tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Expression of the β2-adrenoreceptor and M3-cholinoreceptor genes in patients with different severity of asthma and BHR level
Authors: Polina Selivanova, Evgeny Kulikov, Natalya Kirillova, Maxim Freydin, Ludmila Ogorodova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background . Persistent airway inflammation, as well as nervous innervation of bronchial smooth muscles plays the main role in the formation of BHR, one of the key characteristic of asthma.

Aim and objectives . To evaluate the β2-adrenoceptor ( ADRB2) and M3-cholinoreceptor ( CHRM3 ) gene expression in bronchial mucosa of patients with different severity of asthma. We hypothesized that the differential expression of these genes may contribute to the different BHR level.

Methods . Biopsy specimens of right middle lobar bronchus were obtained from 30 asthma patients (13 with severe, 9 with moderate, and 8 with mild). The inclusion criteria followed the GINA, 2009. All subjects underwent a routine medical history taking, physical examination, spirometry, BHR measurement. The mRNA levels for the ADRB2 and CHRM3 genes in bronchial mucosa were revealed using quantitative RT–PCR (iQ SYBR Green Supermix, BioRad, USA), mRNA levels were then recalculated as 2-ddCt to the GAPDH mRNA.

Results. An increase of the ADRB2 and CHRM3 genes expression was demonstrated in patients with severe asthma ( ADRB2 mean=0.54; 95%CI 0.50-0.59; CHRM3 0.57; 0.53-0.60) as compared to patients with mild ( ADRB2 0.34; 0.32-0.36; CHRM3 0.48; 0.46-0.49) and moderate disease ( ADRB2 0.27; 0.25-0.29; CHRM3 0.46; 0.43-0.49) (p<0.05). It was revealed by correlation analysis that the level of the PC20 is negatively correlated with the mRNA levels of the ADRB2 and CHRM3 (R=-0.67 and -0.52, respectively; p<0.005), thus a high level of gene expression is associated with a high BHR. Conclusions. The differential expression of the ADRB2 and CHRM3 genes is associated with asthma severity and BHR level.
A prospective comparison of galactomannan in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for the diagnosis of pulmonary invasive aspergillosis in medical patients under intensive care: comparison with the diagnostic performance of galactomannan and of (1→ 3) – β – d-glucan chromogenic assay in serum samples
Authors: J. Acosta, M. Catalan, A. del Palacio-Peréz-Medel, D. Lora, J.-C. Montejo, M.-S. Cuetara, M.-D. Moragues, J. Ponton, A. del Palacio
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2010)
Aetiology and outcome of dypnoea in emergency department patients
Authors: Stavros Vogiatzis, Klio Eleftheriou, Vasilios Tsaousis, Anna Gavriilidou, Marianna Kakoura
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction: Dyspnoea is a common and complex diagnostic problem in ED patients.

Aim: To record initial diagnoses and outcome in ED cases of dyspnoea in a general hospital.

Material: Adults whose presenting complaint was dyspnoea during 3 consecutive summer on calls.

Methods: On site recording of relevant data. SPSS 18 was used for statistical analysis.

Results: 54(2.9%) patients presented to AE in 9(16.7%) patients there was acute deterioration of chronic dyspnoea.

Initial diagnoses were: COPD(20.4%), asthma(5.6%), cancer(9.3%), pleuritis(7.4%), haemoptysis(7.4%), pulmonary embolism(1.9%), febrile infection(22.2%), SOAS(1.9%), heart failure(14.9%), coronary artery disease(3.7%), hypertension(1.9%), neuropsychiatric disease(1.9%) and miscellaneous(1.9%).

Patients were treated at short stay units (3.7%), special departments (48.1%), ITUs(1.9%), specialist centres(1.9%) and at home(44.4%). The mean duration of hospitalization was 7±2 days.

Concordance between admission and discharge diagnoses was 90.7%. Additional medical problems were identified in 25.9% of the patients that presented with dyspnoea.

Conclusion: Dyspnoea in ED patients is a complex medical problem that requires meticulous clinical attention.
Cancer Research Campaign phase II trial of temozolomide in metastatic melanoma.
Authors: N M Bleehen, E S Newlands, S M Lee, N Thatcher, P Selby, A H Calvert, G J Rustin, M Brampton, M F Stevens
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

PURPOSE Sixty patients with metastatic melanoma were treated in a phase II study with the imidazotetrazine derivative temozolamide to assess further the efficacy demonstrated in previous phase I studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-five of 56 eligible patients were assessable for toxicity and 49 for response. The patients received temozolomide 150 mg/m2/d over 5 successive days orally (total dose, 750 mg/m2) in the first course. Courses were repeated every 4 weeks and the dose was escalated to 200 mg/m2/d x 5 (total dose, 1 g/m2) after the first course if toxicity was acceptable. Patients were all chemotherapy-naive, except for two who had previously received interferon alfa and one who had received interleukin-2 (the latter patient had also received two phase I drugs some time previously). RESULTS A complete response (CR) was documented in three patients (all with lung metastases) and a partial response (PR) in nine patients (21% CR plus PR rate). Seven of 56 patients were not assessable for response because of early death or deterioration. The overall response rate excluding these patients is 12 of 49 (24%). The median response duration was 6 months (range, 2.5 to 22+). Toxicity of the regimen, which was mainly hematopoietic, was low. The median survival duration for all patients was 5.5 months (range, 0.5 to 29.5). For responders, the median survival duration was 14.5 months (range, 3 to 28+), with four patients still alive. CONCLUSION Temozolomide in the schedule used has as good activity in chemotherapy-naive metastatic melanoma as the other most active agents currently in use. Further studies of the drug on its own and in combination with other agents is recommended.
Is FEV1 better than PEF at detecting asthmatic changes in diurnal variation
Authors: Kerry-Anne Dennis, Vicky Moore, Cedd Burge, Sherwood Burge
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

FEV 1  is considered the best measure of airflow obstruction but PEF is more commonly used to diagnose occupational asthma as it9s easier to achieve unsupervised. We investigated whether FEV 1  or PEF was more sensitive at identifying asthmatic variation when carried out serially at home and at work.   Methods:  94 asthmatics from the USA and 84 from the UK were studied. The USA group used the Easyone and the UK group the Piko-1, Vitalograph 2110, or Mini Wright Digital meter. Records contained ≥ 4 readings per day for ≥ 2 weeks with the occupational asthmatic records also having ≥ 10 day shifts. Within session PEF and FEV 1  variation was assessed for the USA data (as the meter logged the 3 best attempts) using a coefficient of variation (COV). Diurnal variation% predicted (DV) was analysed for all data. Timepoint analysis (an Oasys program scoring system for occupational asthma) was performed on occupational asthmatics.   Results:  The table below compares COV and DV for PEF and FEV 1  (SD=standard deviation).  There was no significant difference in the number of day shift positive drops (from Timepoint analysis; a drop signifies a significant difference between work and rest) between FEV 1  and PEF (p=0.859) and no difference in the value required to produce a positive drop (p=0.297).   Conclusion:  Diurnal variation is significantly greater for PEF than FEV 1  in asthmatics with similar within session variation using logging meters incorporating some quality control. PEF is as good as FEV 1  for diagnosing (occupational) asthma.
The Role of Cytoreductive/Debulking Surgery in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Mark T. Wakabayashi, Paul S. Lin, Amy A. Hakim
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2008)

Ovarian cancer is the fifth most common cause of cancer-related death among women in the United States, although the median survival of patients has been increasing over the past few decades. In patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, chemotherapy has increased survival. Platinum agents combined with taxanes have become standard treatment. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy has also increased survival. Cytoreductive surgery to optimally debulk a tumor or, ideally, remove any gross disease has also been shown to increase survival. Each 10% increase in cytoreduction correlates with a 5.5% increase in median survival. The ability to successfully perform optimal cytoreduction ranges from 20% to 90%. Many institutions have recently begun to perform aggressive/ultraradical procedures to achieve this result. Interval cytoreduction may also benefit patients whose initial surgery is suboptimal, especially if the first procedure was performed by a surgeon unfamiliar with the disease. Secondary cytoreduction can increase survival in patients with low-volume disease and a long disease-free interval. All of these procedures should be performed by a specialist trained in ovarian cancer surgery.
Clindamycin did not differ from trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole for curing uncomplicated skin infections
Authors: Thomas Fekete
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2015)

ACP Journal Club21 July 2015Clindamycin did not differ from trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole for curing uncomplicated skin infectionsThomas Fekete, MDThomas Fekete, MDTemple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (T.F.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/ACPJC-2015-163-2-009 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Source CitationMiller LG, Daum RS, Creech CB, et al; DMID 07-0051 Team. Clindamycin versus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole for uncomplicated skin infections. N Engl J Med. 2015;372:1093-103. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25785967Clinical Impact RatingsGIM/FP/GP: Emergency Med: Infectious Disease: Reference1. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. Strategies Using Off-Patent Antibiotics for Methicillin Resistant S. Aureus “STOP MRSA”. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00729937 (accessed 6 May 2015). Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (T.F.)This article was published at Annals.org on 7 July 2015. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 21 July 2015Volume 163, Issue 2Page: JC9KeywordsAbscessesAdverse eventsAntibioticsCellulitisChildrenClindamycinInfectious diseasesInflammationOutpatientsSkin infections ePublished: 21 July 2015 Issue Published: 21 July 2015 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2015 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...
Patients with a lung cancer are changed: About a French monocentric cohort between 1990 and 2010
Authors: Fabien Vaylet, Jacques Margery, Ines N'Gampolo, Wanda Gaspard, Alexa Mairovitz, Herve Le Floch, Frederic Riviere, Francois Pons, Jean Philippe Arigon, Rene Jancovici, Patrick Saint Blancard, Claude Marotel, Pierre L'Her
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

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

Methods: see table.

View this table:



Results: This analysis shows the increase of adenocarcinoma with increase of female patients, of non smoker-status and increase of diagnosis by TDM punction. Non small cell is stable.

Median age of diagnosis is a little bit increasing.

The increase of stage IV and the decrease of stage III is due to a best staging with the routine use of PET and RMI procedures since 2000.

Conclusion: This cohort is the largest single center in French literature. The analysis over 20 years shows epidemiological and histological changes.
Single nucleotide polymorphims 1540G/A, 2694T/G and 4521G/A of CFTR gene and their association with cystic fibrosis phenotype
Authors: Lukasz Minarowski, Alina Minarowska, Dorota Sands, Oksana Kowalczuk, Lech Chyczewski, Elzbieta Chyczewska
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:  The identification of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who are at greater risk of lung damage is clinically essential. In large number patients carrying the same  CFTR  genotype different phenotypes are observed. It is suspected that the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of  CFTR  gene can be one of the causes of this.   Aims:  to evaluate of frequencies of SNPs: 1540G/A in exon 10 (rs213950), 2694T/G in exon 14b (rs1042077) and 4521G/A in exon 24 (rs1800136) and their haplotypes in patients with diagnosed CF. Correlation of clinical symptoms and lower respiratory tract bacterial colonization was also assessed.   Methods:  genomic DNA was collected from CF patients (145 patients) and 141 healthy subjects, genotyped using RT-PCR and correlated with 23 clinical features and microbiology results. The analysis were performed independently in delF508 homozygous and heterozygous groups.   Results:  genotypes of GG of 1540G/A, TT of 2694T/G and GG of 4521G/A are statistically most frequent. The most frequent haplotype was GTG observed in 48,7% of patients. In genotype-phenotype analysis studied SNPs and GTG haplotype correlated with CF severity (higher sweat Cl, pancreatic insufficiency) and earlier age of chronic  S. aureus  colonization.   Conclusions:  Our results, although necessary to be confirmed in larger population, but the genetic background could influence the age of acquiring of chronic bacterial colonization in some cases.
Prospective genetically randomized comparison between intensive postinduction chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation in adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia.
Authors: E Archimbaud, X Thomas, M Michallet, J Jaubert, J Troncy, D Guyotat, D Fiere
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1994)

PURPOSE To compare intensive chemotherapy and HLA-identical allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) as postinduction therapy in young adults with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-eight consecutive AML patients younger than 40 years of age were treated according to a prospective protocol in which every patient in complete remission (CR) with an HLA-identical sibling was scheduled to receive BMT rather than intensive chemotherapy consolidation. To minimize comparison biases, the availability or not of an HLA-identical sibling donor was considered to be the equivalent of genetic randomization to the BMT or chemotherapy arm, respectively. RESULTS Fifty-eight patients (74%) achieved a CR. A donor was found for 27 patients (BMT arm), and 20 of these patients were actually transplanted in first CR. The 31 patients without a donor were allocated to the chemotherapy arm. Patients in the two arms had similar disease characteristics at diagnosis and previous responses to induction therapy. The cumulative risk of relapse was 43% +/- 24% in the BMT arm and 67% +/- 19% in the chemotherapy arm (P = .01). The 7-year leukemia-free survival (LFS) rate was 41% +/- 20% in the BMT arm and 27% +/- 16% in the chemotherapy arm, a difference that is not statistically significant between the two arms. The overall survival rates were 41% +/- 20% and 46% +/- 19%, respectively. CONCLUSION In this study, the availability of an HLA-identical sibling donor was not associated with a better survival rate because of both the impossibility of some patients with a donor to receive BMT and the more efficient salvage treatment of patients who relapsed after intensive consolidation chemotherapy than of patients who relapsed after BMT.
Acute Interstitial Pneumonia
Authors: Kazuya Ichikado, Moritaka Suga, Nestor L. Müller, Hiroyuki Taniguchi, Yasuhiro Kondoh, Masanori Akira, Takeshi Johkoh, Naoki Mihara, Hironobu Nakamura, Mutsumasa Takahashi, Masayuki Ando
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2002)

This study compared high-resolution computed tomography (CT) findings between 10 survivors and 21 nonsurvivors of acute interstitial pneumonia and evaluated whether the CT findings were predictive of patients' response to treatment. The survivor and nonsurvivor groups with pathologically or clinically diagnosed acute interstitial pneumonia were similar in age, sex, disease duration, and lung injury score. Retrospective, subjective evaluations of the CT scans were conducted by two independent observers without knowledge of patient outcomes. CT findings were graded on a one to six scale corresponding to consecutive pathologic phases as follows: areas of (1) normal attenuation, (2) ground-glass attenuation, (3) consolidation, (4) ground-glass attenuation associated with traction bronchiolectasis or bronchiectasis, (5) consolidation associated with traction bronchiolectasis or bronchiectasis, and (6) honeycombing. An overall score was obtained by quantifying the extent of each abnormality in three lung zones in each lung. The extent of ground-glass attenuation or consolidation associated with traction bronchiolectasis or bronchiectasis was less in survivors than nonsurvivors (p = 0.004 and p = 0.009, respectively). Architectural distortion was less frequent, and ground-glass attenuation or consolidation without traction bronchiolectasis or bronchiectasis was more extensive in survivors than in nonsurvivors (p = 0.007, p = 0.002, and p = 0.029, respectively). Overall CT scores of survivors were significantly lower than those of nonsurvivors (p = 0.0003). A CT score of less than 245 had an 80% positive and a 90% negative predictive value for survival. There was good interobserver agreement in the assessment of the CT findings (Kappa 0.75). The results indicate that CT assessment is potentially helpful in predicting patient prognosis in acute interstitial pneumonia regardless of the degree of physiologic abnormality.
The presence of antibodies against virus-like particles of epidermodysplasia verruciformis-associated humanpapillomavirus type 8 in patients with actinic keratoses
Authors: J.N. Bouwes Bavinck, S. Stark, A.K. Petridis, M.E. Marugg, J. Ter Schegget, R.G.J. Westendorp, P.G. Fuchs, B.J. Vermeer, H. Pfister
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2000)

Epidermodysplasia verruciformis‐associated human papillomaviruses (EV‐HPVs) are possibly involved in the development of actinic keratoses and may play a part in the pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin, as the DNA of these viruses is frequently detected in biopsies of such lesions. Properly designed epidemiological studies, using serological tests to investigate the role of infection with EV‐HPVs in cutaneous oncogenesis, are still rare. An IgG‐specific enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay using virus‐like particles composed of the major capsid protein L1 of the EV‐specific HPV 8 (HPV 8 VLPs) was developed and used to test the seroprevalence of HPV 8 in 114 inhabitants of a tropical island, of whom 13 had developed SCC, and 19 had developed basal cell carcinoma. Gender, age, eye and hair colour, sun exposure and number of actinic keratoses were recorded for all individuals. The presence of antibodies against HPV 8 VLPs was associated with the development of large numbers of actinic keratoses. After adjusting for gender, age, eye and hair colour, and sun exposure, the odds ratio to develop 37 (the median in this dataset) or more actinic keratoses in the presence of antibodies against HPV 8 VLPs was 2·3 (95% confidence interval: 1·0; 5·3). Similarly, after adjustment for the same factors, the presence of these antibodies was associated with SCC with an odds ratio of 3·1 (0·74; 13·3), but the small number of individuals with SCC does not permit any definite conclusions. The presence of these antibodies did not appear to be associated with basal cell carcinoma as, after adjustment for the same factors, the odds ratio was 0·73 (0·23; 2·4). This study provides serological evidence that infection with EV‐HPVs may play a part in the pathogenesis of actinic keratoses. The role of EV‐HPVs in the development of SCC, however, remains to be elucidated.
Analysis of three outcome measures in moderate to severe psoriasis: a registry-based study of 2450 patients
Authors: J.M. Norlin, K. Steen Carlsson, U. Persson, M. Schmitt-Egenolf
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2011)

As moderate to severe psoriasis is a systemic disease with large effects on health-related quality of life, generic measures that include overall health, not only skin involvement, are necessary. Knowledge about the relationship between the generic preference-based EuroQol 5D (EQ-5D) and dermatology-specific measures in psoriasis is limited.To analyse EQ-5D, the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis in Swedish clinical practice by demographic characteristics, to compare EQ-5D among patients vs. Swedish population values, and to analyse the relationships between EQ-5D, DLQI and PASI.This observational cohort study was based on PsoReg, the Swedish National Registry for Systemic Treatment of Psoriasis. EQ-5D was compared among patients with psoriasis vs. a defined general population in Sweden, retrieved from a previous study. Relationships between measures were examined with correlation tests and regression analysis.In total, 2450 patients (1479 men and 971 women) were included. Median EQ-5D, DLQI and PASI scores were 0·769, 4 and 4·7, respectively. Patients with psoriasis had a significantly lower EQ-5D compared with the defined general population. EQ-5D correlated moderately with DLQI (-0·55) and weakly with PASI (-0·25) (P < 0·001).When assessing psoriasis treatments and making decisions about treatment guidelines and resource allocation, EQ-5D, DLQI and PASI provide a useful set of complementary tools, answering to different needs. If EQ-5D is not included in the original trial the second-best option in cost-effectiveness studies is to use mapping between DLQI and EQ-5D.
Assessment of pain in children submitted to techniques of respiratory physiotherapy
Authors: Debora Scheucher, Maria Teresa Biasi, Isabel Komatsu, Lucio Araujo, Renata Teixeira, Celia Lopes
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background:  Pain in critically ill infants alters clinical stability, and there are few studies that relate the binomial: physiotherapy and production of pain in children, although the application of intra-hospital respiratory physiotherapy is already a routine.   Objective:  To evaluate pain response to maneuvers of thoracic vibrocompression (VC) and suction of secretion (SS) in children under one year with acute respiratory infections.   Methods:  Were evaluated 20 children, of both genders, admitted to the Pediatrics Ward of HC-UFU requiring respiratory physiotherapy. The variables heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO 2 ) and Neonatal Infant Pain Scale – (NIPS), were analyzed before, during and after the execution of the techniques previously randomized. For statistical analysis, were used two-way ANOVA, post hoc test, and Spearman9s correlation with a significance level of 5% (p   Results:  There were significant differences between techniques (p=0.01) in the variable HR, while the RR showed no significant changes related to techniques, and moments of evaluation. The SpO 2  showed significance between techniques during application, being on average 90.9% SS and VC of 95.6% (p=0.01). NIPS had also no significant difference between techniques during the execution, and the SS average was 5.90 points while VC average was 1.85 points (p=0.01). All variables with changed values during the execution of the techniques returned to baseline at the end.   Conclusion  :  The VC showed variation only in HR during its execution, while SS altered HR, SpO 2  and NIPS, but the children quickly returned to baseline levels and clinical stability with rest.