tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Assessment of patients preferences regarding characteristics associated with treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Emel Bulcun, Mehmet Ekici, Aydanur Ekici
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Objective: Preferences regarding the characteristics associated with treatment of COPD must be detected in order to increase their compatibility of the patients to the treatments. We have evaluated the preferred characteristics associated with treatment of patients in COPD.  Method:Expectations of patients from COPD therapy were assessed under 6 categories. These can be summarized as follows: Time to be allocated by physician to listen patients complaints, treatment to be applied regarding the complaints, adverse effect frequency, status of patients who are each time visiting the same physician, integral approach of the physician for the treatment of patient and the therapy cost. These groups were divided into categories of theraphy indicating 25 alternative treatment methods by using conjoint analysis. Preferences of patients were sorted according to their order of choice.  Results:The major expectation associated to the treatment of COPD patients is to completely recover the complanits by the theraphy. The order of the choices of patients with respect to their other expectations of treatment are respectively as follows; sufficient time to be allowed by the physician to listen the patients, no cost for treatment, minimum side effects resulting from the treatment, each follow-up to be performed by the same physician, physicians entire assessment of the patient rather than only the complaints.  Conclusion:The major expectation of COPD patients regarding treatment was to completely recover by the help of the theraphy regarding their complaints. Considering the expectations of the patient may help to improve the compatibility of the treatment.
Solution to treating prisoners in hospital is financial
Authors: K. Murray, M. Lock, A. Akinkumni, T. Weaver, A. Renton
Journal: BMJ (1995)

EDITOR,--The situation that N Needham-Bennett and I Cumming describe in a prison health care centre1 is all too familiar,2 despite successive initiatives to improve provision for mentally disordered prisoners.3 4 We take issue, however, with the authors' proposal that the Mental Health Act 1983 should be revised to allow compulsory psychiatric treatment in prisons.

In March 1992 the Department of Health and the Home Office invited proposals from the four Thames regional health authorities to provide a better service for mentally disordered male prisoners remanded into custody. Our successful proposal …
Epidemiological impact and disease burden of congenital cytomegalovirus infection in Europe
Authors: A Ludwig, H Hengel
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2009)

In Europe, congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the leading cause of neurological disabilities in children, causing severe sequelae such as sensorineural hearing loss, neurodevelopmental delay or blindness. The infection causes high disease burden and costs. Nevertheless, there is little awareness of CMV among medical officials and the general public.
Abstract 12240: Dendritic Cell is an Immunoprotective Regulator in Post-Infarction Healing and Left Ventricular Remodeling
Authors: Atsushi Anzai, Toshihisa Anzai, Shigenori Nagai, Yuichiro Maekawa, Motoaki Sano, Tsutomu Yoshikawa, Shigeo Koyasu, Satoshi Ogawa, Keiichi Fukuda
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background- Inflammation and immune responses are integral components in the healing process after myocardial infarction (MI). We previously reported dendritic cell (DC) infiltration into the infarcted heart. This study was designed to elucidate whether and how DC contributes to post-infarction healing and left ventricular (LV) remodeling. Methods and Results- Bone-marrow (BM) cells from CD11c-diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR)/green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated wild-type (WT) recipient mice. After reconstitution of BM-derived cells, the recipient mice were treated with either diphtheria toxin (DC-ablation group) or vehicle (control group), and MI was created by left coronary ligation. CD11c+ GFP+ DCs expressing CD11b and MHC class II were recruited into the heart, peaking on day 7 after MI in control group. Mice with DC depletion for 7 days showed increased mortality, and deteriorated LV dysfunction and remodeling 28 days after MI. DC-ablation group de...
Managing Abnormal Blood Lipids
Authors: Barbara Fletcher, Kathy Berra, Phil Ades, Lynne T. Braun, Lora E. Burke, J. Larry Durstine, Joan M. Fair, Gerald F. Fletcher, David Goff, Laura L. Hayman, William R. Hiatt, Nancy Houston Miller, Ronald Krauss, Penny Kris-Etherton, Neil Stone, Janet Wilterdink, Mary Winston
Journal: Circulation (2005)

Current data and guidelines recommend treating abnormal blood lipids (ABL) to goal. This is a complex process and requires involvement from various healthcare professionals with a wide range of expertise. The model of a multidisciplinary case management approach for patients with ABL is well documented and described. This collaborative approach encompasses primary and secondary prevention across the lifespan, incorporates nutritional and exercise management as a significant component, defines the importance and indications for pharmacological therapy, and emphasizes the importance of adherence. Use of this collaborative approach for the treatment of ABL ultimately will improve cardiovascular and cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality.
Abstract 14811: Association of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Myocardial Fibrosis with Early Cardiac Dysfunction in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and the Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) Study
Authors: Anderson C Armstrong, Evrim Turkbey, Jye-Yu Backlund, Bharath Ambale-Venkatesh, Sirisha Donekal, Elzbieta Chamera, Patricia Cleary, John Lachin, David Bluemke, Joao Lima
Journal: Circulation (2014)

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the influence of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors and myocardial fibrosis on early cardiac dysfunction (impaired myocardial deformation) in persons with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We assessed 714 EDIC participants who had contrast-enhanced CMR examinations in 2008. EDIC cohort started in 1994 as a follow-up study of the DCCT (1983-1989). Late gadolinium enhancement-sequence was used to identify LV replacement fibrosis (scar) and then classified as ischemic or non-ischemic. Peak systolic circumferential strain (Ecc) at the mid-ventricular level was acquired from Tagging MRI sequences to assess myocardial deformation. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations of risk factors and myocardial scar with Ecc. RESULTS: The mean age was 49±6 years and 58% were men. Myocardial deformation was lower (less negative value) in men, older participants, smokers, obese, and in those with hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. Impaired deformation was found in presence of ...
Abstract #5501: In vitro synergy of the combination of Sorafenib and ABT-737 in melanoma cell lines
Authors: Ryan Sullivan, David Panka, Matt Cohen, Michael Atkins, James Mier, Daniel Cho
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Introduction:  ABT-737 is a small molecule inhibitor of Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and Bcl-w which has been shown to induce apoptosis in a variety of tumor types. Persistence of Mcl-1 expression has been proposed as a potential mechanism of resistance to ABT-737. Sorafenib is a multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR2, PDGFR, B-raf, and C-raf and has been shown to downmodulate Mcl-1. We have previously shown that sorafenib can induce caspase-dependent apoptosis in A375 cells and caspase-independent apoptosis in A2058 cells through enhancement of the nuclear translocation of apoptosis inducible factor (AIF). We sought to evaluate the efficacy of ABT-737 in melanoma and determine if its effects may be additive to those of sorafenib.  Experimental Methods:  Varying doses of ABT-737 (0-10 µM) and sorafenib (5-20 µM) were used to treat A375 and A2058 melanoma cells which were analyzed for viability by propidium iodide staining as well as lysed for western blot analysis for Mcl-1, total and phosphorylated Erk, and PARP. Dependence of observed cytotoxicity on caspase activation was determined by concurrent treatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD.  Results:  Treatment with ABT-737 resulted in only modest single-agent lethality in both A375 and A2058 cell lines. However, concurrent treatment with sorafenib resulted in synergistic enhancement of lethality compared with either agent alone. This synergy was observed at sorafenib concentrations sufficient to downmodulate Mcl-1 but insufficient to inhibit Erk phosphorylation. Concurrent treatment with Z-VAD reverses the effects of the combination in the A375 cell line but not in the A2058 cell line, suggesting that ABT-737 may enhance the previously described effects of sorafenib on the nuclear translocation of AIF in this cell line.  Conclusions:  The combination of ABT-737 and sorafenib leads to synergistic cytotoxicity in melanoma cell lines. This effect appears independent of the inhibition of raf by sorafenib and is correlated instead with the downmodulation of Mcl-1. The variable dependence of this synergy on caspase activation suggests that the mechanism of lethality may differ between cell lines. Cellular fractionation assays are ongoing to explore the effects of the combination on nuclear translocation of AIF. Given the paucity of effective therapies in malignant melanoma, the combination of inhibitors of Bcl-2 family members with sorafenib may be an attractive combination to advance to clinical assessment.     Citation Information:  In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 5501.
Military Significance of Q Fever: A Review
Authors: A J Spicer
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1978)

Q fever is undoubtedly a disease of military significance. Whilst so far it has only been described in troops operating in Mediterranean countries, the Balkans and southern Europe, it is a potential hazard for nonindigenous soldiers in at least 51 countries on 5 continents. Sheep and goats are the main source of infection, and the disease is almost entirely acquired by inhalation of dust-borne rickettsiae from an environment contaminated with infected placentae. The commonest vehicle of transmission is infected hay and straw. On the available evidence, Q fever is simply and largely preventible as a significant military disease by implementation of the following measures: (I) Education on the source and methods of infection. (2) Banning the use of hay and straw for bedding, and the clearing and burning of hay and straw fromfarm buildings prior to occupation. (3) The exclusion of sheep and goats from military areas. (4) Regular serological surveillance of flocks adjoining military areas for evidence of heavy infection by Coxiella burnet;’ (5) Vigilance for an unusually high incidence of abortion in flocks adjoining military areas, which should initiate an immediate serological survey to determine the possibility of gross environmental contamination by the Q fever organism. (6) The possible use of short term prophylaxis with tetracycline for limited exposures to Q fever.
Young Finnish daily smokers are experts to assess their nicotine dependence
Authors: Tuula Toljamo, Anna Hamari, Pentti Nieminen, Vuokko L. Kinnula
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: Young adults are easily nicotine dependent and want to quit, but they have several relapses,partly due to lack of programs to help them.

Aims: To study how self-assessment of nicotine addiction by young adult smokers correlated to nicotine dependence graded by HSI

Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional questionnaire answered anonymously by Finnish male conscripts during their military service during 2008-2009 in Northern Finland with a high response rate (80%)

Results: In this group (n=721),72.5% were current smokers and 27.5% occasional smokers.The mean age of current smokers was 19.5y,they started to smoke at the mean age of 14.7y and smoked in average 4.8y.Third of current smokers smoked less than 3-pack-years (py), third between 3 to 6py and third more than 6 py.Even 93.5% of daily smokers felt themselves nicotine addicted typically with several quit attempts (Table 1).

View this table:

Table 1. Distribution of Heaviness of Smoking Index (HSI) vs nicotine dependence in 523 current young smokers





Conclusions: Young smokers experienced several quit attempts and were highly nicotine dependent.They also recognized their dependence.
Abstract 13213: Protective Role of Fgf21 in Adverse Cardiac Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Yusuke Joki, Koji Ohashi, Daisuke Yuasa, Rei Shibata, Takahiro Kambara, Satoko Hayakawa, Mizuho Hiramatsu-Ito, Hayato Ogawa, Hiroyuki Daida, Toyoaki Murohara, Noriyuki Ouchi
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Objective: Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Regular exercise is associated with a cardiovascular risk reduction. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is secreted from skeletal muscle and upregulated by exercise training. Here, we investigated whether skeletal muscle-derived FGF21 affects cardiac remodeling in mice following myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results: C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice were subjected to myocardial infarction by permanent ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Mice were intramuscularly treated with an adenoviral vector encoding FGF21 (Ad-FGF21) or control β-galactosidase (Ad-β-gal) at 3 days before LAD ligation. Intramuscular treatment of WT mice with Ad-FGF21 increased plasma levels of FGF21 compared with Ad-β-gal. At 2 weeks after LAD ligation, Ad-FGF21-treated WT mice exhibited improvement of left ventricular systolic function and chamber size, and reduction of myocyte hypertrophy compared to Ad-β-gal-treated mice. Administration of Ad-FGF21 to WT mice also increased capillary density in the infarct border zone as evaluated by CD31 immunostaining and reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the remote zone as assessed by TUNEL staining. In addition, Ad-FGF21 decreased mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and fibrotic mediators in the heart of WT mice after myocardial infarction. Moreover, treatment of WT mice with Ad-FGF21 increased plasma levels of a cardioprotective adipokine adiponectin. Of note, intramuscular injection of Ad-FGF21 failed to improve cardiac function and dilatation in adiponectin-deficient mice after myocardial infarction

Conclusions: These data suggest that muscle-derived FGF21 prevents adverse cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction by its abilities to modulate myocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis, inflammation and angiogenesis in the heart and that adiponectin plays an important role in the cardioprotective action of FGF21.
Prediction of New-Onset Refractory Congestive Heart Failure Using Gated Myocardial Perfusion SPECT Imaging in Patients With Known or Suspected Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Tomoaki Nakata, Akiyoshi Hashimoto, Takeru Wakabayashi, Hideo Kusuoka, Tsunehiko Nishimura
Journal: JACC. Cardiovascular imaging (2009)
Photoplethysmographic Signal to Screen Sleep-Disordered Breathing in Hospitalized Heart Failure Patients
Authors: Sunil Sharma, Paul Mather, Jimmy T. Efird, Daron Kahn, Mohammed Cheema, Sharon Rubin, Gordon Reeves, Raphael Bonita, Raymond Malloy, David J. Whellan
Journal: JACC Heart Failure (2015)
Prescription of physical exercise for obese children based on cardiopulmonary exercise tests
Authors: Laura Fidalgo-Marron, Estela Insfran-Marron, Ester Cid-Paris, Alfonso Ortigado-Matamala, Pilar Sevilla-Ramos, Jose Maria Jimenez-Bustos
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Aims: To study the differences between the theoretical training zones and those obtained using a cardiopulmonary stress test for the prescription of slight-moderate intensity physical exercise amongst obese children.To correlate the exercise intensity in the anaerobic threshold with the degree of perceived effort.

Methods: It is a descriptive transversal study carried out amongst obese children from 6 to 14 years old. An ergospirometry was carried out on a treadmill with an incremental maximal stress protocol according to the ATS/ERS recommendations. The anaerobic threshold (AT) was calculated using the V-slope method, collecting the Hr reading at this point and assigning the perceived effort scale value (PCERT) obtained at that moment. The differences between the theoretical Hr at AT and the collected one were subsequently studied.

Results: A total of 28 obese children (17male,61%) were studied, with an average age of 10.90years old (±2.43) and a BMI of 27.61kg/m2 (±3.46). The average HR at the AT was 117.45bpm (±15.67) which corresponds to 56.29% (±7.56) of the maximal. Theoretically, the threshold would be in a range around 75% of the maximum, which would make up an average difference of 48.96bpm (±15.29) (p≤0.001) with the actual anaerobic threshold. The perceived effort value was between 1 and 2.

Conclusions: The prescription of physical exercise for obese children with varied controlled intensities must be personally carried out and based on a cardiopulmonary exercise test given that there are significant differences with the theoretical training zones. These differences could mean using an energetic substrate which is different to that of the one desired and of a lower exercise tolerance.
Abstract P184: Pulse Wave Velocity is Associated With Coronary Calcification and Improves its Prediction in Young And Middle-Aged Asymptomatic Adults: The Kangbuk Samsung Health Study
Authors: Miguel Cainzos-Achirica, Sanjay Rampal, Yoosoo Chang, Seungho Ryu, Yiyi Zhang, Di Zhao, Juhee Cho, Yuni Choi, Roberto Pastor-Barriuso, So Yeon Lim, Joao Lima, Hocheol Shin, Eliseo Guallar
Journal: Circulation (2015)

Introduction: The role of pulse wave velocity (PWV) in assessing cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in asymptomatic non-elderly adults is unclear. PWV assessment, however, is readily available, non-invasive, cheap, and does not involve radiation exposure. Hypothesis: The aim of our study was to evaluate the hypothesis that brachial-ankle PWV was associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) in a large sample of young and middle-aged asymptomatic adults, and that PWV increases the predictive value of traditional CVD risk factors for predicting the presence of CAC. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 15,009 asymptomatic men and women without a history of cardiovascular disease who underwent a health screening program that included both PWV and CAC measurements. Brachial-ankle PWV was obtained from bilateral brachial and posterior tibial artery pressure waveforms using the oscillometric method. Robust tobit regression was used to assess the association between PWV and natural log(CAC+1) and logistic regression was used to model the presence of detectable CAC (CAC&gt;0) and CAC&gt;100 adjusting for multiple CVD risk factors. Measures of calibration and discrimination were calculated to test the incremental value of adding PWV to traditional risk factors in predicting prevalent CAC. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 41.6 years (SD 7.2) and 83% (12,452) were men. Subjects with higher PWV had generally less favorable CVD risk profiles. The multivariable-adjusted CAC score ratios (95% confidence interval) comparing quintiles 2 - 5 of PWV to the first quintile were 1.21 (0.78, 1.86), 1.54 (1.01, 2.33), 1.98 (1.30, 3.01), and 2.83 (1.84, 4.37), respectively (P trend 100 were consistent with the results for CAC ratios. The addition of PWV to traditional risk factors significantly improved the discrimination and calibration of models for predicting the prevalence of detectable CAC (net reclassification index [NRI] for predicting detectable CAC and CAC score &gt; 100 of 0.167 and 0.252, respectively; both p&lt;0.001). Conclusions: In this large sample of young and middle-aged asymptomatic adults, brachial-ankle PWV was independently associated with the presence and the extent of CAC. PWV measurements improve the prediction of detectable CAC compared to traditional CVD risk factors and may help identify young and middle-age subjects with increased risk of subclinical disease.
Broader autism phenotype: evidence from a family history study of multiple-incidence autism families
Authors: Joseph Piven, Pat Palmer, Dinah Jacobi, Debra Childress, Stephan Arndt
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1997)

Studies of families ascertained through a single autistic proband suggest that the genetic liability for autism may be expressed in nonautistic relatives in a phenotype that is milder but qualitatively similar to the defining features of autism. The objective of this study was to examine behaviors that may define this broader phenotype in relatives ascertained through two autistic siblings.The authors used a semistructured family history interview to compare the rates of social and communication deficits and stereotyped behaviors in relatives ascertained through two autistic siblings (families with multiple-incidence autism; 25 families) with the rates in relatives of Down syndrome probands (30 families).Higher rates of social and communication deficits and stereotyped behaviors were found in the relatives in the families with multiple-incidence autism.These data suggest that further studies should be undertaken to delineate the boundaries of the broader autism phenotype and that this broader phenotype should be included in some future genetic analyses of this disorder.
Abstract 13328: Coronary Artery Disease is Associated with a Poor Post-Discharge Prognosis in Patients Hospitalized for Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Findings from the EVEREST Trial
Authors: Bradley D Allen, Mihai Gheorghiade, Andrew P Ambrosy, Angela J Fought, Mary J Kwasny, Robert J Mentz, Faiez Zannad, Aldo P Maggioni, Karl Swedberg, Marvin A Konstam, Robert O Bonow
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background: An estimated 60% of patients hospitalized for heart failure (HF) have a history of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hypothesis: Patients admitted for worsening HF and reduced EF with a documented history of CAD are at higher risk for post-discharge morbidity and mortality than those without CAD. Methods: We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Efficacy of Vasopressin Antagonism in Heart Failure Outcome Study with Tolvaptan (EVEREST) trial which randomized 4133 patients hospitalized for worsening HF and EF <40% within 48 hours of admission to placebo or tolvaptan. Patients were well-treated with evidence-based therapies. The median follow-up was 9.9 months and co-primary endpoints were all-cause mortality (ACM) and a composite of cardiovascular mortality (CVM) or HF rehospitalization. Documented CAD was defined as previous myocardial infarction (MI), coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Times to ACM and CVM or HF rehospitalization were comp...