tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
BAL regulatory T cells (Tregs) are decreased in common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) with ILD
Authors: Luminita Cervis, Jonas Schupp, Peggy Engelhard, Klaus Warnatz, Antje Prasse
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Common variable immunodeficiency disorder (CVID) is the most frequent symptomatic primary immunodeficiency. Previous studies indicates that a subgroup of CVID patients develop autoimmune diseases and granulomatous lesions in the lung. Circulatory Tregs (CD4+Foxp3+CD25high) are reduced in these patients.  Objective: to characterise brochoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell pattern and Treg counts in CVID with ILD versus healthy donors (HD).  Methods: the study included 32 CVID-patients and 31 HD. BAL differential cell counts and spontaneous TNF-alpha production by BAL cells were tested. Various Treg subpopulations were quantified by flow cytometry.  Results: BAL differential cell counts revealed a significant increase in total cell count (p  Conclusion: CVID-ILD is associated with a significant lower number of BAL Tregs and an increase in spontaneous TNF-alpha production. Despite a CD19+B cell deficiency in peripheral blood, there is an increase in CXCR3+CD20+B cells in BAL.
Effect of Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy on Pulmonary Function After Treatment for Breast Cancer and Lymphoma: A Follow-Up Study
Authors: Jacqueline C.M. Theuws, Sara H. Muller, Yvette Seppenwoolde, Stefan L.S. Kwa, Liesbeth J. Boersma, Guus A.M. Hart, Paul Baas, Joos V. Lebesque
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: To determine the changes in pulmonary function tests (PFTs) 0 to 48 months after treatment for breast cancer and lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The alveolar volume (V A ), vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, and corrected transfer factor of carbon monoxide (T L,COc ) were measured in 69 breast cancer and 41 lymphoma patients before treatment and 3, 18, and 48 months after treatment with radiotherapy alone or radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy (mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone, doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine; cyclophosphamide, epidoxorubicin, fluorouracil; cyclophosphamide, thiotepa, carboplatin; cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil). The three-dimensional dose distribution in the lung of each patient was converted to the mean lung dose. Statistical analysis was used to evaluate the changes in PFT values over time in relation to age, sex, smoking, chemotherapy, and the mean lung dose. RESULTS: After an initial reduction in PFT values at 3 months, significant recovery was seen at 18 months for all patients. Thereafter, no further improvement could be demonstrated. Reductions in spirometry values and V A were related to the mean lung dose only (0.9% per Gy at 3 months and 0.4% per Gy mean dose at 18 months). T L,COc decreased 1.1% per Gy mean dose and additionally decreased 6% when chemotherapy was given after radiotherapy. Chemotherapy administered before radiotherapy reduced baseline T L,COc values by 8% to 21%. All patients showed an improvement of 5% at 18 months. CONCLUSION: On the basis of the mean lung dose and the chemotherapy regimen, the changes in PFT values can be estimated before treatment within 10% of the values actually observed in 72% to 85% of our patients with healthy lungs.
Hairpins aspirations requiring surgical management: A Moroccan center experience
Authors: Hicham Fenane, Khalid Bouti, Mehdi Maidi, A. Achir, D. Lamboni, M. Bouchikh, Y. Msougar, F. Ouchen, B. El Gajoui, M. Oyali, M. Caidi, A. Al Aziz, A. Benosman
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Foreign body aspiration of a straight hairpin has been described as a unique entity in the literature, occurring most commonly in females, particularly in muslim world where Hijab is widespread. In the process of inserting hairpins, they will typically be between the teeth with the head tilted backwards. This position increases the risk of aspiration, particularly if there is any sudden speaking coughing or laughing.  In the present study, we report our experience in the surgical management of hairpins inhalation after failure of flexible bronchoscopy (FB) extractions attempts.  The study was performed at our thoracic surgery department in Ibn Sina University Hospital, Rabat. Between 1982 and 2009, 31 female patients were enrolled in our study.  Patients was between 12 and 33, the mean age was 20. They were admitted to the clinics as having hairpins aspirations requiring surgical. Diagnosis of the patients was established by history, radiological methods and FB. All patients received at least two or three transoral FB under local anesthesia witch couldn’t extrat the hairpins. 17 of them underwent rigid bronchoscopy witch were unsuccessful. 15 hairpins was in the left lung, and 16 in the the right one. Peroperative localization of HP was difficult in 10 cases. A tracking by radioscopy was necessary in 5 cases. Surgery was conservative in all procedures: pneumotomy (15), bronchotomy (10), both techniques (6). The postoperative course was simple in general, the mean duration of drainage was 4 days. No other complication was detected in the following.  Our study suggests that surgery –when the FB fails- is an invasive but a sure and successful method used in the removal of foreign bodies, such as hairpins.
Validation of a novel prognostic tool for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Morven E.M. Wilkie, James D. Chalmers, Richard J. Stretton, Stuart Schembri, Robin P. Smith
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive disease with a median survival of 2-3 years. There is no universally accepted tool for identifying individuals with a poorer prognosis. du Bois et al (1) proposed a 4 point scoring system to predict 1 year mortality. This tool requires external validation.

Methods

Data was collected on 94 consecutive patients with IPF. The du Bois score was calculated based on age, respiratory hospitalisation, baseline forced vital capacity (FVC) and 6 month change in FVC. The predictive value of the score was assessed using the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Patients were followed up for at least 3 years or until death.

Results

Median age was 69 years (interquartile range 64-76). 57.4% were male. 1 year mortality was 10.6%. The 1 year mortality was 0% for those patients scoring 0-14 points, 11.5% for those with 16-21 points, 23% for those scoring 22-29 and 21% for those scoring>30 points.

For prediction of 1 year mortality, the AUC was 0.76 (95% CI 0.67-0.85,p=0.004) indicating moderate predictive value. For prediction of 3 year mortality, AUC was 0.72 (0.64-0.78,p=0.0005).

![Figure][1] 



Conclusions

This study validates a novel risk score for prediction of outcome in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

References

1) du Bois, R.M. et al. Ascertainment of individual risk of mortality for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2011;184:459-466.

 [1]: pending:yes
Inhibition of basophil histamine release by gangliosides.
Authors: C. Jensen, S. Norn, O. Thastrup, B. T. Dahl, P. Stahl Skov
Journal: Allergy (1987)

Histamine release from human basophils was inhibited by preincubation of the cells with a glucolipid mixture containing sialic acid‐containing gangliosides. This was true for histamine release induced by anti‐IgE, Concanavalin A and the calcium ionphore A23187, whereas the release induced by S. aureus Wood 46 was not affected. It was demonstrated that the inhibitory capacity of the glucolipid mixture could be attributed to the content of gangliosides, since no inhibition was obtained with cerebrosides or with gangliosides from which sialic acid was removed. Preincubation of the cells with the glucolipid mixture increased the sialic acid content of the cells, and this increase was attributed to an insertion of gangliosides into the cell membrane. The inhibition of histamine release was abolished by increasing the calcium concentration, which substantiates our previous findings that cell membrane sialic acid in basophil leukocytes is involved in the regulation of histamine release, possibly by a modulation of the trans‐membraneous calcium fluxes preceding histamine release.
A study to determine the most effective training method for increasing oxygen prescription rates in a district general hospital
Authors: Stephanie Harlow, Heathcoat Maria, Melanie Irvin-Sellars
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction:   As per the British Thoracic Society (BTS) Guidelines for Emergency Oxygen Use 1  implementation of oxygen prescribing polices require regular training programmes for all clinical staff in the safe use of oxygen.  We wanted to implement a mandatory training package within the trust aimed at improving oxygen prescribing. To ensure the content was highly effective prior to implementation we compared the impact of on-line vs face-to-face training on oxygen prescription rates.   Methods:   Prescribing data was collected on all patients receiving oxygen therapy:  1) Before training  2) After on-line training  3) After face–to-face training   Results:   Both methods significantly improved oxygen prescribing rates (p=0.000). Face-to-face training increased oxygen prescribing more than online training by 12%.   Conclusion:   Training face-to-face is the most effective method at increasing oxygen prescribing. Resources mean that face-to-face training is limited in comparison to on-line training which is freely accessible to all. We concluded that the most effective way to improve oxygen prescribing within the trust was to combine both forms of training within our educational package.  1. British Thoracic Society (2008), Guideline for Emergency Oxygen Use in Adult Patients,  Thorax ; vol. 63; supplement VI.
DNA Vaccine Expressing the Mimotope of GD2 Ganglioside Induces Protective GD2 Cross-reactive Antibody Responses
Authors: Elizabeth Bolesta, Aleksandra Kowalczyk, Andrzej Wierzbicki, Piotr Rotkiewicz, Barbara Bambach, Chun-Yen Tsao, Irena Horwacik, Andrzej Kolinski, Hanna Rokita, Martin Brecher, Xinhui Wang, Soldano Ferrone, Danuta Kozbor
Journal: Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract The GD2 ganglioside expressed on neuroectodermally derived tumors, including neuroblastoma and melanoma, is weakly immunogenic in tumor-bearing patients and induces predominantly immunoglobulin (Ig)-M antibody responses in the immunized host. Here, we investigated whether interconversion of GD2 into a peptide mimetic form would induce GD2 cross-reactive IgG antibody responses in mice. Screening of the X15 phage display peptide library with the anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 14G2a led to isolation of mimetic peptide 47, which inhibited the binding of 14G2a antibody to GD2-positive tumor cells. The peptide was also recognized by GD2-specific serum antibodies from a patient with neuroblastoma, suggesting that it bears an internal image of GD2 ganglioside expressed on the tumor cells. The molecular basis for antigenicity of the GD2 mimetic peptide, established by molecular modeling and mutagenesis studies, led to the generation of a 47-LDA mutant with an increased mimicry to GD2. Immunization of mice with peptide 47-LDA–encoded plasmid DNA elicited GD2 cross-reactive IgG antibody responses, which were increased on subsequent boost with GD2 ganglioside. The vaccine-induced antibodies recognized GD2-positive tumor cells, mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity, and exhibited protection against s.c. human GD2-positive melanoma growth in the severe combined immunodeficient mouse xenograft model. The results from our studies provide insights into approaches for boosting GD2 cross-reactive IgG antibody responses by minigene vaccination with a protective epitope of GD2 ganglioside.
Effects of Two Bisdioxopiperazineson Mouse B- and T-Cell Function&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: G Dennert, L E Hatlen, D F Tucker
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1975)

The immunosuppresive effects of the bisdioxopiperazines ICRF 154 and ICRF 159 on the function of bone marrow-derived lymphocytes (B cells) and thymusderived lymphocytes (T cells) were assessed and compared with those of cyclophosphamide (CPA). Mice given foreign erythrocytes with any of these drugs for 3 or 5 days showed suppressed antibody responses due to the inhibition of thymus-derived cooperating lymphocyte (T-helper cell) priming and inactivation of B cells in the spleen. In contrast, 3 days of drug treatment after the injection of allogeneic tumor cells only partially inhibited T ceIl-dependent cytotoxicity. Moreover, when irradiated tumor cells were given for 3 days with CPA or ICRF 154, enhancement rather than inhibition of cytotoxicity was the usual response. However, with both types of immunization, no thymus-derived cytotoxic lymphocytes (T killer cells) could be generated after prolonged treatment (6 daily injections) with any of the 3 drugs. Administration of drugs before antigen also resulted in selective drug action, i.e., a relative increase in the proportion of thy-I-positive cells in the spleen. After challenge in vivo or in vitro with erythrocyte antigens, the plaque-forming cell responses of these spleens were raised up to twofold, probably because they had higher T-helper cell activity than untreated controls. Similar pretreatment before immunization with allogeneic tumor cells also led to enhanced T-killer cell activity, but only in ICRF 154- and CPA-treated mice. These observations suggest that under certain conditions, the bisdioxopiperazines and CPA have selective effects on B-cell rather than T-cell function.
Results of a Randomized Study of IM862 Nasal Solution in the Treatment of AIDS-Related Kaposi’s Sarcoma
Authors: Anil Tulpule, David T. Scadden, Byron M. Espina, Suzanne Cabriales, Walter Howard, Kathleen Shea, Parkash S. Gill
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2000)

PURPOSE: Although advances have been made in the treatment of AIDS-related Kaposi’s sarcoma (AIDS-KS) with systemic chemotherapy, less toxic therapies are needed. IM862 is a naturally occurring peptide with antiangiogenic properties and was thus studied in patients with AIDS-KS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: IM862 was given as intranasal drops at a dose of 5 mg. Patients were randomized to two dosing schedules given in repeated cycles until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity: 5 days of therapy followed by 5 days off (n = 18) and every other day dosing (n = 26). RESULTS: Forty-two male patients and two female patients with a median age of 38 years (range, 22 to 53 years) were accrued. Twenty-one patients (47%) had more than 50 mucocutaneous lesions, 14 (32%) had lymphedema, and none had visceral involvement. Thirty-three patients (75%) had received prior systemic chemotherapy. Twenty-four patients (55%) had CD4 + lymphocyte count ≤ 200/mm 3 . All but five patients were being treated with concurrent protease inhibitor(s), for a median of 10 months (range, 0 to 24 months). Major responses were documented in 36%, with five complete and 11 partial remissions, occurring after a median of 6 weeks (range, 3 to 26 weeks) and lasting a median of 33+ weeks (range, 12+ to 95+ weeks). Twenty-one patients had stable disease for periods of 7 to 72+ weeks. Adverse effects to IM862 were limited to mild and transient headache, fatigue, tingling, and nausea. No hematologic adverse effects attributed to treatment were reported. CONCLUSION: IM862 given as intranasal drops is well tolerated and has antitumor activity in patients with AIDS-KS. A randomized double-blinded study to define the activity of IM862 in patients with AIDS-KS is in progress.
Strategic Physician Communication and Oncology Clinical Trials
Authors: Terrance L. Albrecht, Christina Blanchard, John C. Ruckdeschel, Michael Coovert, Rebecca Strongbow
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: Clinical trials are the primary means for determining new, effective treatments for cancer patients, yet the number of patients that accrue is relatively limited. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between physician behavior and patient accrual to a clinical trial by videotaping the interaction. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight patient-physician interactions involving 12 different oncologists were videotaped in several clinics at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute (Tampa, FL). The purpose of each interaction was to present the possibility of a clinical trial to the patient. A coding system, the Moffitt Accrual Analysis System, was developed by the authors to code behaviors that represented both the legal-informational and social influence models of communication behavior. Thirty-two patients agreed to participate in the clinical trial. RESULTS: Videotaping was found to be a viable, valid, and reliable method for studying the interaction. Physicians who were observed to use both models of influence were found to enroll more patients. Thus, patients were more likely to accrue to the trial when their physician verbally presented items normally included in an informed consent document and when they behaved in a reflective, patient-centered, supportive, and responsive manner. Discussion of benefits, side effects, patient concerns and resources to manage the concerns were all associated with accrual. CONCLUSION: This research has implications for modifying physician behavior and, thus, increasing the numbers of patients accruing to oncology clinical trials.
Early Experience with Gamete Intrafallopian Transfer (GIFT) and Direct Intraperitoneal Insemination (DIPI)
Authors: M Dooley, D Lim-Howe, M Savvas, J W W Studd
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1988)

We present our early experience with gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) and direct intraperitoneal insemination (DIPI) combined with intrauterine insemination (IUI), two recently described methods of assisting conception in patients with patent fallopian tubes. Sixty-nine patients (93 cycles) were entered into the study. Thirty-three patients (51 cycles) entered the DIPI/IUI programme and 36 patients (42 cycles) entered the GIFT programme. The mean age, duration and aetiology of infertility were similar in both groups. In the GIFT programme 12 pregnancies occurred, which is a 29% pregnancy rate per cycle and a 33% pregnancy rate per patient. In the DIPI/IUI programme only 3 pregnancies occurred, being a 6% pregnancy rate per cycle and a 9% pregnancy rate per patient. With the live birth rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) being 12% per embryo transfer, we conclude that GIFT is more successful than either DIPI/IUI or IVF in patients with patent fallopian tubes. Further controlled studies are required to assess the future role of DIPI/IUI in clinical practice.
Psychiatric disorders and functional disability in outpatients with traumatic brain injuries
Authors: J R Fann, W J Katon, J M Uomoto, P C Esselman
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1995)

This study examined psychiatric sequelae of traumatic brain injuries in outpatients and their relation to functional disability.Fifty consecutive outpatients with traumatic brain injuries who came to a brain injury rehabilitation clinic for initial evaluation were examined for DSM-III-R diagnoses with the use of the National Institute of Mental Health Diagnostic Interview Schedule. The patients completed the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey to assess functional disability and a questionnaire to assess postconcussion symptoms and self-perceptions of the severity of their brain injuries and cognitive functioning.Thirteen (26%) of the patients had current major depression, and an additional 14 (28%) reported a first-onset major depressive episode after the injury that had resolved. Twelve (24%) had current generalized anxiety disorder, and four (8%) reported current substance abuse. The group with depression and/or anxiety was significantly more impaired than the nondepressed/nonanxious patients according to the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey measures of emotional role functioning, mental health, and general health perceptions. The depressed/anxious group also rated their injuries as significantly more severe and their cognitive functioning as significantly worse, despite the lack of significant differences in objective measures of severity of injury and Mini-Mental State examination scores. The depressed patients reported significantly more postconcussion symptoms that were increasing in severity over time.Depression and anxiety are common in outpatients with traumatic brain injuries. Patients with depression or anxiety are more functionally disabled and perceive their injury and cognitive impairment as more severe. Depressed patients report more increasingly severe postconcussion symptoms.
Resting energy expenditure in patients with obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Miroslav Brusik, Radovan Tisko, Zuzana Sopkova, Ruzena Tkacova, Pavol Joppa
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may contribute to increases in resting energy expenditure (REE) through hypoxia-related sympathetic activation and hormonal dysregulation. The reports on REE in OSA are scarce, and are confounded by body weight and gender differences.

Aim: We assessed REE adjusted for fat-free mass (FFM) in male patients with OSA and hypothesized that REE/FFM ratio is related to indices of OSA severity.

Methods: 26 male subjects (age 48.4±11.3 years) evaluated for suspected OSA underwent overnight polysomnography. Body composition was assessed by tetrapolar bioimpedance method and REE by indirect calorimetry. REE/FFM ratio was compared between 16 patients with severe OSA [apnea-hypopnea index (AHI)>30; mean AHI 60.8±20.1 events/hour] and 10 control subjects (AHI<15; mean AHI 10.7±4.4).

Results: Patients with severe OSA had increased REE/FFM compared to controls (30.4±3.1 versus 27.3±4.0 kcal/kg/24 h, p=0.033). In univariate analyses, REE/FFM was directly related to AHI, oxygen desaturation index (ODI) and arousal index (R=0.486, p=0.012; R=0.561, p=0.003; R=0.482, p=0.013, respectively). In multivariate analysis, only ODI remained an independent predictor of REE/FFM after adjustments for age, body mass index, AHI and arousal index (p=0.027, R2=0.438).

Conclusion: Resting metabolic rate was increased in patients with severe OSA and correlated with indices of OSA severity. The independent predictive value of ODI suggests a possible role for intermittent hypoxia in the regulation of energy metabolism in OSA.

Support: APVV-0134/11, VEGA 1/0111/12, 8/GSD/2011, Slovakia.