tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Identification of Carcinogenic Tannin Isolated From Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum) 2 3
Authors: Ching Yung Wang, Chung Wai Chiu, A. M. Pamukcu, George T. Bryan
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1976)

We attempted to isolate a carcinogenic substance from bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), a naturally occurring toxicant responsible for the production of chronic enzootic hematuria and urinary bladder cancer of cattle and carcinogenic for various target organs of several species. Hot methanol extracts of bracken fern were solubilized in water and extracted with chloroform followed by a mixture of n-butanol-butanone (1:1). That fraction was dried and triturated with ether-methanol (4:1), n-butanol, and finally absolute ethanol. The insoluble residue was dissolved in 10% aqueous methanol and passed through Dowex 1 OH-, Dowex 50 H+, or Dowex 1 OH- and then Dowex 50 H+ ion exchange resins. A condensed tannin, isolated from one ot the fractions, was identical to that isolated from bracken fern by the caffeine procedure used for the separation of tannins from other plant constituents. Three systems were used for bioassay; induction of bladder carcinoma by implantation of cholesterol pellets containing bracken fern fractions into the bladder lumens of mice; acute toxicity by ip injection of brachen fern fraction into mice; and growth inhibition of Escherichia coli. The following fractions induced significantly greater incidences of bladder carcinoma than did cholesterol pellets only: tannin, Dowex 50 H+, residue, n-butanol, and methanol. Tiliroside, a component of bracken fern fractions into the bladder lumens of mice; acute genic acid, and quercetin were not carcinogenic. Tannin was the most toxic (mean lethal dose: 0.16 mg/g) and carcinogenic. None of the carcinogenic fractions inhibited growth of E. coli.
Photodynamic Bioassay of Benzo[&lt;italic&gt;a&lt;/italic&gt;]pyrene With &lt;italic&gt;Paramecium caudatum&lt;/italic&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: S. S. Epstein, M. Small, J. Koplan, N. Mantel, S. H. Hutner
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1963)

A bioassay for benzo[a]pyrene, based on its photodynamic toxicity to Paramecium caudatum, is described. This procedure permits convenient and rapid analysis of a large number of replicates with satisfactory reproducibility and sensitivity.
Synovial sarcoma: prognostic significance of tumor size, margin of resection, and mitotic activity for survival.
Authors: S Singer, E H Baldini, G D Demetri, J A Fletcher, J M Corson
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1996)

PURPOSE The present study serves to describe outcomes-based prognostic variables characteristic of synovial cell sarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS An analysis was performed of a prospectively compiled data base of 48 consecutive patients with extremity and truncal synovial sarcomas seen between 1966 and 1994. RESULTS No local recurrences were observed among 27 patients who presented with localized primary disease. Patients with synovial sarcoma less than 5 cm in size has a cancer-specific survival rate at 10 years of 100%, compared with a 10-year survival rate of 32% and 0% for those with sarcoma 5 to 10 cm and greater than 10 cm, respectively (P = .002). Patients with synovial sarcoma with less than 10 mitoses per 10 high-power fields (hpf) had a 10-year cancer-specific survival rate of 46%, compared with a 10-year survival rate of 14% for those with sarcomas with greater than 10 mitoses per hpf (P = .04). Patients with a clean margin of excision were found to have a 10-year cancer-specific survival rate of 43%, compared with 0% for those with microscopic positive margins (P = .03). Among 14 patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, seven (50%) had objective responses. CONCLUSION Local control for patients with nonmetastatic disease was excellent. The overall cancer-specific survival rate for patients with localized synovial sarcoma was 34% at 10 years. Primary tumor size, margin of resection, and mean mitotic activity were prognostic factors for survival in synovial sarcoma. There was a high objective response rate to treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy; however, there was no detectable beneficial effects on survival in the subset of patients treated with chemotherapy versus nonrandomized patients who received no chemotherapy. Patients with synovial sarcoma &gt; or = 5 cm in size, microscopic positive margins, and/or mean mitotic activity greater than 10 mitoses per 10 hpf should be targeted for new therapeutic studies.
Novel Behaviors in an Extreme Environment
Authors: MICHAEL K. POPKIN, VERNER STILLNER, LAWRENCE W. OSBORN, CHESTER M. PIERCE, JAY T. SHURLEY
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1974)

During the 6-month Antarctic winter "night," the 22-man South Pole station is one of the most extreme environments known to man. The authors used this environment as a laboratory to study two discrete behavioral phenomena, "staring" and "drifting." They present the first formal descriptions of these two altered states of consciousness, test etiological hypotheses concerning thyroid and thiamine function, and raise questions about the relationship of these novel behaviors to clinical states of depression. They suggest the possibility of adaptational or pathological analogues of these behaviors in environments less obviously extreme, i.e., mental hospitals, prisons, isolated occupations, and ghettos.
Histopathological findings of biopsies from patients with extrinsic allergic alveolitis (hipersensitivity pneumonia) in subacute or chronic phase
Authors: Mauricio Salinas, Ricardo Fritz, Manuel Meneses, Juan Carlos Diaz, Juan Carlos Rodriguez, Matias Florenzano, Alvaro Undurraga
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction  Extrinsic allergic alveolitis (EAA) in chronic phase is a infrequent and a disease difficult to diagnose. Biopsy findings varies and histology is an important tool for diagnosis. We present a series studied in our institution.  Method  We revised the pathology registries at Instituto Nacional del Torax, Santiago, Chile, between 2005 and 2009. We identified patients with surgical biopsy compatible with EAA. The demographic and clinical information was obtained from hospital medical records. Surgical biopsies were reviewed in detail by one of the authors specifying the presence of: usual interstitial pneumonia areas (UIP), nonspecific interstitial pneumonia areas (NSIP), subacute hypersensitivity areas and presence of granuloma, Masson bodies (CM), Schaumann bodies (CS), fibroblastic foci (FF) and distribution around the airway. We consider lymphocytosis on broncoalveolar lavage when lymphocytes count is over 30 %.  Results  There were a total of 37 cases, 27 women (73%) and average 57 years of age. Ninety seven percent had granulomas on biopsy, 97 % had subacute hypersensitivity areas and 94.5% had distribution around the airway. Forty percent had areas of UIP, 51% areas of NSIP and 46% presence of fibroblastic foci. CM was found in 33% and CS in 19%.  Fifteen patients had bronchoalveolar lavage; seven of them (46%) lymphocytosis presented with found.  Conclusions  Even though, the most consistent histological findings of biopsies from patients with chronic phase AAE, are the presence of granulomas and areas of subacute hypersensitivity pneumonia, there are a number of other finding that could be present.
Comparative effects of volume history on bronchoconstriction induced by hyperventilation and methacholine in asthmatic subjects
Authors: JL Malo, J L'Archeveque, A Cartier
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1990)

The aim of this study was to find out if bronchodilatation following deep inspiration can be induced by the inhalation of a "natural" stimulus (hyperventilation of cold dry air), and if the effect is similar to that induced by methacholine. After baseline assessment of lung resistance (RL), 10 asthmatic subjects were asked to inhale cold dry air for 3 min. RL was monitored continuously for 3-4 min, at which time subjects were asked to take a fast deep inspiration. After recovery, the manoeuvre was repeated and RL was reassessed. The manoeuvre was then repeated a third time. After functional recovery, progressive doses of methacholine were inhaled until the increase in RL was comparable to that obtained after hyperventilation (56 +/- 16% and 65 +/- 24%, respectively, mean +/- SD, NS). The same deep inspiration manoeuvre was repeated three times with recovery as after hyperventilation of cold dry air. Maximum changes in RL were not significantly different after each of the three manoeuvres for either type of bronchoconstriction. The mean fall in RL was 14.2 +/- 9.9% after hyperventilation and 16.4 +/- 10.5% after methacholine. There was a satisfactory correlation (r = 0.80, p less than 0.01) between the bronchodilatation after deep inspiration for both types of stimuli. We conclude that the bronchodilator effect of deep inspiration is no different using either a pharmacological stimulus (methacholine) or a "natural" stimulus (hyperventilation of unconditioned air). These results show that assessing the response to hyperventilation with manoeuvres requiring deep inspiration, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) may alter airway tone in a way similar to pharmacological stimuli.
Anaesthetic Considerations in Facial Reconstruction for Down'S Syndrome
Authors: B Beilin, A Kadari, Y Shapira, D Shulman, J T Davidson
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1988)

Sixty-three patients with Down's syndrome underwent facial reconstructive surgery under general anaesthesia in order to improve their acceptability and potential for functioning effectively in society. Preoperatively, one-third of the patients had respiratory illnesses, 11 (17.5%) had cardiac anomalies, and 5 (7.9%) had endocrinological abnormalities. Anaesthesia was based on spontaneous ventilation of halothane and N 2 O in oxygen via an endotracheal tube with appropriate monitoring. Only one patient had an intraoperative complication, an episode of ventricular dysrhythmia, but postoperatively 9 patients required nasopharyngeal airways or endotracheal intubation in order to maintain a patent upper airway. The anaesthetic considerations for facial reconstructive surgery in Down's syndrome are discussed.
Misoprostol and attempted self-induction of abortion
Authors: Melvyn M Jones, Karen Fraser
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1998)

Sporadic reports have documented the use, in countries such as Brazil and Mozambique, of misoprostol to self-induce pregnancy termination (PT). This paper presents the case of a young woman from Mozambique who presented to a UK surgery requesting PT . She stated she was concerned about medication she had taken for epigastric pain in early pregnancy. She reluctantly acknowledged the medication was misoprostol obtained from a friend from Portugal. The patient had taken a total dose of 1000 mcg of misoprostol on the same day. After counseling on the potential adverse effects of misoprostol during pregnancy, specifically miscarriage and fetal abnormalities, the woman accepted but later declined a referral for induced abortion. She gave birth to a healthy infant. There is concern that the access to medical information from unregulated sources through the Internet will increase the potentially dangerous use of misoprostol as an abortifacient.
Effects of nitrazepam on nocturnal scratching in adults with atopic dermatitis: a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover study
Authors: None Ebata, None Izumi, None Aizawa, None Kamide, None Niimura
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (1998)

We investigated the effect of nitrazepam on nocturnal scratching in 10 adult out‐patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) using a double‐blind placebo‐controlled crossover method. Patients were given either nitrazepam (Benzalin tablets containing 5 mg nitrazepam) or a placebo on 3 successive nights, with a washout interval of 4 days. We used an infrared video camera to identify bouts of scratching lasting more than 5 s. These were counted and the duration of all the bouts of scratching (total scratching time, TST) was calculated. The percentage of TST to total recording time (TST%) was used as an index of nocturnal scratching. The frequency with which bouts of scratching (bouts/h) occurred was reduced by 10 mg nitrazepam (7.7 ± 3.6 with nitrazepam vs. 9.6 ± 3.6 with placebo, P< 0.05). However, the mean duration (s/bout) of the bouts of scratching was longer with 10 mg nitrazepam (32.3 ± 23.4 with nitrazepam vs. 19.1 ± 10.0 with placebo, P< 0.05). As a result, there was no significant difference between TST% (6.5 ± 4.2 with nitrazepam vs. 5.4 ± 3.8 with placebo, not significant). All the above values are mean ± SD. The degree of itching and the condition of the AD did not change during the 2 weeks of the study. We conclude that taking 10 mg nitrazepam is not an effective way of reducing the total duration of nocturnal scratching in AD patients, although it decreases the frequency with which bouts of nocturnal scratching occur.
High-dose methotrexate: a critical reappraisal.
Authors: S P Ackland, R L Schilsky
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1987)

High-dose methotrexate (HDMTX) with leucovorin (LV) rescue has been used as a therapeutic strategy in oncology for more than a decade. Administration of HDMTX results in tumoricidal plasma concentrations of the drug without significant host toxicity, provided that plasma MTX levels are monitored and LV rescue is properly administered. The original premise of LV rescue was that the provision of reduced folate to normal cells would circumvent the metabolic block produced by MTX and allow resumption of DNA synthesis, although the presumed therapeutic selectivity of leucovorin has not yet been adequately explained. Despite a strong pharmacologic rationale and a vast clinical experience, HDMTX with leucovorin rescue has not been shown to be unequivocally superior to conventional doses of MTX in any clinical situation except, perhaps, for treatment of osteogenic sarcoma and childhood acute leukemia. While HDMTX is an important component of effective treatment regimens for these diseases, its precise contribution to the success of these regimens remains undefined. Although HDMTX can theoretically overcome all known mechanisms of MTX resistance, no data exist to suggest that this can be accomplished in the clinic. Thus, this well-known but poorly understood treatment regimen must remain a subject of clinical investigation rather than a part of routine clinical practice.
Introducing & maintaining a smokefree hospital site
Authors: Jane Bullard, Melanie Edwards, Russell Moody, Philip Pearson
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Smoking is a major cause of preventable deaths. Plymouth has an adult smoking prevalence of 22%, costing the NHS in Plymouth £15.6 million (€17.9 million).  Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust (PHNT) is among the city9s larger employers. Smokers gathered outside hospital entrances, in smoking shelters and bus stops. A smokefree policy was made in 2004 but not enforced and later abandoned.  Method: PHNT received funding from Smokefree South West in August 2011 to introduce better tobacco control by No Smoking Day, 15th March 2012. Before this date, we surveyed patients, visitors & staff: 66% felt the site should be smokefree. There were 140 smoking incidents (average) around hospital entrances per 8 hour period.  Following Board approval, we arranged: internal & external communication; new signage; NRT on all wards; a smoking cessation e-learning package. The tobacco control policy was updated to allow staff free NRT and time to attend smoking cessation sessions. We trained nurses in key areas (Emergency Department and medical wards) to prescribe & dispense first dose NRT patch to smoking patients. On 15th March 2012, we removed all smoking shelters.  Results: The number of smoking-related incidents fell sharply (  Lessons: Nurses giving first dose NRT works well. Maintaining smokefree status in practice requires both clear leadership to maintain focus and enforcement.
Review of the Efficacy of Individualized Chemotherapy Selected by In Vitro Drug Sensitivity Testing for Patients With Cancer
Authors: Patricia Cortazar, Bruce E. Johnson
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to review the potential efficacy of individualized chemotherapy selected by in vitro drug sensitivity testing (DST) compared with empiric regimens for patients with cancer. METHODS: MEDLINE and CANCERLIT were searched for articles published (in English) about prospective clinical trials in which patients were treated with chemotherapy that was selected with the use of in vitro DST. RESULTS: We identified 12 prospective studies that examined the benefit of chemotherapy selected by DST. Five hundred six patients (33%) were treated with chemotherapy that was selected with the use of in vitro DST. The mean response rate for patients treated with in vitro–selected therapy was 27% (range, 10% to 100%; n = 12 studies) compared with 18% (range, 0% to 100%; n = 7 studies) for patients treated with empiric therapy. Five studies (only one randomized) evaluated the impact of chemotherapy selected by in vitro DST on patient survival. Three studies showed that survival was 1 to 4 months longer for the 238 patients treated with empiric chemotherapy compared with that of the 65 patients treated with chemotherapy that was selected by in vitro testing. Two nonrandomized studies showed that survival was 4 or 19 months longer for 27 patients treated with chemotherapy selected by in vitro testing compared with that of 80 patients who were treated with empiric chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Only one third of patients entered in prospective trials of in vitro DST were actually treated with an in vitro best regimen. The response rates seem to be better with in vitro selected chemotherapy regimens than with empiric regimens, but the impact on survival has not been adequately addressed.
Pulse wave velocity in patients with COPD comorbid with arterial hypertension
Authors: Tatiana Aksenova, Vladimir Gorbunov, Svetlana Tsarenok, Lyudmila Gagarkina
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

To evaluate the performance of arterial stiffness in patients with COPD and arterial hypertension.  58 patients with a mean age of 57.6±6.3 years were examined. The patients were divided into 3 groups: group 1, n=20, patients with combination of hypertension and COPD; group 2, n=20, patients with hypertension; group 3, n=18, patients with COPD. The groups were similar in for age, sex, duration of hypertension and COPD. Applanation tonometry and pulse wave velocity were made by SphygmoCor.  Patients of group 1 showed the improvement of central systolic blood pressure in compassion with group 2 (131.8±4.8 mmHg vs 120.9±8.4 mmHg, p=0.047) and compared to a group 3 (96.8±9.7 mmHg, p=0.000042). Patients with a combination of hypertension and COPD had elevated central pulse pressure of 46.8±4.1 mmHg vs 34.4±9.6 mmHg in group with isolated hypertension (p=0.0002) and against 28.3±8.5 mmHg in group with isolated COPD (p=0.0029). In patients with hypertension and COPD, Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV) in the carotid-femoral segment was 11.2±0.5 m/sec vs 6.9±1.6 m/sec (p=0.00002) and it was 7.3±1.4 m/sec (p=0.0064) in patients with isolated hypertension and COPD. PWV was strongly correlated with the presence of COPD (γ=0.58, p=0.000023) and hypertension (γ=0,34, p=0.0025) by Gamma correlation method. The combination of hypertension and COPD (β=0.42, p=0.00019), age (β=0.39, p=0.0002) and the level of aortic pulse pressure (β=0.54, p=0.001) were marked as independent factors of PWV increasing according to multiple regression analysis.  The presence of COPD in patients with hypertension leads to an increasing of arterial stiffness.
Tackling tobacco smoking in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Ritesh G Menezes, Syed Ather Hussain, Mohammed Madadin
Journal: The Lancet Global Health (2015)

Raising taxes on tobacco is the measure with the “least compliance” worldwide among the set of measures introduced by the WHO to facilitate implementation of its Framework Convention on Tobacco Control programme. In an extended costeffectiveness analysis, Stephane Verguet and colleagues (April, 2015) interpret that an increase in tobacco taxes can be a pro-poor policy instrument in China, where nearly a third of the world’s smokers live. The linked Comment by Rong Zheng and Jidong Huang emphasises that tobacco tax increases are not necessarily regressive. Being influenced by the Chinese State Tobacco Monopoly Administration’s concern that a tobacco tax increase would lead to an unfair burden on the poor, the Chinese Government has refrained from increasing taxes on low-end cigarettes. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia’s refusal in recent times to increase taxes on the import of cigarettes is due to the Finance Ministry’s apprehension that increased tobacco taxation would encourage smuggling of cigarettes. Nevertheless, the Health Ministry in Saudi Arabia has taken various initiatives to reduce smoking in the country. The anti-smoking mobile clinic of the Tobacco Control Programme is one such initiative that has helped more than 2000 smokers, both male and female, quit smoking. The 10 antismoking mobile clinics are in addition to more than 40 anti-smoking centres throughout the country. More such mobile clinics and centres should be established in every nook and corner of Saudi Arabia to cater to the growing smoking population in the country, where an increasing number of women and adolescents are starting smoking. Tobacco smoking is certainly a substantial public health problem in Saudi Arabia today. In the past, an increase in the price of cigarettes has not deterred the affluent Saudi population from smoking. More needs to be done by the Government in educating the masses about the illeff ects of this practice and reinforcing non-smoking attitudes, rather than focusing merely on increasing the price of cigarettes.
Lung cancer and COPD multidisciplinary teams: Exploring comparisons of patient perceptions
Authors: Christine Blunt, Joan Curzio, Tony Leiba, Sarah Elkin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background/Objectives:  Multidisciplinary teams (MDT9s) and effective team working are considered key to providing quality, patient centred care. However there is a paucity of research regarding patient perceptions of these teams including for chest diseases. This qualitative study aims to compare the differing patient perceptions of effectiveness in two disease specific teams.   Methods:  12 patients (lung cancer n=6, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease n=6) 64-84 years in contact with their respective multidisciplinary teams for 3 months or more were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Data from interviews was analysed based on Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis.   Results:  Several themes were identified, commonalities between teams were: 1) Doctors seen as core team members whilst other health professional consultations perceived as inferior. 2) GPs not considered part of a team. 3) Team effectiveness and morale often judged by attitude of frontline administrative staff. Differences: lung cancer participants perceived 1) Efficacy of service upon outpatient clinic waiting times. 2) A greater need for privacy during consultations and when leaving. 3) Greater awareness of MDT communication and meetings. 4) Greater awareness of nurse specialists. COPD participants 1. Aaccessibility and quicker response to request to be seen by health professional.   Conclusions:  These patient groups suggest a traditionalist view of physicians providing treatment. Increasing information regarding health professional specialties, team communications and attention to psychosocial issues may increase patient satisfaction and confidence in MDTs.