tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Three-year follow-up study of inflammatory markers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Renata Ferrari, Suzana Tanni, Laura Caram, Camila Corrêa, Corina Corrêa, Rosana Martin, Irma Godoy
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Studies show that values of Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP) does not change significantly in COPD patients over one-year period. However, long-term studies of these mediators are lacking. We aimed to evaluate the IL-6 and CRP over 3 years in 53 COPD patients (66% male, age = 63±9 years, FEV1 = 56±21%). At baseline eight patients (15%) presented mild, 36% moderate, 21% severe and 28% very severe disease. There was no difference in the proportion of patients within each disease severity category, in the predicted FEV1% and BMI over the period. However, tolerance exercise, dyspnea and BODE index worsened after three years. Plasma concentration of Interleukin-6 was measured by high sensitivity ELISA (BioSource International Inc, Ca, USA) and C-reactive protein were obtained by high sensitivity particle-enhanced immunonephelometry (CardioPhase, Dade Behring Marburg GmbH, Marburg, USA). Although, CRP did not change [5 (1.6-7.9) vs 4.7 (1.7-10) pg/L; p>0.05], 11 patients (21%) presented changes >3 mg/L in CRP after 3 years. IL6 increased significantly after 3 years compared to baseline measurements [0.8 (0.5-1.3) vs 2.4 (1.3-4.4) pg/ml; p  Research supported by FAPESP (2010/08527-0). R. Ferrari is the recipient of a fellowship from FAPESP (2010/08557-6).
Two suspected MERS cases in Manchester prove negative
Authors: Zosia Kmietowicz
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Two patients who were quarantined at Manchester Royal Infirmary on 27 July with suspected Middle East respiratory syndrome have tested negative.

The hospital’s emergency department closed for two hours while the patients were isolated. One patient was later transferred to North Manchester General Hospital.

By 11 am on 28 July Public Health England had confirmed that the …
Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia
Authors: Adrienne A. Nassar, Dawn E. Jaroszewski, Richard A. Helmers, Thomas V. Colby, Bhavesh M. Patel, Farouk Mookadam
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2011)

Section:ChooseTop of pageAbstract <<METHODSRESULTSDISCUSSIONCONCLUSIONSReferencesCITING ARTICLES
Airway Neural Responses to Kinins
Authors: CURT J. REYNOLDS, ALKIS TOGIAS, DAVID PROUD
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1999)

To further define the role of neural responses in the hyperreactivity of inflamed human upper airways to bradykinin (BK), we determined if repeated challenges with BK led to tachyphylaxis of neurally mediated responses in subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis. We also tested the hypothesis that enhanced reactivity to kinins in inflamed airways was caused by induction of B1-kinin receptors by comparing the effects of the selective B1-receptor agonist, des-Arg10-lysylbradykinin, and the B2 receptor agonist, BK, in the lower airways of asthmatics and in the upper airways of subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis. Repeated BK challenges led to tachyphylaxis of sneezing and of neurally mediated serous glandular secretion in subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis. Surprisingly, tachyphylaxis of increased local vascular permeability was also observed. By contrast, repeated challenges with BK in normal subjects led to reproducible increases in vascular permeability. Provocation with des-Arg10-lysylbradykinin did not cause bronchoconstriction in asthmatic subjects or increase glandular secretion or vascular permeability in the upper airways of subjects with rhinitis. We conclude that increased reactivity to kinins in inflamed human airways is mediated, at least in part, by neural reflexes, and is not caused by induction of B1-receptors.
Normalization of Host Intestinal Mucus Layers Requires Long-Term Microbial Colonization
Authors: Malin E.V. Johansson, Hedvig E. Jakobsson, Jessica Holmén-Larsson, André Schütte, Anna Ermund, Ana M. Rodríguez-Piñeiro, Liisa Arike, Catharina Wising, Frida Svensson, Fredrik Bäckhed, Gunnar C. Hansson
Journal: Cell Host & Microbe (2015)
Improvement of the survival of lung cancer in a French monocentric cohort between 1990 and 2010
Authors: Fabien Vaylet, Jacques Margery, Herve Le Floch, Frederic Riviere, Alexa Mairivitz, Ines N'Gampolo, Wanda Gaspard, Jean Philippe Arigon, Francois Pons, Rene Jancovici, Claude Marotel, Pierre L'Her
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: Authors report analysis of monocentric cohort of 1400 patients with lung cancer followed between 01.01.1990 and 31.12.2009.

Methods: Kaplan-Meyer and Foucher methods are used.

Results: The survival with Kaplan-Meyer method is 56% at 1 year, 23% at 5 years and 17% at 10 years.

Analysis of relative survival, taking into account the mortality of the general population without lung cancer is 57% at 1 year, 26% at 5 years and 22% at 10 years (Method of Foucher, on 1990-2005 population).

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The period analysis shows an improvement on overall relative survival.

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The period analysis shows an improvement in relative survival at 5 years by stage.

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Conclusion: This analysis shows a very interesting increase of the relative survival of lung cancer patients since 1990, global and by stage (1997 WHO Classification).

Best staging by PET and RMI and best medical strategies explain this results, specially for Stage III and Stage IV: An Hope for this pathology.
Aortic stiffness as a cardiovascular risk predictor
Authors: Ian B Wilkinson, John R Cockcroft, Carmel M McEniery
Journal: BMJ (2015)

A promising biomarker likely to be most useful in younger adults with low to moderate risk

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, despite highly effective preventive treatments. Most current guidelines recommend treatment based on arbitrary thresholds or the risk of a future event. Although the guidelines are effective at identifying those most at risk, in whom to start treatment, many individuals are categorised as moderate-low risk, denied treatment, and go on to have events. This has created considerable interest in refining risk prediction with novel biomarkers, such as C reactive protein and carotid intima-media thickness. Frustratingly, the majority of these add little to risk prediction based on traditional risk factors such as blood pressure, lipids, cigarette smoking, and diabetes.1

Doctors have used hardening of the arteries, or arteriosclerosis, as a surrogate measure of vascular health for centuries. It makes sense because large arteries have an important role in buffering the cyclical changes in blood pressure caused by intermittent left ventricular ejection. This elasticity keeps systolic pressure low and maintains diastolic pressure. Arterial stiffening raises systolic pressure, which leads to systolic hypertension—the most common form of hypertension in people over 50—and increases the workload of the …
Alveolar lung clearance index: An alternative multiple breath washout outcome in children
Authors: Sanja Stanojevic, Renee Jensen, Anouk Bensler, Felix Ratjen
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background: Higher lung clearance index (LCI) values observed on the Ecomedics Multiple Breath Nitrogen Washout (N 2 MBW) relative to the respiratory mass spectrometry MBW (SF 6 MBW), may be partially explained by larger equipment dead space of the N 2 MBW (58.2 versus 15.4 ml). In this study we investigate whether calculation of alveolar LCI (aLCI), whereby airways dead space is accounted for, results in LCI values that more closely agree between the two systems.  Methods: 50 healthy children and 42 children with CF (6 to 18 years) had both N 2 MBW and SF 6 MBW measured on the same test occasion. Standard LCI (sLCI) was calculated by correcting for total equipment dead space. In addition, we calculated alveolar LCI (aLCI), whereby calculations corrected for airways dead space (from the first breath of the washout using the Fowler method) and equipment dead space. The average sLCI and aLCI were calculated from all good quality trials, and compared.  Results: On average aLCI was lower than sLCI on both the N 2  (aLCI=7.6(SD=3.1), sLCI =9.0(3.6)) and SF 6  (aLCI=7.2(2.7), sLCI=8.1(2.9)) systems. The difference in aLCI (Δ=-0.62(1.0)) between N 2 MBW and SF 6 MBW was in the opposite direction to that observed for sLCI (Δ= 0.77 (1.1)) which is likely due to the underestimation of FRC by SF 6 MBW (Jensen et al., 2013). The magnitude of the differences between systems was greater in CF than in health.  Conclusions: These results suggest that higher LCI values measured by N 2 MBW may be partially explained by the larger equipment dead space relative to SF 6 MBW. This may be especially relevant in young children, where the ratio of equipment dead space to tidal volumes is high.  Funded by CF Foundation, Irwin Family Foundation.
Second primary cancer following Hodgkin's disease: updated results of an Italian multicentric study.
Authors: G Cimino, G Papa, S Tura, P Mazza, P L Rossi Ferrini, A Bosi, S Amadori, F Lo Coco, E D'Arcangelo, D Giannarelli
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1991)

The risk of second primary cancer (SPC) was evaluated in 947 patients treated for Hodgkin's disease (HD) during the period January 1969 to December 1979. The median follow-up of this series was 10.5 years (range, 9 to 19). Treatment categories included radiotherapy (RT) alone (115 patients, 12%), chemotherapy (CHT) alone (161 patients, 17%), combined RT plus CHT (381 patients, 40%), and salvage treatment for resistant or relapsing HD (290 patients, 30.6%). Fifty-six SPCs were observed, occurring between 1 and 17 years from initial treatment. Among these, secondary acute nonlymphoid leukemia (s-ANLL) was the most frequent SPC (23 cases). Secondary non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (s-NHL) occurred in 5 patients, whereas a secondary solid tumor (s-ST) was observed in 28 patients. The calculated actuarial risk (+/- SE) of developing SPC was 5.0% (+/- 0.9%) and 23.1% (+/- 5.8%) at 10 and 19 years, respectively. Concerning treatment modalities and s-ANLL risk, no cases were observed in the radiotherapy group, whereas CHT plus RT and salvage groups showed the highest actuarial risk. This was, in fact, at 10 and 19 years, 3.1% (+/- 0.9%) and 8.1% (+/- 4.0%) in the former group, and 1.8% (+/- 1.0%) and 16% (+/- 9.0%) in the latter. A statistically significant difference was observed when the CHT plus RT group was compared with CHT and RT groups (P = .04). Concerning the relationships with chemotherapeutic regimens, 12 s-ANLL cases occurred in the mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) plus RT group, and only one case in the group receiving doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) plus RT. A statistically significant difference of s-ANLL actuarial risk was found comparing patients receiving MOPP plus RT to all other treatment groups (P = .04). With respect to s-ST, the actuarial risk at 10 and 19 years was 2.0% (+/- 0.6%) and 13.0% (+/- 3.8%), respectively. No significant differences were found among groups treated with different modalities. These data were confirmed by a multivariate analysis, which indicated treatment modality and age as independent variables for s-ANLL and s-ST development, respectively. Based on the prolonged follow-up analysis, the actuarial SPC risk at 10 years hereby reported should reflect the real SPC incidence in our series.
Impact of a pulmonary rehabilitation program on psychopathology of patients diagnosed with COPD
Authors: Athanasios Tselebis, Dionisios Bratis, Argyro Pachi, Epaminondas Kosmas, Maria Harikiopoulou, Elpida Theodorakopoulou, Silvia Dumitru, Georgios Moussas, Nikolaos Siafakas, Nikolaos Tzanakis
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction: Psychological comorbidities such as anxiety and depression are common in COPD. Recent studies suggest a decrease in both anxiety and depression in patients with COPD who attended a pulmonary rehabilitation program (RP). However there is insufficient literature on changes in general psychopathology after RP.  Aims and Objectives: To examine the changes in general psychopathology of patients with COPD after participating in a rehabilitation program.  Methods: The participants were patients (80 men and 21 women) with pure COPD who attended a three month RP. The patients9 psychopathology was assessed, by the start and by the end of the PR, using the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), which is a self-report questionnaire widely used in both normal and distressed populations. In order to determine COPD severity a spirometric evaluation before and after bronchodilation was performed.  Results: Means of age and of FEV1 % of predicted were 64.15 ±8.13 and 43.51±21.53, respectively.Statistically significant changes (Paired t test) were observed at the end of the RP on the following scales: somatisation (0.70 VS 0.45, p 0.05).  Conclusions: A pulmonary rehabilitation program may improve psychopathological symptoms, particularly those of the neurotic spectrum, of COPD patients.
Clinical phenotypes in pulmonary emboli identified by cluster analysis
Authors: Emel Bulcun, Dilay Çimen, Aydanur Ekici, Mehmet Ekici, Pinar Yildiz Gulhan
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Objective: We; in this study, examined the clinical phenotypes in the patients diagnosed with PE and clinical differences of these groups by using cluster analysis.  Method:43 people with the diagnosis of PE were included into this study. PE severity index (PESI) were calculated. In the patients, 9 EKG alteration for PE were evaluated as exists or not and total EKG score were taken. Patients dyspnoea were evaluated by MMRC scale. Life quality was examined for all patients by SF-36. Anxiety depression examinations were made by HAD scale. Patients were divided into 2 groups by cluster analysis .  Results:Group 1; 24 persons were included . Group 1; consisted of younger persons having lower PESI with lower hypoxemia. Group 2; included more advanced age- persons having higher PESI and having more serious hypoxemia  . When Group 1 and 2 are compared in terms of clinical parameters; In Group 1 total EKG score was found lower . SF-36 s mental and physical health components were found higher in Group1 than Group 2. HAD depression component, besides, was found lower in Group1 than Group2 . MMRC was lower in Group 1 than Group 2 at the border. BMI, PaCO2, d-dimer level, HAD anxiety component were not found different between Group 1 and 2.  Conclusion: We can divide the patients with the diagnosis of PE into different phenotypes clinically according to age, hypoxemia and PESI. Cardiac functions of younger patients with light hypoxic and PESI are lower. Yet, life quality of these patients are better and their depressive symptoms are rare.
Long-term outcome in patients with liver metastases from neuroendocrine tumors treated with chemoembolization
Authors: X. D. Dong, X. Yin, H. J. Zeh, D. L. Bartlett, B. I. Carr
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

4167 Background: Neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract have a propensity for hepatic metastases. Although surgical resection for hepatic metastases remains the gold standard for long-term survival, many patients present with multi-focal tumor burdens precluding surgical extirpation. Methods: We reviewed our experience of patients treated for unresectable neuroendocrine liver metastases using trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE) between 1990 and 2004. A total of 125 patients accrued in our series were analyzed for long-term outcome following TACE. Results: There were 66 males (52.8%) and 59 females (47.2%) in this series. Abdominal pain (44.1%) was the most common complaint among this group of patients, followed by diarrhea (29.7%) and weight lost (21.6%). Hormone production was seen in 90 patients, including 36 serotonin, 25 gastrin, 6 glucagon, 3 VIP, 4 insulin, 1 somatostatin, 1 ACTH, and 14 pancreatic polypeptide producing tumors. Primary tumor distribution included 23 midgut tumors, 62 foregut tumors, 2 hindgut tumors, and 38 tumors with unknown or primary liver origins. Statistical analysis of patient characteristics showed that age under 40 years old had worse outcome compared to other groups (age between 40 to 60 & age > 60, p=0.02). Location of the primary tumor (p=0.68) and patient gender (p=0.4) did not adversely influence long-term survival. Management of the primary tumor also did not appear to affect overall survival. Patients underwent an average of 7.3 cycles of TACE (range 1 to 32 cycles). Average diameter of the largest liver tumor decreased from a mean of 7.74 cm (+/- 4.84 cm) to 6.79 cm (+/- 4.87 cm) based on CT measurements following TACE (p<0.001). Overall 3, 5, and 10-year survivals were 58.7%, 35.5% and 19.5% with a mean follow-up of 3.2 years (range 2 weeks to 18.3 years). Conclusions: TACE appears to result in significant symptom control and is associated with prolonged survival in these unresectable patients. However, a subset of younger patients with aggressive tumors tends to have a shorter overall survival. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Effect of thrombopoietin receptor agonists on the apoptotic profile of platelets in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia
Authors: William Beau Mitchell, Mariana P. Pinheiro, Nayla Boulad, David Kaplan, Michele N. Edison, Bethan Psaila, Marissa Karpoff, Michael J. White, Emma C. Josefsson, Benjamin T. Kile, James B. Bussel
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2014)

Platelet survival depends upon mediators of apoptosis e.g., Bcl-xL, Bax, and Bak, which are regulated by thrombopoietin (TPO)-mediated AKT signaling. Thrombopoietin receptor (TPO-R) signaling might decrease platelet and/or megakaryocyte apoptosis and increase the platelet count. This study therefore explored anti-apoptotic effects of TPO-R-agonists in vivo on platelets of patients with immune thrombocytopenia. Patients received eltrombopag or romiplostim for two weeks. Total, immature, and large platelet counts were assessed as were Bcl-xL inhibitor assay; Bcl-xL Western blot; and flow cytometric (FACS) analysis of the AKT-signaling pathway. Eight/ten patients had platelet responses to eltrombopag and all three to romiplostim. Platelet sensitivity to apoptosis by Bcl-xL inhibition was greater in pretreatment patients than controls. This sensitivity normalized after one week of therapy, but surprisingly returned to pretreatment levels at week two. FACS analysis revealed increased AKT-pathway signaling after one week, followed by a decrease at week two. Platelet counts correlated with the Bcl-xL /Bak ratio. Platelet survival may be enhanced by TPO-R-agonists as a transient decrease in platelet sensitivity to apoptosis was accompanied by transient activation of AKT. However, this mechanism has only a short-lived effect. Megakaryocytes and platelets already present at the start of TPO-R-agonist treatment appear to respond differently than those generated de novo.
Bipolar spectrum disorders in patients diagnosed with velo-cardio- facial syndrome: does a hemizygous deletion of chromosome 22q11 result in bipolar affective disorder?
Authors: D F Papolos, G L Faedda, S Veit, R Goldberg, B Morrow, R Kucherlapati, R J Shprintzen
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1996)

The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic assessment of psychiatric illness in patients diagnosed with velo-cardio-facial syndrome, a genetic syndrome that involves over 40 somatic anomalies, learning disabilities, and behavioral disorders and is associated with a microdeletion on chromosome 22q11.Subjects were referred for psychiatric diagnostic evaluation without regard to age or previous psychiatric history. In order to establish DSM-III-R consensus clinical diagnoses for patients who ranged in age from 5 to 34 years, the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents--Revised or the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID) was used. A review of available medical and psychiatric records and a clinical interview performed by two research psychiatrists to validate specific symptoms and syndromes reported in the Diagnostic Interview for Children and Adolescents--Revised and the SCID were used to elucidate the chronological appearance and duration of symptoms.Sixty-four percent (N = 16 of 25) of this unselected series of patients with velo-cardio-facial syndrome met DSM-III-R criteria for a spectrum of bipolar disorders with full syndromal onset in late childhood or early adolescence (mean age at onset = 12 years, SD = 3). In addition, 20% (N = 5) met DSM-III-R criteria for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), while 16% (N = 4) met criteria for attention deficit disorder without hyperactivity. In contrast to previous reports of a high prevalence of schizophrenia, none of the patients was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and only four had psychotic symptoms during a phase of their illness, all in their 20s or 30s.Given that the prevalence of bipolar disorder in the general population is estimated to be 1.5% and that the average age at onset is 24, these findings support an unusually strong association between velo-cardio-facial syndrome and early-onset bipolar disorder and suggest that a gene deleted at the 22q11 chromosomal locus may be involved in its pathogenesis. If confirmed, these findings may provide a new and fruitful line of investigation into the molecular basis of bipolar spectrum disorders.
Salvage or Adjuvant Radiation Therapy: Counseling Patients on the Benefits
Authors: Matthew E. Nielsen, Bruce J. Trock, Patrick C. Walsh
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2010)

Recent developments in the urologic oncology literature suggest that residual local disease--as opposed to the presence of occult metastases at surgery--may characterize a more substantial component of the natural history of the recurrence and progression of initially clinically localized prostate cancer than previously appreciated. These important studies have illuminated the extent to which postoperative radiotherapy (RT) may provide benefit to patients with adverse pathologic features (extraprostatic extension, seminal vesicle invasion, or positive surgical margins) or biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy. Nevertheless, the question of whether all patients with the aforementioned adverse features should undergo immediate adjuvant RT versus initial observation with more selective--but early--salvage RT in the event of biochemical failure remains the subject of heated controversy. This article reviews salient recent studies in this field to address important questions relevant to counseling patients on the use of postprostatectomy RT. Discussion points include data supporting benefit (efficacy), questions of generalizability of benefit (effectiveness) and risks, and important questions for further study.
Abstract 14605: Paradoxical Reduction of Platelet Activation in Morbid Obesity
Authors: Pio Ciadella, Francesca Graziani, Luigi M Biasucci, Giovanna Liuzzo, Simona Giubilato, Roberta Della Bona, Eloisa Basile, Amerigo Iaconelli, Geltrude Mingrone, Filippo Crea
Journal: Circulation (2010)