tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Eczema and cancer risk: a critical appraisal and review of the literature
Authors: E. Wedgeworth, A.M. Powell, C. Flohr
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2011)

Hwang et al. aimed to evaluate the risk of malignancy among individuals with eczema, allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma, compared with the general Taiwanese population.People with atopic conditions, including eczema, have an altered risk of malignancy.This was a prospective nationwide cohort study. The authors used the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) to compare the incidence of cancers among people with established allergic disease relative to the risk in the general population. STUDY EXPOSURE: Exposure was the presence of one or more atopic conditions (eczema, AR or asthma). Data were extracted on 997,729 randomly selected people registered on the NHIRD at any time point between 1996 and 2008. Eczema was identified via ICD-9-CM codes with the diagnosis being made by a dermatologist, paediatrician or allergist. Follow-up was until 2008, date of first cancer or death.The outcome was a new diagnosis of malignancy, identified via catastrophic illness insurance certificates, again using ICD-9-CM diagnostic codes.Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancers overall and different types of malignancy among patients with eczema, AR or asthma were calculated against the expected number of cancer cases in the general population, adjusted for age and sex.The number of patients identified with eczema, AR and asthma was 34,263, 225,315 and 107,601, respectively. Overall cancer rates in patients with these conditions were not significantly different from those in the general population [SIR eczema = 0·97 (95% confidence interval 0·87-1·09), SIR AR = 1·02 (0·98-1·05) and SIR asthma = 1·01 (0·97-1·04)]. However, when the results for eczema were stratified by age, people aged between 20 and 39 years appeared to have a 56% increase in risk in relation to 'any cancer' [SIR = 1·56 (1·13-2·09)]. Looking at individual cancer types in patients with eczema, only the risk of brain cancer was significantly raised [SIR = 2·52 (1·15-4·79)]. Patients who had had all three allergic conditions had a reduced SIR for 'cancers overall' [SIR = 0·59 (0·37-0·88)]. This inverse association was less strong for those with eczema and asthma [SIR = 0·73 (0·55-0·97)] or asthma and AR [SIR = 0·79 (0·73-0·84)] and statistically only of borderline significance for those with eczema and AR [SIR = 0·85 (0·67-1·07)].Hwang et al. conclude that the relationship between allergic diseases and cancer risk is complex and site specific. The risk of malignancy was highest in all atopic conditions in the 20-39-year age group. In patients with eczema, the incidence of brain cancer was higher than expected, which the authors note is at odds with previous studies. However, numbers were too small to allow stratification by histological subtypes. The authors warn against deriving conclusions for rarer cancers and that borderline SIRs must be interpreted with caution.
Application of confocal laser scanning microscopy to differential diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita
Authors: None Kazama, None Yamamoto, None Hashimoto, None Komai, None Ito
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1998)

We applied confocal laser scanning microscopy to fluorescence overlay antigen mapping (FOAM) for differential diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid (BP) and epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA). FOAM of tissue-bound IgG and marker basement membrane components (BMCs) including integrin beta 4, laminin-1, laminin-5 and type IV collagen, showed that tissue-bound IgG in perilesional skin samples from five patients with BP was localized on the epidermal side of type IV collagen, and colocalized with some of the other three BMCs, whereas IgG in a sample from a patient with EBA was on the dermal side of all the BMCs. FOAM of binding sites of autoantibodies in patients' sera and markers including integrin beta 4, laminin-1, type IV collagen and type VII collagen, showed that the binding sites of autoantibodies from 16 patients with BP were localized on the epidermal side of type IV and type VII collagens, and localized above or codistributed with integrin beta 4 and laminin-1, whereas those from five patients with EBA were codistributed with type IV and type VII collagens, and localized on the dermal side of integrin beta 4 and laminin-1. These spatial relationships are compatible with their previously described ultrastructural locations. Thus, this method appears to be useful in the differential diagnosis of BP and EBA.
Abstract 2688: Drugging MYCN through an allosteric transition in Aurora A kinase
Authors: William C. Gustafson, Justin G. Meyerowitz, Erin A. Nekritz, Elise A. Charron, Yvan Chanthery, Erin Simonds, Katherine Matthay, Nicholas Hertz, Kevan Shokat, William A. Weiss
Journal: Cancer Research (2014)

Abstract MYC genes contribute to a range of cancers including neuroblastoma, where amplification of MYCN confers a poor prognosis. Proteolytic degradation of MYCN protein is regulated in part by a kinase-independent function of Aurora kinase A. We describe a class of inhibitors that disrupts the native conformation of Aurora A and causes degradation of MYCN protein across MYCN-expressing neuroblastoma cell lines. Comparison of co-crystal structures with structure- activity relationships across multiple inhibitors and chemotypes, coupled with mechanistic studies and biochemical assays, delineates an Aurora A conformation-specific effect on proteolytic degradation of MYCN, rather than simple nanomolar-level inhibition of Aurora A kinase activity. This new class of inhibitors, which disrupts stabilizing interactions between Aurora A and MYCN, represents candidate agents to target MYCN-driven and potentially MYC-driven cancers. Citation Format: William C. Gustafson, Justin G. Meyerowitz, Erin A. Nekritz, Elise A. Charron, Yvan Chanthery, Erin Simonds, Katherine Matthay, Nicholas Hertz, Kevan Shokat, William A. Weiss. Drugging MYCN through an allosteric transition in Aurora A kinase. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2688. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2688
US government limits abortion pill for poor women
Authors: Fred Charatan
Journal: BMJ (2001)

The US Department of Health and Human Services told state Medicaid directors in a letter last month, that the abortion pill, mifepristone (RU 486), like abortions, would be covered only when a pregnancy resulted from rape or incest or when the woman's life was endangered.

Medicaid is the federal health service that pays for health care for the poor. “Because this is an abortion drug, the …
New Head of Federal Office Clear on Protecting Human Research Participants
Authors: C Marwick
Journal: JAMA (2000)

Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue JAMA HomeNew OnlineCurrent IssueFor Authors Publications JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery JAMA Pediatrics JAMA Psychiatry JAMA Surgery Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry (1919-1959) Podcasts Clinical Reviews Editors' Summary Medical News Author Interviews More JN Learning / CMESubscribeJobsInstitutions / LibrariansReprints & Permissions Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement 2023 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved Search All JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Forum Archive JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery JAMA Pediatrics JAMA Psychiatry JAMA Surgery Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry Input Search Term Sign In Individual Sign In Sign inCreate an Account Access through your institution Sign In Purchase Options: Buy this article Rent this article Subscribe to the JAMA journal
Up-to-date results on survival of patients with melanoma in Germany
Authors: N. Eisemann, L. Jansen, B. Holleczek, A. Waldmann, S. Luttmann, K. Emrich, A. Hauschild, H. Brenner, A. Katalinic
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2012)

Background Prior analyses of survival of patients with primary cutaneous malignant melanoma from Germany were based only on small populations and need to be updated. Objectives We give a detailed overview of relative 5‐year survival by sex, age group, histology, tumour stage and body site, and of time trends in a population of 33 million (40% of Germany), and compare survival in the federal states. Methods Conventional and model‐based period analysis using the Ederer II method was applied to patients with melanoma diagnosed during 1997–2006 in Germany to assess 5‐year relative survival (RS) rates and time trends. Results In total, 37 155 melanoma cases were included. Overall age‐adjusted 5‐year RS for the time period 2002–2006 was 91·9% for women and 87·0% for men. Survival differences by age group, histology, tumour stage and body site were found. No significant overall trend (2002–2006) was seen either in women or in men. Differences in survival between federal states were small; no clear pattern was seen. Conclusions Based on the most recent and high‐quality data from population‐based cancer registries a comprehensive picture on melanoma survival in Germany was given. Survival from cutaneous malignant melanoma was high compared with other cancer sites and did not change during the analysed period 2002–2006. Patterns in melanoma survival by sex, age, tumour stage, histology and body site were in good agreement with previously published findings. No relevant differences between federal states were found.
Autologous Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction in Man
Authors: Kung‐Chang Hwang, Senih M. Fikrig, Howard M. Friendman, Sudhir Gupta
Journal: Allergy (1983)

The proliferative response of T lymphocyte cultured with autologous non‐T lymphocyte is known as the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR). In AMLR. Both helper and suppressor functions are generated. In this investigation we have examined I cell proliferative responses in AMLR in 12 patients with bronchia asthma 10 patients with allergic rhinitis, and 10 patients with atopic dermatitis and compared that with simultaneously with bronchial asthma is significantly higher than that of health normals. However, AMRL response in patients with allergic rhinitis or atopic dermatitis is comparable to controls. Mechanisms for increased AMLR in patients with bronchial asthma are discussed.
Two cases of mild IgM-negative measles in previously vaccinated adults, the Netherlands, April and July 2011
Authors: A van den Hoek, G J Sonder, M Scholing, DB Gijselaar, R S van Binnendijk
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2011)

We describe two cases of mild, modified measles in fully vaccinated adults in the Netherlands. The mildness of disease, the lack of an IgM antibody response, the relatively low amounts of virus detected and the fact that no additional cases were reported, suggests that these vaccinated patients were less contagious than unvaccinated patients.
The in vivo therapeutic efficacy of R-KS119W (VNP40541) in combination with conventional anti-cancer agents
Authors: Qin Wang, Bai L. Song, Yuefen Du, Lanzhen Liu, Xu K. Lin, Michael Belcourt, Ivan Ch King, Li-Mou Zheng
Journal: Cancer Research (2006)

4736   Our previous studies demonstrated that KS119W (VNP40541) possesses significant activity in murine transplantable tumors and human tumor xenografts through a mechanism that exploits the hypoxic tumor microenvironment. In this study, we have demonstrated that R-KS119W, a pure enantiomer of KS119W, is highly effective in inhibiting the growth of both murine tumors and human tumor xenografts in mice. We also demonstrated that R-KS119W has a large therapeutic window in both EMT-6 murine mammary tumors as well as in human H460 non-small cell lung carcinoma xenografts. The effective doses ranged from 40 - 100 mg/kg in the murine tumor model and 50 - 140 mg/kg in the human tumor xenograft model. A wide therapeutic window is ultimately critical for safety in human clinical studies given the normal variations among individuals. In addition, a wide therapeutic window is advantageous for combination therapies. The present study was conducted to evaluate this strategy by using R-KS119W in combination with cyclophosphamide, gemcitabine, paclitaxel, etoposide, and cisplatin. This combination strategy was employed to complement the activity of R-KS119W against hypoxic tumor cells with agents that preferentially attack the well oxygenated, actively growing cell populations within tumors. R-KS119W and the other agents except paclitaxel were administrated by intraperitoneal injections based on various dose and dosing schedules. Paclitaxel was administrated by intravenous injections. The combination therapy was more efficacious than either R-KS119W or any other agent alone. The growth inhibition of R-KS119W in combination with these other agents ranged from 55% to 98% on (in order of increasing inhibition) EMT6, H460, SHP77 human small cell lung carcinoma, and HT29 human colon carcinoma (HT29, the most resistant cell). Furthermore, the combination therapy of R-KS119W plus cyclophosphamide caused complete tumor regression of the LOX human melanoma in mice. All mice receiving the combination therapy were tumor free two months after treatment versus 32% or 46% for treatment with cyclophosphamide or R-KS119W alone. Although the combination therapy slightly increased the weight loss of the animals relative to the single drug treatment, the mortality was similar between the two treatment groups. No unexpected severe toxicities were observed during the study. We conclude that R-KS119W, alone or in combination with other clinically useful chemotherapeutic agents, is effective in inhibiting the growth of murine tumors and human tumor xenografts implanted in mice. These results suggest a potential clinical use of R-KS119W, either as a single agent or in combination with other conventional anticancer agents, for the treatment of solid tumors.
Periodontal disease epidemiology – learned and unlearned?
Authors: Vibeke Baelum, Rodrigo López
Journal: Periodontology 2000 (2013)

Abstract The notion of periodontal disease being the major cause of tooth loss among adults was rooted in the focal infection paradigm that dominated the first half of the 20th century. This paradigm was established largely by personal opinions, and it was not until the development of periodontal indices in the mid‐1950s that periodontal epidemiology gained momentum. Unfortunately, the indices used suffered from a number of flaws, whereby the interpretation of the research results took the form of circular reasoning. It was under this paradigm that therapeutic and preventive intervention for periodontal diseases became entirely devoted to oral hygiene, as poor oral hygiene and older age were understood to explain nearly all the variation in disease occurrence. In the early 1980s, studies appeared that contradicted the concepts of poor oral hygiene as the inevitable trigger of periodontitis and of linear and ubiquitous periodontitis progression, whereby periodontal epidemiology was led into a relatively short‐lived high‐risk era. At this time, it became evident that old scourges continue to haunt periodontology: the inability to agree in operational clinical criteria for a periodontitis diagnosis and the inability to devise both a meaningful and a useful classification of periodontal diseases based on nominalist principles. The meager outcome of the high‐risk era led researchers to resurrect the focal infection paradigm, which is now dressed up as periodontal medicine. Unfortunately, these developments have left the core of periodontology somewhat disheveled and deserted.
Doctor puts herring on prescription
Authors: Bryan Christie
Journal: BMJ (2000)

An unconventional approach to the treatment of heart disease is being taken by a doctor in Stromness in the Orkney Islands, in Scotland, who is prescribing tubs of marinaded herring for his patients to eat.

The herring is being provided through an NHS funded project that is seeking to turn a local product into a regular treatment. It is also provoking considerable surprise among patients at the Stromness general practice, who are not used to leaving the surgery …
Biventricular pacing for heart failure
Authors: R. E Lane
Journal: BMJ (2003)

Left bundle branch block in structurally normal hearts results in loss of synchrony of ventricular contraction and impairs both regional and global left ventricular systolic function.1 In hearts with good overall left ventricular systolic function this has very little clinical effect. But in patients with ischaemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy it further impairs already poor systolic function and may have a major clinical impact. The prevalence of conduction delay in patients with heart failure is as high as 30%,2 and this has led to the development of biventricular pacing in an attempt to restore synchronous ventricular contraction and so improve left ventricular function. Biventricular pacing involves the transvenous placement of a third pacing lead via the right atrium and coronary sinus into a left ventricular cardiac vein; this is in addition to the standard pacing leads in the right atrium and right ventricle3 and permits simultaneous stimulation of the right and left ventricles.

What is the evidence that this works? Several studies have indicated that biventricular …
Genetic polymorphisms in oxidative stress‐related genes are associated with outcomes following treatment for aggressive B‐cell non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Heather L. Gustafson, Song Yao, Bryan H. Goldman, Kristy Lee, Catherine M. Spier, Michael L. LeBlanc, Lisa M. Rimsza, James R. Cerhan, Thomas M. Habermann, Brian K. Link, Matthew J. Maurer, Susan L. Slager, Daniel O. Persky, Thomas P. Miller, Richard I. Fisher, Christine B. Ambrosone, Margaret M. Briehl
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2014)

Variable survival outcomes are seen following treatment for aggressive non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). This study examined whether outcomes for aggressive B‐cell NHL are associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in oxidative stress‐related genes, which can alter drug metabolism and immune responses. Genotypes for 53 SNPs in 29 genes were determined for 337 patients given anthracycline‐based therapies. Their associations with progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated by Cox proportional hazard regression; associations with hematologic toxicity were estimated by logistic regression. To validate the findings, the top three SNPs were tested in an independent cohort of 572 DLBCL patients. The top SNPs associated with PFS in the discovery cohort were the rare homozygotes for MPO rs2243828 (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.14–3.06, P = 0.013), AKR1C3 rs10508293 (HR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.28–3.41, P = 0.0032) and NCF4 rs1883112 (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.43–1.02, P = 0.06). The association of the NCF4 SNP with PFS was replicated in the validation dataset (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.44–1.01, P = 0.05) and the meta‐analysis was significant (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49–0.89, P &lt; 0.01). The association of the MPO SNP was attenuated in the validation dataset, while the meta‐analysis remained significant (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.12–2.41). These two SNPs showed similar trends with OS in the meta‐analysis (for NCF4 , HR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.51–1.02, P = 0.07 and for MPO , HR = 2.06, 95% CI = 1.36–3.12, P &lt; 0.01). In addition, patients with the rare homozygote of the NCF4 SNP had an increased risk of hematologic toxicity. We concluded that genetic variations in NCF4 may contribute to treatment outcomes for patients with aggressive NHL. Am. J. Hematol. 89:639–645, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
In brief
Authors: J Siegel-Itzkovich
Journal: BMJ (2001)

A Palestinian hospital administrator has been detained by the Israeli security services after he returned to Israel from a conference in Oxford during which he described some of the difficulties involved in running a hospital on the West Bank during the Palestinian uprising.

The British ambassador to Israel, Francis Cornish, has intervened with Israeli cabinet ministers on behalf of Samer Awartani, the administrative director of Rafidiah Hospital in Nablus, …
Abstract 15094: Prevalence of Coronary Microvascular Dysfunction in Women With Angina and No Obstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Preliminary Results From the iPower Study
Authors: Naja D Mygind, Marie M Michelsen, Adam A Pena, Rebekka Faber, Jens Kastrup, Eva Prescott
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Background: Women are more often than men found to have no obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) when evaluated with a coronary angiogram (CAG) due to angina pectoris and suspected ischemic heart disease. Coronary microvessel dysfunction (CMD) is a possible explanation, and can be assessed by transthoracic Doppler echocardiography (TTDE) with measurement of coronary flow reserve (CFR). Reduced CFR carries an adverse prognosis despite absence of obstructive CAD. The aim of the ongoing iPower study is to evaluate CFR in women with angina pectoris and no obstructive CAD. Methods: Women with angina pectoris and a CAG without obstructive coronary artery disease (&gt;50%) are systematically invited to participate. Assessment includes demographic and clinical data, blood samples and TTE during rest and high-dose dipyridamole stress (0.84mg/kg) with measurement of CFR by Doppler of the left anterior descending artery. Results: To date (May 21st 2014) 3500 women have been screened (flowchart), 793 women have been included (response rate 23%). Mean age was 62.4 (+/-9.6) and the burden of risk factors was relatively high (Table 1). CFR was successfully measured in 763 patients (96%). Median (IQR) CFR was 2.4 (2.0-2.8). Cut-off point for CMD of both 2 and 2.5 has been used previously. In this population, 214 (28%) had a CFR≤2 and 468 (61%) a CFR≤2.5. Conclusions: To our knowledge, iPower is the largest and most comprehensive study systematically assessing CMD in women with angina pectoris and no obstructive CAD. Non-invasive CFR assessment is feasible, and microvascular function impaired in a large proportion. Future follow-up will determine the prognostic value of CFR as a measure of CMD.