, the HME and the ventilator tubes are not required. Tracheal suctioning should be performed clean but not steril. The ventilator setting using a high PEEP also has negative impact on the exacerbation rate.
Pemetreksedin İntraplevral Kullanımı
Authors: Laurent Greillier, Suzanne Monjanel-Mouterde, PharmD, em> Anne Fraticelli, Bénédicte Devictor-Pierre, Julien Bouvenot, Nicolas Coltel, em> Gérald Lamarche, em, Philippe Astoul
Journal: Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2009)
The Good School Toolkit for reducing physical violence from school staff to primary school students: a cluster-randomised controlled trial in Uganda
Authors: Karen M Devries, Louise Knight, Jennifer C Child, Angel Mirembe, Janet Nakuti, Rebecca Jones, Joanna Sturgess, Elizabeth Allen, Nambusi Kyegombe, Jenny Parkes, Eddy Walakira, Diana Elbourne, Charlotte Watts, Dipak Naker
Journal: The Lancet Global Health (2015)

Violence against children from school staff is widespread in various settings, but few interventions address this. We tested whether the Good School Toolkit-a complex behavioural intervention designed by Ugandan not-for-profit organisation Raising Voices-could reduce physical violence from school staff to Ugandan primary school children.We randomly selected 42 primary schools (clusters) from 151 schools in Luwero District, Uganda, with more than 40 primary 5 students and no existing governance interventions. All schools agreed to be enrolled. All students in primary 5, 6, and 7 (approximate ages 11-14 years) and all staff members who spoke either English or Luganda and could provide informed consent were eligible for participation in cross-sectional baseline and endline surveys in June-July 2012 and 2014, respectively. We randomly assigned 21 schools to receive the Good School Toolkit and 21 to a waitlisted control group in September, 2012. The intervention was implemented from September, 2012, to April, 2014. Owing to the nature of the intervention, it was not possible to mask assignment. The primary outcome, assessed in 2014, was past week physical violence from school staff, measured by students' self-reports using the International Society for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect Child Abuse Screening Tool-Child Institutional. Analyses were by intention to treat, and are adjusted for clustering within schools and for baseline school-level means of continuous outcomes. The trial is registered at clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01678846.No schools left the study. At 18-month follow-up, 3820 (92·4%) of 4138 randomly sampled students participated in a cross-sectional survey. Prevalence of past week physical violence was lower in the intervention schools (595/1921, 31·0%) than in the control schools (924/1899, 48·7%; odds ratio 0·40, 95% CI 0·26-0·64, p<0·0001). No adverse events related to the intervention were detected, but 434 children were referred to child protective services because of what they disclosed in the follow-up survey.The Good School Toolkit is an effective intervention to reduce violence against children from school staff in Ugandan primary schools.MRC, DfID, Wellcome Trust, Hewlett Foundation.
CLINICAL STUDIES ON THE VELOCITY OF BLOOD FLOW
Authors: Herrmann L. Blumgart, Soma Weiss
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1928)

In preceding papers, particular attention has been directed to the relation in a given individual or in a group of individuals between the clinical findings and the measurements of the velocityof bloodflow, the venous pressure, and the vital capacity of the lungs.In the following, more general treatment of the data, an attempt will be made to learn the extent and frequency of changes in these measurements in all subjects with cardiovascular disease compared with similar measure- ments in normal persons.Changes in the venous pressure, in the velocity of blood flow, and in the vital capacity of the lungs can be compared with each other only if obtained in the same subjects.Such comparison would be almost certainly erroneous, if, for example, variations of venous pres- sures of some patients with cardiovascular disease were compared with variations of the vital capacities of other patients with cardio- vascular disease, for it would be impossible to be certain that such different groups showed exactly the same degree of cardiovascular damage.Consequently, we have included here only those patients in whom all three measurements were obtained.Duplicate measure- ments in the same subject have been excluded in order not to weight some of the results unduly.Fortunately, the three measurements in all but four patients with cardiovascular disease, and the data in
Effects of diaphragm release manual technique on diaphragm mobility, chest Wall kinematics and functional exercise capacity of COPD patients
Authors: Taciano Rocha, Helga Muniz, Daniella Drandao, Shirley Campos, Andrea Aliverti, Armele Dornelas de Andrade
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Aims: To evaluate the effects of Diaphragm Release manual technique on diaphragm mobility, chest wall kinematics and functional exercise capacity of COPD patients. Methods: Randomized controlled trial(double blinded) with 19 COPD patients, randomly allocated in two group: intervention(IG), n=10 that received the Diaphragm Release manual technique on 6 non-consecutive sessions and control group(CG), n=9 that received a sham protocol(light touch) with the same parameters of IG. The outcomes were evaluated as acute effects (1 session) and chronic effects (whole treatment): diaphragm displacement (ultrasonography evaluation), chest wall kinematics measured by Optoelectronic Plethysmography, respiratory muscles strength and six minutes walking distance (6MWT). Results: Evaluation of the immediate effects showed that after receiving the technique, IG group had a significant increase (p  This study was supported by: CNPq, FACEPE and CAPES/PROCAD-NF.