tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of essential hypertension in COPD patients
Authors: Zara Nersesyan, Svetlana Ovcharenko, Tatyana Morozova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

There is a high prevalence of essential hypertension in patients with COPD that requires an assessment of the impact of COPD on blood pressure daily pattern.

Aims : To investigate the characteristics of essential hypertension in COPD patients.

Methods : 33 out-patients with COPD and concomitant essential hypertension were recruited (27 male, mean age of 60.8±10.5, %FEV1 58.4±11.5%, index smoker 42.3±11.5). COPD duration was 10.5±3.5 years, hypertension duration was 14.3±7.4 years. Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) monitoring was assessed at baseline. The following parameters such as the mean daytime systolic and diastolic BP, mean night-time systolic and diastolic BP, dipper status, systolic and diastolic BP load, BP variability, pulse pressure were estimated.

Results : Dipper status (n=9) and non-dipper status (n=24), increasing of the average diastolic BP at night-time (92.3±7.4 mm Hg), increasing of the average systolic (56.4±29.4%) and diastolic (47.2±23.5%) BP load at night-time, increasing of the average night-time systolic BP variability (15.9±3.7 mm Hg) were observed.

Conclusions : Hypertension formation in all studied patients was preceded to COPD. The significant changes of hypertension (non-dipper status, increasing of the average diastolic BP, systolic and diastolic BP load) were related at night-time. The increasing of BP variability was exposed in all patients.
Mitochondrial DNA evolution in the Montium-species subgroup of Drosophila.
Authors: P Pissios, Z G Scouras
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1993)

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction-site maps for six species (10 strains) of the Drosophila montium subgroup were established. A total of 50 restriction sites were mapped, corresponding to 1.67% of the mtDNA genome. On the basis of differences in the restriction sites, nucleotide divergence (delta) was calculated for each pair of species (strains), and phylogenetic trees were constructed by using distance-matrix and parsimony methods. Comparison of the resultant phylogenetic trees shows that the sibling species D. auraria and D. quadraria are closely related. At the other extreme, considerable divergence was observed between the two strains of D. serrata and between D. serrata and D. birchii, a finding that contrasts with their grouping within the same species complex. Nevertheless, our data indicate that these six oriental montium species are rather closely related.
Skin cancer, and some limitations on how we innovate and practice medicine
Authors: JL Rees
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2015)

Successfully delivering medical care and acquiring and disseminating the new knowledge that underpins clinical advance requires dealing with a number of both theoretical and organizational issues that may impede progress. Firstly, we have to move beyond the idea that biology and medicine are synonymous, and realize that tropes such as 'bench to bedside' or 'translational' frequently do not capture the way medical advance occurs. Medicine is more engineering than science, and the constraints imposed by society and economics, as well as historical models of working, may all delay improvements in healthcare delivery. Secondly, the generation of new ideas is influenced by the social organization and financial underpinning of science. Comparisons with other areas of science and technology suggest that medical science is dysfunctional and lacking in genuine innovation, particularly when cost is factored in as a key denominator. There are reasons to believe that matters are getting worse, and that the climate for revolutionary discovery is less supportive in both academia and industry than it was in the mid-to-late twentieth century. Thirdly, healthcare delivery is subject to a number of factors that limit cheap and effective care. These include payment systems that encourage unnecessary care, self-interest by medical guilds and insurers, and regulators that seek to limit new ways of working. Finally, there is also a striking failure to study and understand medical competence, how we educate doctors and other clinicians, and how technology might help to reduce costs.
Two cycles of MOPP and radiotherapy for stage III1A and stage III1B Hodgkin's disease.
Authors: G C Henkelmann, F B Hagemeister, L M Fuller
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1988)

One hundred two adult patients with stage III1A (76 patients) and stage III1B (26 patients) Hodgkin's disease were treated with two cycles of mechlorethamine, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (MOPP) and radiotherapy (XRT) between 1970 and 1984. Sixty-four of the patients were treated between 1970 and 1978 with two cycles of MOPP and XRT to the mantle, upper abdomen, and pelvis. The remaining 38 patients were treated from 1978 to 1984 with a modification of the protocol in which pelvic XRT was omitted and low-dose whole-lung XRT was administered to patients with unfavorable mediastinal disease. The 10-year actuarial freedom-from-progression (FFP) and determinate survival rates at a mean follow-up of 93 months were 84% and 86% for stage III1 disease, 86% and 84% for stage III1A disease, and 78% and 91% for stage III1B disease. Three patients died of treatment-related toxicities without evidence of Hodgkin's disease, two died of complications of myelosuppression and one of acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL). Neither FFP nor determinate survival rates were significantly influenced by B symptoms, unfavorable mediastinal disease, histologic subtype, extent of abdominal disease, the omission of pelvic XRT, the use of whole-lung XRT, or the number of splenic nodules. Patients 40 years of age or older had a 73% determinate survival rate at 10 years compared with 88% for patients younger than 40 years (P = .01). This survival difference was due to treatment-related toxicity in the older group. This study indicates that two cycles of MOPP and XRT to the mantle and upper abdomen is as effective as more intensive treatment for all patients with stage III1 Hodgkin's disease. This treatment program can preserve fertility and has had only a 1% actuarial incidence of ANLL at 15 years.
Elective surgery for ulcerative colitis is associated with lower mortality than drug treatment in older patients:
Authors: Susan Mayor
Journal: BMJ (2015)

The mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS), composed of monocytes/macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), plays a critical role at the interface of the innate and adaptive immune systems. However, the simplicity of MPS has been challenged recently by discoveries of novel cellular components. In the current study, we identified the CD135<sup>+</sup> subset of monocytes as a novel class of APCs in mice. CD135<sup>+</sup> monocytes were readily found in the bone marrow, spleen, and peripheral blood at steady state, and they expressed markers specific to DCs, including MHC class II and CD209a, along with markers for monocytes/macrophages. In addition, this subset phagocytosed bacteria and activated naive T lymphocytes, fulfilling the criteria for APCs. CD135<sup>+</sup> monocytes were derived directly from macrophage DC progenitors, not from common monocyte progenitors or other monocytes, suggesting that these are distinct from conventional monocytes. These findings facilitate our understanding of the MPS network that regulates immune responses for host defense.
Sex Differences in Mortality and Clinical Expressions of Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Bartolome Celli, Jörgen Vestbo, Christine R. Jenkins, Paul W. Jones, Gary T. Ferguson, Peter M. A. Calverley, Julie C. Yates, Julie A. Anderson, Lisa R. Willits, Robert A. Wise
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2010)

There is limited knowledge regarding sex differences and outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Determine sex differences in survival, causes of death, and patient-centered outcomes in the 3-year Toward a Revolution in COPD Health (TORCH) study.A total of 1,481 women and 4,631 men with COPD were enrolled in TORCH, a trial comparing salmeterol, 50 μg, plus fluticasone propionate, 500 μg, twice a day and each component individually. Causes of death were determined by an endpoint committee. Sex differences in survival were explored using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for other baseline factors. Exacerbation rate was compared using a negative binomial model. Dyspnea was evaluated using the Medical Research Council scale and health status using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire.At baseline, women were younger (63 vs. 66 yr), had higher FEV(1) (47% vs. 44% predicted), and worse St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (51.3 vs. 48.7) and Medical Research Council score. During the study, 707 (15.3%) men and 168 (11.3%) women died. After adjusting for differences in baseline factors, the risk of dying was 16% higher in men than in women; however, this was not statistically significant (hazard ratio 1.16 [95% CI, 0.98-1.39]). Causes of death were similar in women and men. Exacerbation rate was 25% higher in women than in men.Women enrolled in TORCH had a lower mortality rate than men but similar causes of death. The risk of dying was similar in women and men after adjusting for important baseline variables. Women reported more exacerbations, and worse dyspnea and health status scores than men. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00268216).
Restrictive versus liberal blood transfusion for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding (TRIGGER): a pragmatic, open-label, cluster randomised feasibility trial
Authors: Vipul Jairath, Brennan C Kahan, Alasdair Gray, Caroline J Doré, Ana Mora, Martin W James, Adrian J Stanley, Simon M Everett, Adam A Bailey, Helen Dallal, John Greenaway, Ivan Le Jeune, Melanie Darwent, Nicholas Church, Ian Reckless, Renate Hodge, Claire Dyer, Sarah Meredith, Charlotte Llewelyn, Kelvin R Palmer, Richard F Logan, Simon P Travis, Timothy S Walsh, Michael F Murphy
Journal: The Lancet (2015)
Long-term follow-up of a phase III study of three versus four cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin in favorable-prognosis germ-cell tumors: the Indian University experience.
Authors: S B Saxman, D Finch, R Gonin, L H Einhorn
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1998)

PURPOSE In a previously reported randomized Southeastern Cancer Study Group (SECSG) trial, three cycles of chemotherapy were found to be equivalent to four cycles in patients with favorable-prognosis germ-cell cancer. We have conducted a follow-up analysis of patients treated at Indiana University (Indianapolis, IN) to compare long-term survival between the two groups and to examine factors associated with survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS Sixty-nine patients with minimal-stage and 49 patients with moderate-stage disseminated germ-cell tumors were randomized to either three or four courses of bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) administered every 3 weeks. Median follow-up time is 10.1 years (range, 7 months to 12.6 years). Ninety-two percent of patients have an actual follow-up time of &gt; 5 years, and 97.5% of patients have an actual follow-up time of &gt; 3 years. RESULTS Survival analysis shows no significant difference between the two treatment groups in terms of overall (P = .80) or disease-free (P = .93) survival. Several clinical variables were examined by univariate analysis; only serum human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) had an impact on survival. There were two disease-related deaths in 104 patients with HCG &lt; or = 1,000 mIU/mL and five disease-related deaths in 14 patients with HCG greater than 1,000 mIU/mL (P &lt; .001). Ninety-eight percent (95% CI, 95.2 to 100) of patients with favorable prognosis germ-cell tumor with an initial HCG of &lt; or = 1,000 mIU/mL are alive without evidence of disease at 5+ years. CONCLUSION With long-term follow-up, there is no statistically significant difference in survival between three or four cycles of BEP chemotherapy in patients with favorable prognosis germ-cell carcinoma. Serum HCG elevation of greater than 1,000 mIU/mL is a significant predictor of poor outcome in patients with otherwise good-risk disease.
Hodgkin lymphoma: MOPP chemotherapy to PD-1 blockade and beyond
Authors: Stephen M. Ansell
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2015)

Hodgkin lymphoma is a rare lymphoid malignancy affecting ∼9,200 new patients in the United States annually. Progress in the management of this disease over the past 50 years has been remarkable and the prognosis of this malignancy has changed from a uniformly fatal process to one in which the vast majority of patients are expected to be cured. This remarkable progress has been due to the use of combination approaches incorporating chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and now more recently antibody-drug conjugates and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The goal for the future is to develop treatment combinations that successfully treat all patients and markedly decrease the long-term side effects.
Elevated survivin is associated with a reduced survival in patients with malignant pleural effusion
Authors: Didem Görgün, Pinar Yildiz, Funda Secik, Kenan Midilli, Vakur Akkaya
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

We aimed to show the prognostic value of survivin levels in malignant pleural effusion (MPE).  METHODS:  Fifty-one MPE patients were included in our study prospectively. We demonstrated that by quantifying survivin expression with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the 51 effusion. The correlation between survivin level and survival in MPE were analyzed.  RESULTS:  Survivin level was 41.75 ± 76.20 in patients with MPE. There was no correlation between survivin level and age, sex, location, fluid pH, glucose, protein, albumine and ADA level while there was significant moderate correlation with fluid LDH (r=0.49; p  In conclusion, elevated survivin levels is associated with poor survival in MPE. Our results suggest that survivin may be used as a prognostic marker in MPE.
Improving surfactant therapy: Development of a neonatal upper airway model for in vitro aerosol deposition testing
Authors: Estibalitz Goikoetxea, Alejandro Rivas, Raúl Antón, Francisco José Basterretxea, Lorena Miñambres, Estibaliz Méndez Alija, Carmen Rey-Santano, Adolf Valls i Soler, Pablo Serna-Grande, Victoria Mielgo, Estibaliz Ruiz-Del-Yerro, Miguel Angel Gómez-Solaetxe, Xabier Murgia
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Aerosolized surfactant is a promising technique to treat neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). However, aerosol delivery to neonates is complex and few studies have addressed its feasibility in vitro.

Methods: A computer-design of an infant airway model was drawn in CAD, and 3D pieces were printed by means of rapid prototyping. Natural surfactant aerosols were produced by a pneumatically-driven intratracheal inhalation catheter (driving pressure range 4-6bar). Characterization of surfactant aerosols (particle size and distribution) was performed using Time of Flight technology. Further, deposition of surfactant aerosols within the thermoplastic model of the upper airways was measured.

Results: The printed neonatal tracheobronchial airway model successfully passed the quality control. Maximum surfactant aerosol production rate was achieved at 6bar (0.39±0.01ml/min; 31.54±0.52mg/min). Although a high percentage of deposition of the aerosolized mass (between 23.75±6.45% 4bar and 26.48±11.43% 6bar) was deposited within the printed model, the highest percentage of mass (between 64.95±7.40% 4bar and 66.43±11.46% 6bar) was measured beyond the distal exit of the model. The Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD) ranged between 8.52±0.16µm (6bar) and 9.36±0.35µm (4bar); higher MMAD values (13.26±3.41µm) where measured at the exit of the printed model.

Conclusion: Surfactant aerosolization seems to be feasible and holds potential as a treatment for RDS; however, further research is needed to adapt current technology to the requirements of the neonatal population.
Effect of YOCAS yoga on sleep, fatigue, and quality of life: A URCC CCOP randomized, controlled clinical trial among 410 cancer survivors.
Authors: K. M. Mustian, O. Palesh, L. Sprod, L. J. Peppone, C. E. Heckler, J. S. Yates, P. S. Reddy, M. Melnik, J. K. Giguere, G. R. Morrow
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2010)

9013 Background: Impaired sleep quality (SQ) and fatigue are the most prevalent and troublesome side effects experienced by cancer survivors and both significantly impair quality of life (QOL). We conducted a nationwide, multi-site, phase II/III randomized, controlled, clinical trial examining the efficacy of yoga for improving SQ, fatigue and QOL among cancer survivors through the University of Rochester (UR) Cancer Center Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) Research Base. Methods: Non-metastatic, cancer survivors suffering from moderate or greater sleep disruption between 2-24 months after completing adjuvant therapy with no participation in yoga during the previous 3 months were randomized into 2 arms: 1) standard care monitoring and 2) standard care plus the 4-week (wk) yoga intervention (2 x's/wk; 75 min./session). The yoga intervention utilized the UR Yoga for Cancer Survivors (YOCAS) program consisting of pranayama (breathing exercises), 18 gentle Hatha and Restorative yoga asanas (postures) and meditation. SQ, fatigue and QOL were assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: 410 survivors were accrued (96% female, mean age = 54, 75% breast cancer). ANCOVAs with baseline values as covariates revealed significant differences in SQ, fatigue and QOL (all p<0.05) between groups at post- intervention. Yoga participants demonstrated greater improvements in SQ (CS = change score; CS = 1.96, standard error = SE; SE = 0.25), fatigue (CS=7.82, SE=1.06) and QOL (CS=6.61, SE=1.11) from pre- to post-intervention compared to controls (SQ CS=1.07, SE=0.23, fatigue CS=2.34, SE=0.91 and QOL CS=1.58, SE=1.09). ANCOVAs also revealed the yoga group reduced sleep medication use (CS=−0.21, SE=0.09, p<0.05) while the control group increased medication use (CS = 0.04, SE = 0.07, p = 0.09). Conclusions: The brief community-based YOCAS yoga intervention significantly improves SQ, fatigue, and QOL while reducing sleep medication use among survivors. Clinicians should consider prescribing the YOCAS program for survivors reporting impaired sleep and fatigue. Funding: NCI U10CA37420 and K07CA120025. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Abstract 1068: Evaluation of Malignant and Benign Cardiac Masses by Quantitative Real-Time Contrast Echocardiography
Authors: Eliza K Uenishi, Wilson Mathias, Marcia Azevedo Caldas
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Primary tumors of the heart are rare, most of them benign. However the differential diagnosis between benign and malignant tumors is very difficult. Quantitative Real-time Contrast Echocardiography(QRTCE) can evaluate the vascularity of cardiac masses and therefore help in characterizing the nature of cardiac masses. To evaluate the perfusion of cardiac masses and to compare the quantitative perfusion parameters of malignant and benign cardiac tumors by QRTCE. We studied 42 patients with cardiac masses, 23(54.8%) women, mean age 47.2±17.9 years old, 23(54.8%) with malignant tumor and 19 (45.2%) with benign tumors. Contrast-enhanced images were obtained after intravenous administration of PESDA(perfluorocarbon-exposed sonicated dextrose and albumin) or Definity®(lipid-encapsulated microbubbles) contrast. Q-lab software was applied to quantitative the perfusion of mass and adjacent cavity. The CE-derived rate of microbubble velocity(β), blood volume(A), blood flow(A × β) and relative blood flow(A/Acavity × β) were obtained by curve fitting of videointensity versus time plots, after the transient destruction of microbubbles by high-energy ultrasound. All malignant cardiac and 16 benign masses were confirmed by pathology. Blood velocity (β) was greater in the malignant than benign mass (1.4±2.04 × 0.71±0.48 dB, p=0.001). Malignant and benign mass A, A×B and A/Acavity × β values were 4.11±3.99 × 3.4±2.53, p=0.095; 3.69±3.95 × 2.85±3.36, p=0.113; 0.18±0.24 × 0.13±0.17, p=0.442; respectively. The malignant tumors were primary cardiac lymphoma (n=2), mediastinal lymphoma (n=5), pericardial mesothelioma(n=1) and metastatic tumors(n=15). Myxoma (n=15), lypoma(n=1), paraganglioma(1) and rabdomyoma(n=2) constituted the benign masses. QRTCE provides important information to differentiate the nature of cardiac masses by the demonstration of higher values of resting myocardial blood flow.
Effects of Age at Carcinogen Administration and Exposure as Neonates to 17β-Estradiol on Subsequent Gland-Pair Distribution of Murine Mammary Dysplasias2
Authors: M. R. Warner, R. L. Warner
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1975)

Journal Article Effects of Age at Carcinogen Administration and Exposure as Neonates to 17β-Estradiol on Subsequent Gland-Pair Distribution of Murine Mammary Dysplasias Get access M. R. Warner, M. R. Warner Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar R. L. Warner R. L. Warner Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 54, Issue 6, June 1975, Pages 1369–1372, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/54.6.1369 Published: 01 June 1975 Article history Received: 26 November 1974 Accepted: 25 February 1975 Published: 01 June 1975
microRNA reprogramming by oncogenes and tumor suppressors
Authors: Joshua Mendell
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2008)

ED02-01   Dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression is a ubiquitous feature of cancer cells and select miRNAs have been demonstrated to possess oncogenic and tumor suppressing activity. Yet the mechanisms that lead to altered miRNA expression in tumors are poorly understood. One possibility is that miRNAs are under direct control of oncogenes and tumor suppressors whose gain- or loss-of-function directly contributes to abnormal miRNA expression patterns. In order to investigate this question, we have studied the miRNA components of classic oncogenic and tumor suppressor signaling pathways, such as those controlled by c-Myc and p53. Expression profiling studies in human and mouse models of B cell lymphoma have revealed that a major consequence of c-Myc activation is extensive reprogramming of the miRNA transcriptome, including the direct upregulation of oncogenic miRNAs and the direct downregulation of tumor suppressing miRNAs. We have also identified miRNAs regulated by p53 that appear to participate in the anti-proliferative and proapoptotic functions of this tumor suppressor. Together, these studies demonstrate that abnormal miRNA expression in cancer cells cannot be explained solely as an indirect consequence of the loss of cellular identity that accompanies malignant transformation. Rather, oncogenic events directly reprogram the miRNA transcriptome to favor tumorigenesis. Moreover, miRNAs appear to function as critical downstream effectors of multiple oncogenic and tumor suppressor pathways.
Action is needed to boost uptake of stop smoking services, say campaigners
Authors: Zosia Kmietowicz
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Smoking cessation campaigners are calling for action to reverse the current downward trend in people seeking support from specialist stop smoking services. They emphasised that smokers who get support from local stop smoking services are four times more likely to quit than by going “cold turkey.”

Figures from the Health and Social Care Information Centre showed that, from April 2014 to March 2015, 450 582 people set a quit date with stop smoking services in England.1 This was 23% lower than the previous year and …