tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Lipid Core Carotid Artery Plaques in the Elderly
Authors: Lies Lahousse, Quirijn J. A. van den Bouwhuijsen, Daan W. Loth, Guy F. Joos, Albert Hofman, Jacqueline C. M. Witteman, Aad van der Lugt, Guy G. Brusselle, Bruno H. Stricker
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2012)

Rationale: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke and the risk increases with severity of airflow limitation. Even though vulnerable carotid artery plaque components, such as intraplaque hemorrhage and lipid core, place persons at high risk for ischemic events, the plaque composition in patients with COPD has never been explored.Objectives: To investigate the prevalence of carotid wall thickening, the different carotid artery plaque components, and their relationship with severity of airflow limitation in elderly patients with COPD.Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was part of the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based cohort study performed in subjects aged 55 years and older. Diagnosis of COPD was confirmed by spirometry. Participants with carotid wall intima-media thickness greater than or equal to 2.5 mm on ultrasonography underwent high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging for characterization of carotid plaques. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.Measurements and Main Results: COPD cases (n = 253) had a twofold increased risk (odds ratio, 2.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.44–2.85; P < 0.0001) of presentation with carotid wall thickening on ultrasonography compared with control subjects with a normal lung function (n = 920). Moreover, the risk increased significantly with severity of airflow limitation. On magnetic resonance imaging, vulnerable lipid core plaques were more frequent in COPD cases than in control subjects (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–3.69; P = 0.0058).Conclusions: Carotid artery wall thickening is more prevalent in patients with COPD than in control subjects. In elderly subjects with carotid wall thickening, COPD is an independent predictor for the presence of a lipid core, and therefore of vulnerable plaques.
Accuracy of Recall in Health-Related Quality-of-Life Assessment Among Men Treated for Prostate Cancer
Authors: Mark S. Litwin, Kimberly A. McGuigan
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: To determine the accuracy of patient recall of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in men who have undergone radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients enrolled onto a longitudinal, observational cohort study of HRQOL after radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer were asked to assess their baseline HRQOL before surgery. They were later asked to recall their baseline HRQOL at intervals of 7 to 37 months after surgery. The two views of baseline HRQOL (actual and recall) were compared. HRQOL was measured with established instruments (the RAND 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey and a validated short form of the University of California Los Angeles Prostate Cancer Index) that addressed impairment in the physical, mental, urinary, bowel, and sexual domains. RESULTS: Overall, recall was poor. Patients tended to remember their baseline HRQOL as being better than it actually was. This effect was particularly striking for urinary and sexual function. Greater education and younger age diminished this effect in some domains. The effect did not vary with time since surgery. CONCLUSION: Men undergoing radical prostatectomy for early-stage prostate cancer do not accurately recall their pretreatment HRQOL when asked several months or years later. This recall bias is constant throughout a period of 6 months to 3 years after surgery. By collecting data before treatment and observing subjects longitudinally, investigators can ensure that HRQOL changes are analyzed in the context of any impairment that may have been present at baseline. If a longitudinal study is not feasible, then great caution must be used if patients are asked to recall their pretreatment HRQOL.
Primary myelofibrosis: 2013 update on diagnosis, risk‐stratification, and management
Authors: Ayalew Tefferi
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2013)

Disease overview Primary myelofibrosis ( PMF ) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by stem cell‐derived clonal myeloproliferation, abnormal cytokine expression, bone marrow fibrosis, anemia, splenomegaly, extramedullary hematopoiesis ( EMH ), constitutional symptoms, cachexia, leukemic progression, and shortened survival. Diagnosis Diagnosis is based on bone marrow morphology. The presence of fibrosis, JAK2 / MPL mutation, or +9/13q− cytogenetic abnormality is supportive but not essential for diagnosis. Prefibrotic PMF mimics essential thrombocythemia in its presentation and the distinction is prognostically relevant. Differential diagnosis of myelofibrosis should include chronic myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia. Risk stratification The Dynamic International Prognostic Scoring System‐plus (DIPSS‐plus) prognostic model for PMF can be applied at any point during the disease course and uses eight independent predictors of inferior survival: age &gt;65 years, hemoglobin &lt;10 g/dL, leukocytes &gt;25 × 10 9 /L, circulating blasts ≥1%, constitutional symptoms, red cell transfusion dependency, platelet count &lt;100 × 10 9 /L, and unfavorable karyotype (i.e., complex karyotype or sole or two abnormalities that include +8, −7/7q−, i(17q), inv(3), −5/5q−, 12p−, or 11q23 rearrangement). The presence of 0, 1, “2 or 3,” and ≥4 adverse factors defines low, intermediate‐1, intermediate‐2, and high‐risk disease with median survivals of approximately 15.4, 6.5, 2.9, and 1.3 years, respectively. A &gt;80% two‐year mortality is predicted by monosomal karyotype, inv(3)/i(17q) abnormalities, or any two of circulating blasts &gt;9%, leukocytes ≥40 × 10 9 /L or other unfavorable karyotype. Most recently, mutations involving ASXL1 , SRSF2 , EZH2 , and IDH1/2 or increased plasma IL‐2R, IL‐8, or serum‐free light chain levels have been shown to adversely affect survival. Risk‐adapted therapy Observation alone is adequate for asymptomatic low/intermediate‐1 risk disease. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation ( ASCT ) is often considered for high risk disease. Conventional or experimental drug therapy is reasonable for symptomatic intermediate‐1 or intermediate‐2 risk disease; however, ASCT is an acceptable treatment option for such patients in the presence of ASXL1 or other prognostically adverse mutations. Splenectomy and low‐dose radiotherapy are used for drug‐refractory splenomegaly. Radiotherapy is also used for the treatment of non‐hepatosplenic EMH , PMF ‐associated pulmonary hypertension, and extremity bone pain. Am. J. Hematol. 88:141–150, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exercise training affects alveolar to arterial oxygen partial pressure difference in obese subjects: Preliminary data
Authors: Francesco G. Salerno, Giuseppina Fumarulo, Maria Aliani, Patrizia Guido, Vincenzo Digilio, Nicola Sarno, Mauro Carone
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background: Obesity is often associated with decreased lung volumes and daytime hypoxemia. The decrease in lung volumes and the decrease in physical activity may favour microatelectasis that may account for at least a part of the decreased observed daytime paO2.  Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a course of exercise training on the alveolar-to-arterial oxygen partial pressure difference (AaDO2) in obese subjects.  Methods: Seventeen obese subjects (BMI>30) with no evident respiratory diseases (FEV1/FVC > 0.7) were divided in 2 groups. Group I (n=8) underwent to a 15 days exercise training program associated to an educational program; group II (n=9) underwent to a 15 days educational program. All patients performed blood gases analysis, spirometry, body pletismography and 6MWT before and after the treatment.  Results: Both groups displayed mild baseline hypoxemia (mean PaO2=71±9 mmHg, and 74±10 mmHg for the control and treated group respectively) and an elevated BMI (43±8 and 38±5 respectively). In the treated group, preliminary data, show a decrease in AaDO2 after the exercise training program (15±5 vs. 24±5 mmHg, p  Conclusions: Our data suggest that daytime hypoxemia in obese patients may be partially corrected by a program of exercise training. The mechanism may be related to reopening of microatelectasis.
Strain-Specific Mammary Tumor Virus Activity in Blood of C3H and BALB/c f. C3H Mice2
Authors: S. Nandi, M. Handin, L. Young
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1966)

Journal Article Strain-Specific Mammary Tumor Virus Activity in Blood of C3H and BALB/c f. C3H Mice Get access S. Nandi, S. Nandi Department of Zoology and Its Cancer Research Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar M. Handin, M. Handin Department of Zoology and Its Cancer Research Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar L. Young L. Young Department of Zoology and Its Cancer Research Genetics Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, California 3We gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Lillian E. Webber, Melvin Arnaud, Gail Smith, and Lawrence Nash. Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 36, Issue 4, April 1966, Pages 803–808, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/36.4.803 Published: 01 April 1966 Article history Received: 17 September 1965 Published: 01 April 1966
Human Lung Organ-Specific Antigens on Normal Lung, Lung Tumors, and a Lung Tumor Cell Line 2
Authors: Richard Akeson
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1977)

Journal Article Human Lung Organ-Specific Antigens on Normal Lung, Lung Tumors, and a Lung Tumor Cell Line Get access Richard Akeson Richard Akeson Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 58, Issue 4, April 1977, Pages 863–869, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/58.4.863 Published: 01 April 1977 Article history Received: 28 April 1976 Accepted: 20 September 1976 Published: 01 April 1977
Outbreak of Clostridium difficile 027 infection in Vienna, Austria 2008-2009
Authors: A Indra, S Huhulescu, A Fiedler, S Kernbichler, M Blaschitz, F Allerberger
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2009)

From November 2008 to 15 April 2009, 36 isolates of CD027 identified in Austria, all originating from four hospitals in Vienna. All isolates were positive for toxin A, toxin B and the binary toxin, and showed a characteristic 18 bp deletion in the tcdC gene. Clostridium difficile is an anaerobic spore-forming bacterium. Some strains may cause diarrhoea due to formation of toxins. Symptomatic C. difficile infection (CDI) is primarily linked with hospital admission and antibiotic treatment, although antibiotic exposure is neither necessary nor sufficient for CDI [1,2]. In Belgium, for instance, one third of CDI cases reported in the hospital surveillance system are not hospital-associated [3]. Symptoms range from mild diarrhoea to serious manifestations such as pseudomembranous colitis, toxic megacolon or perforation of the colon. C. difficile challenges hygiene standards as it is forms spores. The risk of infection rises with increasing age, underlying disease and immunodeficiency [4]. In recent years, a particularly virulent strain, ribotype 027 (CD027), has emerged in a number of countries, particularly in connection with hospital outbreaks, but also in community-acquired diarrhoea cases [5]. The risk of serious disease and death associated with CD027 exceeds that of other C. difficile strains. The classical CD027 is characterised - among other things - by an increased production of toxins A and B, production of a binary toxin and resistance to newer fluoroquinolones such as moxifloxacin. The first three Austrian cases of CD027 occurred in 2006 and in March 2008 [6,7]. Since August 2006, the Austrian National Reference Centre for C. difficile has ribotyped approximately 2,700 human C. difficile isolates received from all nine Austrian provinces. In recent months, a drastic increase in CD027 cases has been noted, all originating from four hospitals in Vienna. From November 2008 to 15 April 2009, 36 isolates of CD027 were received at the National Reference Centre. The Figure summarises these C. difficile 027 cases by month of reception of the sample at the reference centre.
Positive effect of CPAP therapy in OSA patients on A-FABP, CRP and triacylglycerols levels and diastolic blood pressure
Authors: Milada Hobzova, Eliska Sovova, David Stejskal, Vitezslav Kolek, Jana Zapletalova, Milan Sova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Objectives.  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can be associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (A-FABP) may play a role in OSA. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a marker of inflammation and a risk factor for CVD. The study aimed to find whether continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment results in decreased serum A-FABP and CRP levels and their possible association.  Subjects and methods . Eighty-one patients (70 males, a mean age of 53.9±10.3 years) diagnosed with OSA and indicated for CPAP treatment. Anthropometric, clinical and laboratory investigations were carried out and repeated after 1 year of CPAP treatment.  Results . Patients had significantly decreased A-FABP levels (34.4 ng/mL; 24.8ng/mL; p=0.001), CRP levels (6.08±7.74; 4.29±4.9; p=0.007), triacylglycerols (2.24±0.88; 2.13±1.32; p=0.01), diastolic blood pressure (82±11; 79±7; p= 0.006) and improved OSA parameters: AHI (53.9; 5.6; p Conclusion . CPAP therapy of OSA patients has a positive effect on A-FABP and CRP levels. Given the fact that changes in A-FABP and CRP do not correlate with each other, they may reflect the effect of various pathological events in the development of CVD. Decreased A-FABP and CRP levels may contribute to fewer cardiovascular complications of OSA after CPAP therapy.
Incidence of tuberculosis among anti-TNF users in patients with previous history of tuberculosis
Authors: Kyung-Wook Jo, YoonKi Hong, Young Ju Jung, Sang-Do Lee, Woo Sung Kim, Dong Soon Kim, Tae Sun Shim
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

OBJECTIVE   We investigated the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in patients with a previous TB history on anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy.   DESIGN   Retrospective analysis of 101 patients with previous history of TB receiving TNF antagonists between December 2004 and September 2012 in Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.   RESULTS   Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) included Crohn9s disease in 55 patients (54.5%), rheumatoid arthritis in 27 (26.7%), and ankylosing spondylitis in 13 (12.9%). Mean patient age was 40.4±16.0 years, and 51 (50.5%) were male; of these, 53 (52.5%) had a history of pulmonary TB, 47 (46.5%) had intestinal TB, and one (1.0%) had cervical TB lymphadenitis. Chest radiography revealed lesions suggestive of TB sequalae in 33 (32.7%) patients. Positive results on tuberculin skin tests and interferon-gamma release assays were observed in 22 (21.8%) and 45 (44.6%) patients, respectively. Eleven patients (10.9%) were treated for latent TB infection (LTBI), 10 due to previous inappropriate anti-TB treatment and one due to recent TB contact, irrespective of LTBI test results. The median follow-up after TNF antagonist initiation was 31.5 months. Active TB, 6 years later, was observed in one patient (1.0%) not treated for LTBI.   CONCLUSIONS   TNF antagonists are safe for patients with IMIDs and a previous history of TB if LTBI treatment is added, based on adequacy of previous anti-TB treatment and recent contact history.
Evidence for replication slippage in the evolution of Oenothera chloroplast DNA.
Authors: R Wolfson, K G Higgins, B B Sears
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1991)

Evolutionary relationships of four plastid genomes (plastomes) from different Oenothera species have been assessed by sequence comparisons of two intergenic regions that separate the ribosomal protein genes rpl16, rpl14, and rps8. Sequence changes include base substitutions, the occurrence of a 29-base tandem duplication, and variation in the length of two poly-A stretches. Additions/deletions in chloroplast DNA may not be useful for evolutionary comparisons more distant than these, particularly if the sequences undergo divergence after the initial event, but the length mutations reported here allow a finer resolution of the phylogeny of the closely related Oenothera plastomes than would have been possible if only base substitutions had been considered. Comparisons with the orthogous sequence from tobacco chloroplast DNA indicate the direction of change at most of the sites. The results suggest that plastomes I and II are closely related to each other, as are plastomes III and IV. Replication slippage is proposed as a mechanism to explain the length mutations.
Atorvastatin and Clopidogrel
Authors: Per Damkier
Journal: Circulation (2003)

Atorvastatin and ClopidogrelTo the Editor:I would like to comment on the recent editorial by Serebruany et al 1 in which the study results by Lau et al 2 are discussed.It is argued that these results, which are suggestive of a clinically relevant interaction between clopidogrel and atorvastatin, are in conflict with those published previously by Serebruany et al. 3 According to the editorial, 1 ". ..only 4 of 25 patients in the atorvastatin treated group did not exhibit sustained platelet inhibition. .." Fom their original publication, 3 however, it is clear that 25 is the total number of patients receiving any statin and that the number of patients receiving atorvastatin is 9.Other numbers cited in the editorial do not compare well with the original data either.The subgroup analyses of these data that were presented in the editorial 1 were not presented in the original paper, 3 which precludes the reader from assessing the statements made.As these points are crucial to the argumentation made in the editorial, the apparent discrepancy between
Abstract P183: Predictors of Myocardial Injury in Patients with Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Authors: Ahmed Ibrahim, Shadi Mayasy, Pushkar Kanade, Osama Amro, keyvan Ravakhah
Journal: Circulation (2013)

Introduction: Carbon monoxide (CO) is the most common cause of death from poisoning in the United States. Cardiovascular complications and their contribution to acute outcomes are yet to be defined...
D<scp>IET AND</scp>A<scp>POPTOSIS</scp>
Authors: Walter H. Watson, Jiyang Cai, Dean P. Jones
Journal: Annual Review of Nutrition (2000)

A range of compounds in or derived from the diet modulates apoptosis in cell cultures in vitro. These observations have important implications concerning the mechanisms whereby dietary components affect health. Proapoptotic compounds could protect against cancer by enhancing elimination of initiated, precancerous cells, and antiapoptotic compounds could promote tumor formation by inhibiting apoptosis in genetically damaged cells. Proapoptotic compounds could also contribute to age-related degenerative diseases by activating cell death in postmitotic cells or shifting the normal balance of mitosis and apoptosis in tissues with regenerative capacity. Many age-related diseases, for example macular degeneration and Parkinson's disease, appear to have oxidative stress as an underlying component that interacts with genetic, dietary, and environmental factors to determine relative risk in an individual. Oxidative stress activates apoptosis, and antioxidants protect against apoptosis in vitro; thus, a central role of dietary antioxidants may be to protect against apoptosis. However, little in vivo data are available to directly link diet with altered apoptosis as an underlying determinant of disease. Moreover, the possible antagonistic effects of different dietary components and the uncertainty about whether proapoptotic compounds that may protect against cancer could contribute to degenerative diseases and vice versa indicate that there is a great need for better in vivo assessment of apoptosis and that caution should be exercised when extrapolating in vitro data on apoptosis to in vivo dietary recommendations.
Concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites in the exhaled breath condensate in children with different bronchial asthma control
Authors: Svetlana Soodaeva, Igor Klimanov, Tatyana Eliseeva, Nailja Kubysheva
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Although bronchial asthma (BA) is an inflammatory disease, the clinical tools that evaluate asthma control today do not include the qualitative measures of inflammations.

OBJECTIVE: Determination of correlations between total concentration of nitrates and nitrites (TNN) in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and children asthma control level determined using the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ).

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 81 patients with atopic BA (from 6 to 17 years old) were clinically evaluated. Patients completed ACQ, underwent spirometry, and measurements of their TNN in EBC. In 55 children, the high BA control (ACQ=0.29±0.26) was diagnosed. 13 children had partially controlled BA (ACQ=0.96±0.20), and 13 children had only bad BA control (ACQ=1.95±0.33). Among the children with high BA control, 27 had no steroid (IGKS) treatment, 28 had only basic IGKS therapy. All children with partial or bad control had IGKS therapy.

In 27 steroid-naive patients with high-controlled asthma, the TNN in EBC was 6.24±2.93 mkM. In 28 patients with controlled BA taking IGKS, TNN was 4.66±2.34 mkM (p=0.03). In patients with partially controlled BA, TNN level was 6.23±2.62 mkM; in patients with bad control - 6.52±2.62 mkM. The correlation between TNN and ACQ scores was found in the whole group (p=0.047), however, the significance was varying in groups with different therapy. In the group of steroid-naive patients, p=0.07; in patients treated with IGKS, p=0.024.

The interpretation of TNN in patients with BA, if it is performing for the additional characterization of the control level, should include the consideration of therapy taking by patients.
EUCAST technical note on the EUCAST definitive document EDef 7.2: method for the determination of broth dilution minimum inhibitory concentrations of antifungal agents for yeasts EDef 7.2 (EUCAST-AFST)
Authors: Maiken C. Arendrup, Manuel Cuenca-Estrella, Cornelia Lass-Flörl, William Hope
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2012)