tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The effect of early stages of COPD on resource use and health-care costs
Authors: Petra Menn, Joachim Heinrich, Rudolf Huber, Rudolf Jörres, John Jürgen, Stefan Karrasch, Annette Peters, Holger Schulz, Rolf Holle
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  COPD is a common chronic condition in adulthood that has many systemic effects apart pulmonary impairment. While severe COPD has substantial economic consequences, little is known about resource use and costs in early stages.   Methods:  Data from the population-based KORA F4 and KORA Age study (Southern Germany) were used to calculate excess costs of early stages of COPD. Diagnosis and staging of COPD for 2252 participants aged 41 to 89 was based on pre-bronchodilator spirometry according to GOLD standards. Resource use with regard to physician visits, hospital stays, and drug consumption was compared between participants with COPD stage I, stage II+ (stage II or higher), and subjects with normal lung function. Costs per year were calculated from utilization by applying national unit costs. To control for confounders such as age, sex and education, two-part generalized regression analyses were used to account for the skewed distribution of costs and the high proportion of subjects without any costs.   Results:  Prevalence of COPD stage I was 12%, and 5% for stage II+. Resource use in all categories was significantly higher in COPD patients than in control subjects. These differences remained present after adjusting for covariates in physician visits and medication, but not in hospital days. Compared to non-COPD participants, adjusted costs per year were only slightly higher in stage I (1875 € compared to 1850 €), but increased by about 50% (to 2898 €) in stage II+.   Conclusions:  The finding that resource use and costs are considerably higher in moderate but not in mild COPD highlights the economic importance of prevention programs and of interventions aiming at early diagnosis and at delaying disease progression.
TDI velocities of tricuspid annulus in patients with acute pulmonary embolism
Authors: Rossen Petkov, Yordanka Yamakova, Emilia Petkova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

The aim  of this study was to determine whether the velocities from tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the tricuspid annulus (TA) could be used as helpful markers of right ventricular (RV) function comparing healthy controls and patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).   Materials and methods : Echocardiography (EchoCG) and pulsed TDI were performed in 167 patients with acute PE and normal left ventricular ejection fraction, and in 35 matched healthy volunteers (CG). The tricuspid annulus systolic (S tr_v) and diastolic velocities (E and A tr_v) were acquired in apical four-chamber view using TDI.   Results  :  EchoCG with continuous and pulse wave Doppler in patients with acute PE showed: 1. RV dilatation x= 33.4 ± SD 3.6 mm, in 75% of patients; 2. Pulmonary hypertension: systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAPs) x= 43.7 ± SD 7.6 mmHg and mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm) calculated using Debestani formula x= 33.2 ± SD 3.5 mmHg. In patients with PE systolic and diastolic TA velocities were significant lower that in healthy controls: S tr_vPTE=11.1 ± SD 1.7 cm/s and S tr_vCG=16.9 ± SD 1.9 cm/s (p   Conclusion  :  In clinical settings EchoCG and TDI of TA in patients with PTE are valuable noninvasive methods for evaluation of PAPm, PAPs, RV dimensions and RV function.
Conundrum of the “French Paradox”
Authors: Tsung O. Cheng
Journal: Circulation (2001)

Conundrum of the "French Paradox"To the Editor:Certain populations, such as the French and the Greeks, have a low incidence of coronary artery disease, despite a diet relatively high in saturated fat.It has been suggested that regular consumption of red wine may explain this phenomenon, which has been dubbed the "French paradox," 1 ie, the coexistence of a high-fat diet and a low incidence of coronary artery disease.Although the cardioprotective effects of most alcoholic beverages are probably due to an elevation of high-density lipoprotein, as well as the ability of alcohol to prevent platelet aggregation and to increase fibrinolysis, there is an increased favorable effect of red wine. 2 The unique cardioprotective properties of red wine reside in the action of flavonoids, which are absent in white wine (with the exception of champagne) and sparse in beer (with the exception of dark beers).The best research flavonoids are resveratrol and quercetin, which confer antioxidant properties more potent than ␣-tocopherol. 2s was summarized recently by Hung et al, 3 in purified or synthetic form, resveratrol has been shown to reduce the synthesis of lipids in rat liver, to inhibit the synthesis of eicosanoids in rat leukocytes, to interfere with arachidonate metabolism, to inhibit platelet activation/aggregation, to inhibit the activity of some protein kinases, and to exert a strong inhibitory effect on reactive oxygen species produced by human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.As an antioxidant, resveratrol is more powerful than vitamin E in preventing low-density lipoprotein oxidation. 3ecently, Hung et al 3 showed that preinfusion of resveratrol is effective in preventing reperfusion-induced arrhythmias and mortality.This protective effect on arrhythmias and cardiac cell damage by resveratrol may be associated with its antioxidant activity, free radical scavenging activity, and enhanced NO release during the reperfusion period.Another fascinating new facet of resveratrol was reported by Gehm et al. 4 On the basis of the structural similarity of resveratrol (trans-3,4Ј,5-trihydroxystilbene) to the synthetic estrogen diethylstilbestrol (4,4Ј-dihydroxy-trans-␣, ␤-diethylstilbene), these authors hypothesized that resveratrol might be a phytoestrogen.Given the known cardioprotective benefits of estrogens, this speculation seemed particularly appealing.Now, Blanco-Colio et al 5 offer another potential mechanism to explain the beneficial effects of red wine in the reduction of cardiovascular mortality.They found that red wine intake, but not another form of alcohol beverage intake (vodka), prevented nuclear factor (NF)-B activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells elicited in healthy volunteers by postprandial lipemia.Because NF-B activation is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic lesions, the inhibitory effect of red wine on NF-B activation provides a further explanation of the beneficial effects of red wine intake in cardiovascular disease.
Does tamoxifen cause cancer in humans?
Authors: V Stearns, E P Gelmann
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1998)

PURPOSE To review the preclinical and clinical data on the carcinogenic potential of tamoxifen. DESIGN A MEDLINE search on the carcinogenicity of tamoxifen was conducted and the literature reviewed. RESULTS Because tamoxifen has estrogen-like effects on some tissues, such as the human uterus, there has been concern that tamoxifen could promote endometrial cancers in women on chronic tamoxifen therapy. Observations in some randomized trials of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy are consistent with a small, but real, increased risk of endometrial cancer in women who take tamoxifen. Since increased endometrial cancer incidence has not been observed in all studies of chronic tamoxifen therapy, there may be an element of detection bias. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that tamoxifen is hepatocarcinogenic in laboratory rats, but not in other species. This carcinogenicity in rats has been linked to the formation of DNA adducts. CONCLUSION The incidence of endometrial cancer is increased in women who take tamoxifen. The data suggest that tamoxifen might be a tumor promoter in human endometrium. However, on the basis of the number of tumors seen by endometrial sampling of tamoxifen-treated women, the impact of tamoxifen as a tumor promoter is small. Women on chronic tamoxifen therapy should have routine annual gynecologic examinations and receive endometrial sampling only in the event of uterine bleeding. Unlike the data in rats, there is no conclusive evidence to link tamoxifen with an increased rate of hepatocellular cancer in humans; the contrasting carcinogenic potential may be attributed to substantial interspecies differences in the metabolism of tamoxifen.
Electrophoretic Separation of the Mouse Mammary Tumor Virus&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Dan H. Moore, Michael J. Lyons
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1963)

The electrophoretic mobility of B particles at neutral pH was found to be greater than that of any of the main components of milk. This characteristic of the B particles provides a means for their isolation. Relatively large quantities of these particles have been isolated from milk by means of a special electrophoresis tube with pH and density gradients. Particles separated in this manner have a different, possibly less denatured, appearance in the electron microscope from those separated by density gradient ultracentrifugation in concentrated salts. The high mobility of the B particle agrees with the high mobility of milk-agent bioactivity previously reported.
Axis II diagnoses among volunteers for HIV testing and counseling
Authors: L Jacobsberg, A Frances, S Perry
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1995)

The authors' goal was to investigate the rate of personality disorders (axis II diagnoses in DSM-III-R) among adults at risk for AIDS.The Personality Disorder Examination was administered to 260 volunteers for HIV testing and counseling.Thirty-seven percent of the subjects who subsequently tested seropositive for HIV and 20% of those who tested seronegative were given DSM-III-R axis II diagnoses on the Personality Disorder Examination. Thirty percent of the HIV-positive subjects who knew their serostatus before they were tested were given DSM-III-R axis II diagnoses.The meaningful rates of axis II diagnoses that preexisted determination of HIV status and the relation of these diagnoses to subsequently determined serostatus underscore the importance of adequately assessing the occurrence of personality disorder in individuals at risk for HIV infection.
Treatment of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia by subcutaneously administered granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with optimization of dose and duration of therapy.
Authors: G Morstyn, L Campbell, G Lieschke, J E Layton, D Maher, M O'Connor, M Green, W Sheridan, M Vincent, K Alton
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1989)

In patients who have not received extensive prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy, it has been previously demonstrated that granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) abrogated the leukopenia following administration of melphalan (25 mg/m2). This study examined the necessity of a prechemotherapy period of G-CSF administration and the effect of varying the timing and duration of postchemotherapy G-CSF. Initially, patients received 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10 micrograms/kg/d subcutaneously on days 1 to 5 and days 10 to 18. Melphalan was given on day 9. In the next portion of the study melphalan was administered on day 1 and G-CSF, 10 micrograms/kg/d, was administered by subcutaneous infusion on five schedules: (1) days 2 to 13; (2) days 8 to 13; (3) days 2 to 18; (4) days 8 to 18; (5) days -9 to -2 and 2 to 13. G-CSF produced a rapid and sustained elevation in neutrophil levels within 24 hours even when started 8 days after melphalan. This treatment was sufficient to abrogate the neutropenia in patients who had received no prior chemotherapy. It was not necessary to continue G-CSF for more than 7 days. G-CSF did not consistently alter the course of the thrombocytopenia that followed this dose of melphalan. G-CSF was well tolerated, although mild bone pain occurred and was reduced with acetaminophen. One of 22 patients developed cellulitis at an infusion site. We conclude that after melphalan chemotherapy, G-CSF may need to be given for only a short period to prevent chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, and that G-CSF induces a rapid rise in neutrophil levels even when started 8 days after melphalan administration.
Endoscopic balloon dilatation in idiopathic tracheal stenosis - An Australian experience
Authors: Vinod Aiyappan, Hubertus Jersmann, Peter Robinson
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction  Idiopathic tracheal stenosis (ITS) is a rare inflammatory disease of unknown etiology which is characterised by stenosis of upper part of trachea. Single stage laryngeotracheal resection has been the definitive treatment but endoscopic methods are gaining popularity. Balloon dilatation as the treatment for ITS, is a relatively new procedure with limited data available regarding its efficacy.  Aim  To analyse the usefulness of endoscopic balloon dilatation for treatment of ITS.  Material and Methods  Retrospective single centre study of patients treated with endoscopic balloon dilatation, for ITS.  Results  Six patients were treated for ITS, with balloon dilatation between 2008-2011. All the patients were females and the average age was 51 years (Range 29-77). The average time between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 27 months. Pulmonary function test data could be located for only three patients and all three had evidence of fixed airway obstruction in their flow-volume loops. Bronchoscopy showed proximal stenosis in majority of cases (5/6 i.e. 83%). The majority of stenoses (5/6 i.e. 83%) were circumferential in appearance. Balloon dilatation was effective in increasing tracheal lumen and improving symptoms in all (100%) the patients. All the patients tolerated the procedure well and there were no significant complications. Fifty percent (3/6) of patients required repeat dilatation (average number of dilatations 3.3) and the average interval between repeat procedures was 7 months.  Conclusion  Endoscopic balloon dilatation is an effective, low-risk procedure for treatment of patients with ITS.
Intracerebral Adoptive Immunotherapy of a Murine Lymphoma Antigenically Altered by Drug Treatment In Vivo&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: L Romani, M C Fioretti, R Bianchi, B Nardelli, E Bonmassar
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1982)

Intracerebral tumor neutralization assay and adoptive immunotherapy with in vivo sensitized lymphocytes were done in immunodepressed mice challenged intracerebrally with L5178Y/DTIC lymphoma, a tumor subline antigenically altered by treatment with 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazenyl)-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide (DTIC) in vivo. Primary cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) were generated in vitro against L5178Y/DTIC cells with the use of splenocytes of histocompatible (BALB/cCr X DBA/2Cr)F1 donors. The extent of antitumor activity of CTL was evaluated by the measurement of tumor cell proliferation in the brain, as judged by the 125I-labeled 2'-deoxyuridine uptake values and by survival times of recipient mice. The results of the experiments showed: a) CTL were highly effective in inhibiting tumor growth when they were injected along with L5178Y/DTIC tumor cells in a Winn-type neutralization assay; b) the tumor inhibition mediated by CTL was specific, since no antilymphoma effects were detected when CTL sensitized against L5178Y/DTIC line were admixed with the parental L5178Y tumor or with other unrelated lymphoma cells; and c) local adoptive immunotherapy with CTL given on day 1, 3, or 5 after the intracerebral challenge with L5178Y/DTIC lymphoma substantially impaired tumor cell proliferation and significantly increased survival times of recipient leukemic mice.
Clinical and functional effectiveness of roflumilast in severe COPD patients
Authors: Yuri Feshchenko, Liudmyla Iashyna, Maryna Polianska, Svitlana Moskalenko
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the influence of PDE-4 inhibitor roflumilast on clinical and functional indices in severe COPD patients with concomitant CB over 3 month’s therapy.

Methods: This was a comparison of 30 patients (average age 49,7 ± 1,3 years) with stable COPD (GOLD III), ≥2 exacerbations in last 12 months and diagnosis of CB in time dimension: we analized their symptom score, PFT indices (Rtot, RV, IC, FVC, FEV1) during 3 months, when they received standart COPD therapy (LABA+ICS in moderate daily doses) and next 3 months, when roflumilast 500 mcg OD was added to their routine therapy. Study was carried out of budjet cost.

Results : During first 3 months of observation mean CAT test was (30,3 ± 1,4), main problems were with physical load (all patients noted 4 – 5 on question 4), home affairs (question 5: 3-4 points), with sleep and energy (3 – 5 points). Post BD plethysmography revealed increased Rtot (287,5 ± 12,8) %, RV (187,8 ± 9,7)%; Post BD spirometry data also were impaired: FEV1 Post BD (38,1 ± 3,7) %, IC (52,8 ±4,5) %.

Addition of roflumilast lead to the decrease of CAT test score to (24,2 ± 1,6) (p<0,05), tendency to decrease of Rtot (200,4 ± 7,8)%, decrease of RV – to (134,4 ± 8,7)% and to increase of IC (to (72,3 ±3,7) % at the end of next 3 months. Also moved left score in abovementioned points, more answers were checked between 2 and 3. Changes in FEV1 and FVC were in variability limits.

Conclusion: introduction of PDE-4 inhibitor leads to the improvement of COPD control and tendency to increase of functional reserves in severe COPD patients with concomitant CB.
A Leukemia-Associated CD34/CD123/CD25/CD99+ Immunophenotype Identifies<i>FLT3</i>-Mutated Clones in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Daniela F. Angelini, Tiziana Ottone, Gisella Guerrera, Serena Lavorgna, Michela Cittadini, Francesco Buccisano, Marco De Bardi, Francesca Gargano, Luca Maurillo, Mariadomenica Divona, Nélida I. Noguera, Maria Irno Consalvo, Giovanna Borsellino, Giorgio Bernardi, Sergio Amadori, Adriano Venditti, Luca Battistini, Francesco Lo-Coco
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2015)

We evaluated leukemia-associated immunophenotypes (LAIP) and their correlation with fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) and nucleophosmin (NPM1) gene mutational status in order to contribute a better identification of patients at highest risk of relapse in acute myeloid leukemia (AML).Bone marrow samples from 132 patients with AML were analyzed by nine-color multiparametric flow cytometry. We confirmed the presence of the mutation in diagnostic samples and in sorted cells by conventional RT-PCR and by patient-specific RQ-PCR.Within the CD34(+) cell fraction, we identified a discrete population expressing high levels of the IL3 receptor α-chain (CD123) and MIC-2 (CD99) in combination with the IL2 receptor α-chain (CD25). The presence of this population positively correlated with the internal tandem duplications (ITD) mutation in the FLT3 gene (r = 0.71). Receiver operating characteristics showed that, within the CD34(+) cell fraction a percentage of CD123/CD99/CD25(+) cells ≥11.7% predicted FLT3-ITD mutations with a specificity and sensitivity of >90%. CD34/CD123/CD99/CD25(+) clones were also detectable at presentation in 3 patients with FLT3 wild-type/NPM1(+) AML who relapsed with FLT3-ITD/NPM1(+) AML. Quantitative real-time PCR designed at relapse for each FLT3-ITD in these three cases confirmed the presence of low copy numbers of the mutation in diagnostic samples.Our results suggest that the CD34/CD25/CD123/CD99(+) LAIP is strictly associated with FLT3-ITD-positive cells.
The Affordable Care Act and Expanded Insurance Eligibility Among Nonelderly Adult Cancer Survivors
Authors: Amy J. Davidoff, Steven C. Hill, Didem Bernard, K. Robin Yabroff
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2015)

Cancer survivors may face barriers to accessing health insurance and experience financial hardship because of medical expenditures. We examined potential improvements in access to insurance for cancer survivors through adult Medicaid expansions and premium tax credits in the new insurance marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Eligibility for Medicaid and premium tax credits was simulated for cancer survivors age 18 to 64 years in the 2008 to 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey using a detailed deterministic model. Financial hardship was determined as: 1) delays or unmet need for medical, prescription, or dental care because of cost or insurance issues and/or 2) family out-of-pocket medical spending that was 20% or more of gross income. Descriptive analyses were stratified by whether the state of residence chose to expand Medicaid by January 2015. All statistical tests were two-sided. Overall, 14.7% of 9.44 million cancer survivors were uninsured, with 18% reporting financial hardship. Under the ACA, 19% overall, 30% of the uninsured, and 39% of those reporting financial hardship would be Medicaid eligible. An additional 10% would be eligible for premium tax credits, with the remainder able to participate in the Marketplace without tax credits. However, 21% of uninsured cancer survivors in states not expanding Medicaid would be ineligible for assistance with coverage. Under the ACA, many of the uninsured and a larger proportion of survivors facing financial hardship will be eligible for Medicaid or premium tax credits in the Marketplaces. ACA implementation will dramatically enhance insurance availability and is likely to reduce financial hardship for vulnerable cancer survivors.
Lung Function Growth and Ambient Ozone
Authors: THOMAS FRISCHER, MICHAEL STUDNICKA, CHRISTIAN GARTNER, ERICH TAUBER, FRITZ HORAK, ANDREAS VEITER, JOHN SPENGLER, JOACHIM KÜHR, RADVAN URBANEK
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1999)

We followed a cohort of 1,150 children for 3 yr to investigate long-term effects of ambient ozone. Nine study sites were selected on the basis of air-quality data to represent a broad range of ozone exposure. In 1994, 1995, and 1996 lung function was recorded biannually, always before and after summertime. The effect of ozone was analyzed with regression analyses and study-site, a child's sex, atopy, passive smoking, baseline lung function, and increase in height were considered as confounding variables. A negative effect of summertime ozone on the pre- to post-summer-time change in FEV1 (ml/d) was present in 1994 ( β = − 0.019 ml/d/ppb; p < 0.01) and in 1995 ( β = − 0.017 ml/d/ ppb; p < 0.05), but not in 1996 ( β = 0.004 ml/d/ppb; p = 0.6); corresponding estimates for FVC were in 1994: β = − 0.022 ml/d/ppb, p < 0.005; 1995: β = − 0.018 ml/d/ppb, p < 0.05; and 1996: β = 0.006 ml/d/ppb, p = 0.46. When all three study years were considered simultaneously, i.e., the changes in lung function between each of two subsequent surveys being the dependent variable, summertime ozone was associated with a lesser increase in FEV1 ( β = − 0.029 ml/d/ppb; p < 0.001), FVC ( β = − 0.018 ml/d/ppb; p < 0.001), and MEF50 ( β = − 0.076 ml/s/d; p = 0.001). No consistent associations were observed for lung function and NO2, SO2 and PM10. Long-term ambient ozone exposure might negatively influence lung function growth.