tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
High-dose chemotherapy with hematopoietic rescue in patients with stage III to IV ovarian cancer: long-term results.
Authors: M Legros, J Dauplat, J Fleury, H Cure, F Suzanne, J Chassagne, J O Bay, C Sol, M Canis, P Condat, B Choufi, F Tavernier, C Glenat, P Chollet, R Plagne
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1997)

PURPOSE A series of 53 patients with poor-prognosis epithelial ovarian cancer treated with high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) followed by hematopoietic rescue was retrospectively studied from the day of diagnosis for toxicity and long-term survival analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients were treated with surgery followed by cisplatin combination chemotherapy. After second-look operation (SLO), HDC was administered: 23 patients received melphalan (140 mg/m2 on day 1) and 30 patients received a combination of carboplatin (400 mg/m2 on days 1 to 4) and cyclophosphamide (1.6 g/m2 on days 1 to 4). After HDC, autologous stem-cell transplantation was performed for hematologic support. RESULTS One patient died of cardiac failure after HDC, but the acute toxicity was acceptable for the other patients. With a median follow-up of 81.5 months, the 5-year overall survival rate for the 53 patients was 59.9% and the disease-free survival (DFS) rate at 5 years was 23.6%. Twenty-four patients (45.3%) were alive, 12 with no evidence of disease and 12 with recurrent disease. The best results were achieved in 19 patients with pathologic complete response at SLO (74.2% 5-year overall survival; 32.8% 5-year DFS). CONCLUSION HDC followed by autologous stem-cell support is a well-tolerated therapeutic approach for patients with poor-prognosis ovarian carcinoma. In this report, the 59.9% survival of 53 patients at 5 years must be compared to the 20% to 30% 5-year survival observed after conventional therapy. These results should be confirmed by an ongoing prospective randomized trial.
Prevalence of Depressive Symptoms Early in the Course of Schizophrenia
Authors: Thomas H. Wassink, Michael Flaum, Peg Nopoulos, Nancy C. Andreasen
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1999)

OBJECTIVE: The rate of depressive symptoms early in the course of schizophrenia was determined. METHOD: Seventy subjects with recent-onset schizophrenia were followed for 5 years by using semistructured interview instruments. The initial assessment included ratings of each criterion A symptom of a DSM-III-R major depressive episode. The rates of symptoms experienced with at least moderate severity were calculated, and an algorithm based on DSM identified subjects meeting the criteria for a major depressive episode. RESULTS: Four symptoms were present to at least a moderate degree in a majority of subjects, while no symptom was present in fewer than 12% of subjects. More than one-third of the subjects met the algorithmic criteria for a major depressive episode at the time of intake. CONCLUSIONS: Depressive symptoms are common early in the course of schizophrenia. This finding is consistent with other recent data and has potential implications for current diagnostic and treatment practices.
Characterization of the 13q14 tumor suppressor locus in CLL: identification of ALT1, an alternative splice variant of the LEU2 gene.
Authors: Florencia Bullrich, Hidenori Fujii, George Calin, Hideaki Mabuchi, Massimo Negrini, Yuri Pekarsky, Laura Rassenti, Hansjuerg Alder, John C. Reed, Michael J. Keating, Thomas J. Kipps, Carlo M. Croce
Journal: Cancer Research (2001)

Chromosome 13q14 deletions constitute the most common genetic abnormality in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). To identify the putative tumor suppressor gene targeted by 13q14 genomic loss, we completely sequenced and characterized a segment of 790 kb at 13q14 spanning the minimal region of loss in CLL. Transcribed sequences in the region were identified through database homology searches and exon-prediction analysis. Two-hundred kb at the centromeric end of the sequence contain five CpG islands, three previously identified genes LEU5/RFP2, LEU2, and LEU1, seven of seven EST clusters composed of >10 ESTs, and a large number of predicted exons. Homology searches against the mouse EST database have allowed us to identify a highly conserved alternative first exon of the LEU2 gene, giving rise to a novel transcript, ALT1 (GenBank accession no. AF380424), which originates within a G+C region in the vicinity of the D13S272 marker. Two novel 3′ exons of LEU2 were also identified and are present in both LEU2 and ALT1 transcripts. However, we have not identified any mutations in leukemia cases, or alterations in expression of mRNAs in the region, that might directly implicate these mRNAs in the pathology of CLL. The centromeric end of the sequence, where all reported genes are located, contains twice the expected amount of ALU repeats, whereas the telomeric end is LINE1 rich and contains four LINE1 elements longer than 4 kb, including two full-length LINE1 sequences. This feature of the sequence may favor the occurrence of chromosomal rearrangements and may confer instability to the region, resulting in deletions that may inactivate an as yet unidentified tumor suppressor.
Proteological assessment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and hypersensitivity pneumonitis by mean of broncho-alveolar lavage
Authors: Stijn Willems, Jana Somers, Stijn E. Verleden, Geert M. Verleden, Jonas Yserbyt, Christophe Dooms, Bart Vanaudenaerde, Wim Wuyts
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction and aims: Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) and Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis (HP) are both interstitial lung diseases characterized by a mixture of inflammation and fibrosis. We aim to investigate the role of different pathophysiological mechanisms by analysing broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid samples.

Methods: Bronchoscopy with BAL (4 aliquots of 50 ml saline, fraction 2-4 pooled for analysis) performed at time of diagnosis were evaluated and 3 groups; HP (n=11), IPF (n=11) and control (n=10) were analyzed by multiplex ELISA (SearchLight®). Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA with Dunns post-hoc test was used for analysis.

Results: Results are displayed in the table. Differences were found regarding total lymphocyte, neutrophil and eosinophil cell counts. Differences were found in pathological mechanisms of coagulation (Protein-C, PAI-1 Active), angiogenesis (VEGF), inflammation (MCP-1, MDC, IL-8, IL-12p40), fibrosis (TGF-β1, HGF), matrix remodeling pathways (MMP-8, MMP-9) and oxidative stress (MPO).

![Figure][1] 



Conclusion: Differences for aforementioned mechanisms were observed in IPF and HP compared to control, as well as discriminating factors between IPF and HP. These results highlight the role of BAL in the search for new biomarkers and therapies for pulmonary fibrosis.

 [1]: pending:yes
Serial Circulating Immune Complex Levels and Mitogen Responses During Progressive Tumor Growth in WF Rats&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN3"&gt;3&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Mary L. Rodrick, Glenn Steele, Donald S. Ross, Stephen J. Lahey, Joseph M. Deasys, Anthony A. Rayner, Paul J. Harte, Richard E. Wilson, Alelia E. Munroe, Vincent P. King
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1983)

Inbred male WF rats were given im injections of one of two antigenically and histologically distinct syngeneic tumor isografts, adenocarcinoma DMH-W 163 or spontaneous renal cell carcinoma SPK. Serum and peripheral blood lymphocytes were harvested from tumor-bearing and normal age-matched controls before and after isograft challenge at weekly intervals. Serial circulating immune complex (CIC) levels were quantitated by polyethylene glycol (PEG) insolubilization. T-cell mitogen responses to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and concanavalin A (Con A) were followed serially. Tumor growth was measured at least weekly. PEG-CIC values rose early after tumor injection, increased with tumor growth, and declined in some animals just before death. Mitogen response to PHA was significantly decreased in isografted tumor-bearing rats, particularly at later stages of tumor development, compared to normal uninoculated controls. Responses to Con A were variable, and suppression was not always seen in tumor bearers. In animals that did not have progressive tumor growth after isograft injection, PEG-CIC levels did not change and responses to PHA were not suppressed. Patterns of CIC change and responses to PHA were not affected by differences in tumor histology or growth rates. Thus serial CIC levels measured by the PEG assay correlate with tumor growth and precede nonspecific suppression of T-cell mitogenic response in these animal tumor models.
Extracellular matrix profile of lung in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Susanna Estany, Vanesa Vicens, Roger Llatjόs, Rosa Penín, Ignacio Escobar, Antonio Xaubet, Federic Manresa, Jordi Dorca, Maria Molina-Molina
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Rationale: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive parenchymal lung disease of unknown aetiology and poor prognosis, characterized by progressive fibrosis of the alveolar interstitium. The ECM is a critical component in regulating cellular homeostasis and appropriate wound healing. The aim of our study was to determine the extracellular matrix protein profile of fibrotic lungs.

Methods: ECM gene expression and protein profile of lung of 12 patients with IPF, 5 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients with emphysema and 7 subjects with pneumothorax (control group) were analysed by cDNA microarrays, rt-PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Results: Microarray analyze showed a total of 20 ECM proteins upregulated and 6 proteins downregulated in fibrotic lungs compared with normal lungs. Interstitial structural proteins like collagen I and III had a significant increase in IPF compared with normal lungs and emphysema. Migratory proteins (tenascin C and versican) were also significant augmented in fibrosis. These proteins were located in fibroblastic foci by immunohistochemistry. The main basal membrane protein, collagen IV, were downregulated in fibrotic lungs. There was a statistically significant increase of some metalloproteins in lungs of IPF patients compared with normal and emphysema lungs (MMP-1, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-12 and MMP-13).

Conclusion: ECM protein profile of fibrotic lungs show profibrogenic properties that could help disease progression and perpetuation of lung fibrosis.These findings should be considered in the IPF physiopathology for future antifibrotic therapeutic approaches.

Supported by: SOCAP, SEPAR, FUCAP, PS09/01757
The significance of ureteral sampling at radical cystectomy in bladder cancer patients
Authors: R. Tal, B. Bochner, A. Vickers, S. Olgac, S. Donat, G. Dalbagni
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

4675 Background: In the current literature there are no clear guidelines for ureteral margins sampling at radical cystectomy and limited data regarding the contribution of ureteral assesment in outcome prediction of bladder cancer patients. This study was aimed to assess the use of frozen and permanent sections and their contribution in predicting recurrence and survival. Methods: We have reviewed an institutional data-base of patients who underwent radical cystectomy and recorded frozen section and permanent section results of the last ureteral segment, taken before anastomosing the ureters. We compared the results of the frozen section analysis to the permanent and calculated the sensitivity, specificity and negative and positive predictive values. We calculated the hazard ratio for upper tract recurrence using Cox model analysis and the added predictive value of abnormal ureters on upper-tract recurrence and survival (Harrell’s C test). Results: We identified, 1,207 patients who underwent cystectomy for bladder cancer in the years 1984–2004, 966 of them underwent ureteral sampling. The incidence of ureteral abnormalities was 125/966 patients (13%). Frozen section was available for 301 patients and correctly diagnosed malignancy in 24/40 of the cases. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 60%, 99.8%, 96% and 96.5%, respectively. Using Cox analysis corrected for age, pathological stage and grade, ureteral abnormalities were found to be a predictor of decreased time interval for upper tract recurrence (hazard ratio 3.0, CI: 1.2–7.3, p=0.01), but given the rarity of ureteral abnormalities, the contribution of ureteral margins sampling uniformly applied to all patients was minimal (68% vs. 66.7% predictive accuracy). Ureteral margins abnormalities were not predictive of overall survival. Conclusions: Ureteral margins sampling, applied uniformly to all bladder cancer patients undergoing cystectomy, has a questionable added value in prediction of upper tract recurrence and survival. Characterization of patients who may benefit from ureteral sampling is required to establish ureteral sampling criteria at radical cystectomy for better patients selection. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Paclitaxel and Carboplatin, Alone or With Irradiation, in Advanced or Recurrent Endometrial Cancer: A Phase II Study
Authors: Paul J. Hoskins, Kenneth D. Swenerton, Judith A. Pike, Frances Wong, Peter Lim, Christina Acquino-Parsons, Nhu Lee
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of carboplatin plus paclitaxel in primarily advanced or recurrent endometrial cancers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Four distinct patient groups received carboplatin (area under the curve, 5 to 7) plus paclitaxel 175 mg/m 2 for 3 hours at 4-week intervals: group 1 (n = 21), patients with primarily advanced, nonpapillary serous cancers; group 2 (n = 20), the same as group 1 but with papillary serous cancers; group 3 (n = 18), recurrent, nonpapillary serous cancers; and group 4 (n = 4), recurrent, papillary serous cancers. Involved-field irradiation was used in groups 1 and 2 for those with radioencompassable disease. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients were treated. Response rates to chemotherapy in the assessable patients in the four groups were 78% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51% to 100%); 60% (95% CI, 35% to 85%), 56% (95% CI, 34% to 78%), and 50%, respectively. Nineteen patients (90%) in group 1 also were irradiated, and the median failure-free survival time for all 21 patients was 23 months, with a 62% 3-year overall survival rate. Eleven patients (55%) in group 2 were irradiated, and the median failure-free survival time for all 18 patients was 18 months, with a 39% 3-year overall survival rate. The median failure-free interval in the patients in group 3 was 6 months, with a 15-month median overall survival time. Toxicity was manageable, reversible, and predominantly hematologic. Two patients developed neutropenic fever, and three patients, including these two, were hospitalized for complications. CONCLUSION: Carboplatin-paclitaxel is an efficacious, low-toxicity regimen for managing primarily advanced or recurrent endometrial cancers.
LL-37 is produced intrapleurally in infectious pleural effusion
Authors: Carlos Antonio Amado, Javier Villuela, Mayte García-Unzueta, Juan José Ruiz-Cubillan, Alejandro Daly, Beatriz Abascal, Diego Ferrer, Francisca Santos, David Iturbe, Ramón Agüero
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

LL-37 is an antimicrobial peptide produced by neutrophils, respiratory epithelial and mesothelial cells that has been studied for its broad spectrum activity against microorganisms. It also recruits inflammatory cells and promotes immune responses. It has never been measured in pleural fluid.

Aims And Objectives

The objective of our study is to measure the pleural and serum levels of LL-37 in pleural effusion patients, and to compare these levels and the pleural-to-serum LL-37 ratio among pleural fluids of three frequent etiologies: infectious, malignant and congestive heart failure(CHF).

Methods

We obtained 42 pleural effusions and divided them into 3 diagnostic categories. LL-37 was measured in the pleural fluid and serum of 23 infectious effusions, 10 malignant effusions and 9 CHF effusions by ELISA. Statistical analyses were performed using software SPSS 17.0.

Results

Results are presented: mean +/- Std. Deviation(median, minimun-maximun).

Pleural Fluid LL-37 levels: Infectious 3.77±4.81 ng/ml (1.64, 0.38-19.4) malignant 2.58±4.17 (0.87, 0.09-135), CHF 1.59±1.02 (0.99, 0.47-3.3) (p= 0.4).

Serum LL-37 levels: Infectious 2.09±3.42 ng/ml(0.98, 0.06-16.35) malignant 3.44±4.3(1.19, 0.17-12.6), CHF 3.44±3.02(2.6, 0.71-10.3)(p=0.13)

Pleural fluid-to-Serum LL-37 ratio levels: Infectious 1.33±1.88(1.29, 100-0.43) malignant 0.60±0.92(0.72, 1.11-0.21), CHF 0.46±0.93(0.44, 1.12-0.24)(p< 0.001. Infectious vs malignant p=0.002, infectious vs CHF p<0.001, malignant vs CHF not significant).

Conclusions

Pleural fluid-to-Serum LL-37 ratios are significantly elevated in infectious pleural effusions in comparison with malignant or CHF pleural effusions, suggesting that LL-37 is actively produced intrapleurally in infectious effusions.
Phase I and Pharmacokinetic Study of Photodynamic Therapy for High-Grade Gliomas Using a Novel Boronated Porphyrin
Authors: Mark A. Rosenthal, Bhadu Kavar, John S. Hill, Denis J. Morgan, Roger L. Nation, Stanley S. Stylli, Russell L. Basser, Shannon Uren, Howard Geldard, Michael D. Green, Stephen B. Kahl, Andrew H. Kaye
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: To determine the recommended dose, toxicity profile, and pharmacokinetics of a novel boronated porphyrin (BOPP) for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of intracranial tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: BOPP was administered alone in increasing doses (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, or 8.0 mg/kg) preoperatively in patients with intracranial tumors undergoing postresection PDT until dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed. RESULTS: Twenty-nine assessable patients with intracranial tumors received BOPP intravenously 24 hours before surgery. The recommended dose was 4 mg/kg. Dose escalation was limited by thrombocytopenia. The most common nonhematologic toxicity was skin photosensitivity. Pharmacokinetic parameters showed increased area under the plasma concentration-time curve and maximum concentration with increased dose. Tumor BOPP concentrations also increased with increased dose. CONCLUSION: BOPP at a dose of 4 mg/kg was well tolerated. DLT was thrombocytopenia, and photosensitivity was the only other toxicity of note. The efficacy of PDT using BOPP requires further exploration.
Recovery from chronic fatigue syndrome associated with changes in neuroendocrine function
Authors: A Sharma, F Oyebode, M J Kendall, D A Jones
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2001)

Quality standards have been established in two key areas of pathology directly relevant to standards for the provision of emergency medical services. First, there is a national scheme for accreditation of laboratory services--Clinical Pathology Accreditation (UK) Ltd (CPA)--which has been in formal operation since 1992 and currently covers about 80% of all UK laboratories. Secondly, guidelines have been issued by the Joint Working Group on Quality Assurance (JWGQA) on the support to any point-of-care (near patient) testing facilities. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is increasingly popular in emergency areas, where the availability of faster test results is expected to expedite diagnosis and treatment. When laboratory services are not accredited or POCT equipment and its usage are outside laboratory supervision, there should be concerns that quality standards for pathology service support of the emergency services are not being met.
Self-reported dental health and related factors in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Asli Bingol, Emel Atayik, Kursat Epozturk, Oznur Abadoglu
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: There are some studies about dental problems of asthmatic patients. However, studies comparing dental diseases in patients with asthma and with COPD are not sufficient.

Aim: Our aim is to compare the frequency of self-reported dental problems, their treatments and to determine affecting factors.

Method: A face-to-face questionnaire including the history of their diseases, dental problems and treatments, tooth brushing habits and comorbidity questions was applied by a doctor to the patients who admitted to Chest Diseases Dept. and Immunology and Allergy Diseases Subdept.

Results: 292 patients (63.4% asthmatic, 36.6% with COPD) and 286 controls were included to the study. Mean dental disease durations were 14.04±0.80 and 15.18±1.01 years in patients with asthma and COPD, respectively (p>0.05). There were dental problems in 91.6% of asthmatics and in 97.8% of COPD patients (p=0.01). The frequency of the subjects with dental caries was 89.7% in asthmatics, 95.3% in COPD patients, and 86.4% in the control group (p=0.04). As for tooth brushing habit, 47.0% of asthmatic patients, 21.5% of patients with COPD, and 58.0% of the control group stated to perform regularly once or twice per day (p<0.001). Only 41.6% of asthmatic patients, 9.3% of COPD patients, and 52.1% of the control group (p<0.001) had elementary or higher education.

Conclusions: Dental caries is the most frequent dental problem. The frequency of tooth brushing is related to the educational status and the patients should be instructed to perform this act regularly as recommended.
Brain death
Authors: D. W Evans
Journal: BMJ (2002)

Barriers to effective stroke care out of hours need to be broachedEditor-The article by Harraf et al is a welcome addition to much needed hard data on the poor delivery of evidence based and patient focused care in the United Kingdom. 1 The paper prompts the need to analyse prospectively the nature of the barriers to timely assessment, investigation, and treatment of a patient presenting with a potentially life threatening stroke.The paper would have benefited from providing readers with the subset analysis of time to assessment, senior opinion, and computed tomography in the 128 hours of the week (76%) that fall outside 9 am-5 pm Monday-Friday.In a typical emergency department 66% of patients arrive outside these normal working hours.The authors say that 28% arrive after 1759 and before 0600, and state in their abstract that "time of presentation did not influence time to evaluation by senior [non-emergency] doctor," but they do not provide results to support this.In many departments in which I have worked previously, I have noticed a recurring pattern of barriers for emergency department staff to overcome to obtain rapid computed tomography of the head after 5 pm Monday-Friday.
Ribavirin in Ventilated Respiratory Syncytial Virus Bronchiolitis
Authors: ANNE-MARIE GUERGUERIAN, MARIE GAUTHIER, MARC H. LEBEL, CATHERINE ANN FARRELL, JACQUES LACROIX
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1999)

We undertook a prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to resolve the question of the clinical effectiveness of ribavirin in previously well infants who require ventilation for respiratory distress secondary to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) bronchiolitis. Aerosol ribavirin or NaCl 0.9% was administered within 24 h of initiation of ventilation, 18 h / d, for a maximum of 7 d or until extubation. From March 1994 to March 1997, 42 children were randomized and 41 patients were retained for analysis. Baseline characteristics of each group—ribavirin and placebo (20:21)—were not significantly different with respect to age (62.5 ± 35.9 versus 62.7 ± 30.9 d), sex, weight, and length of ventilation pre-aerosol. "Intent to treat" outcome analysis found no significant differences in the length of the following: ventilation (102.16 ± 65.26 versus 126.28 ± 78.72 h; p = 0.29), aerosol therapy, stay in the intensive care unit, total oxygen therapy, and hospitalization. The aerosols were well tolerated and no deaths occurred. This trial demonstrates the lack of effectiveness of aerosolized ribavirin in reducing the length of ventilation and course of illness in infants with no underlying illness ventilated for respiratory distress secondary to RSV bronchiolitis.