tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
R<scp>EGULATION OF</scp>N<scp>ITRIC</scp>O<scp>XIDE</scp>S<scp>YNTHESIS BY</scp>D<scp>IETARY</scp>F<scp>ACTORS</scp>
Authors: Guoyao Wu, Cynthia J. Meininger
Journal: Annual Review of Nutrition (2002)

Nitric oxide (NO) is synthesized from L-arginine by NO synthase (NOS). As an endothelium-derived relaxing factor, a mediator of immune responses, a neurotransmitter, a cytotoxic free radical, and a signaling molecule, NO plays crucial roles in virtually every cellular and organ function in the body. The discovery of NO synthesis has unified traditionally diverse research areas in nutrition, physiology, immunology, pathology, and neuroscience. Increasing evidence over the past decade shows that many dietary factors, including protein, amino acids, glucose, fructose, cholesterol, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, phytoestrogens, ethanol, and polyphenols, are either beneficial to health or contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic diseases partially through modulation of NO production by inducible NOS or constitutive NOS. Although most published studies have focused on only a single nutrient and have generated new and exciting knowledge, future studies are necessary to investigate the interactions of dietary factors on NO synthesis and to define the underlying molecular mechanisms.
Risk of Rupture or Dissection in Descending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Joon Bum Kim, Kibeom Kim, Mark E. Lindsay, Thomas MacGillivray, Eric M. Isselbacher, Richard P. Cambria, Thoralf M. Sundt
Journal: Circulation (2015)

Background— Current practice guidelines recommend surgical repair of large thoracic aortic aneurysms to prevent fatal aortic dissection or rupture, but limited natural history data exist to support clinical criteria for timely intervention. Methods and Results— Of 3247 patients with thoracic aortic aneurysm registered in our institutional Thoracic Aortic Center Database, we identified and reviewed 257 nonsyndromic patients (age, 72.4±10.5 years; 143 female) with descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm without a history of aortic dissection in whom surgical intervention was not undertaken. The primary end point was a composite of aortic dissection/rupture and sudden death. Baseline mean maximal aortic diameter was 52.4±10.8 mm, with 103 patients having diameters ≥55 mm. During a median follow-up of 25.1 months (quartiles 1–3, 8.3–56.4 months), definite and possible aortic events occurred in 19 (7.4%) and 31 (12.1%) patients, respectively. On multivariable analyses, maximal aortic diameter at baseline emerged as the only significant predictor of aortic events (hazard ratio=1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.15). Estimated rates of definite aortic events within 1 year were 5.5%, 7.2%, and 9.3% for aortic diameters of 50, 55, and 60 mm, respectively. Receiver-operating characteristic curves for discriminating aortic events were higher for indexed aortic sizes referenced by body size (area under the curve=0.832–0.889) but not significantly different from absolute maximal aortic diameter (area under the curve=0.805). Conclusions— Aortic size was the principal factor related to aortic events in unrepaired descending thoracic or thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. Although the risk of aortic events started to increase with a diameter &gt;5.0 to 5.5 cm, it is uncertain whether repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms in this range leads to overall benefit, and the threshold for repair requires further evaluation.
The breast dynamic contrast enhanced MRI: preliminary results of a quantitative analysis.
Authors: A M Di Nallo, M Crecco, O Ortenzia, R Ordonez, A Abate, M Benassi
Journal: Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research (2007)

The objective of our study was to apply a quantitative analysis to the dynamic contrast enhanced MR imaging of the breast. Automated criteria increase the objectivity and reproducibility of the diagnostic interpretation of the imaging for differentiating benign and malignant lesions. The validation of this applied method was evaluated by analysing the time- signal intensity curves and the performance of the extracted enhancement parameters. The performance of some extracted parameters was evaluated by ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) analysis. These parameters were found to be particularly accurate in differentiating lesions.
Nosocomial spread of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing the metallo-β-lactamase VIM-2 in a Spanish hospital: clinical and epidemiological implications
Authors: C. Peña, C. Suarez, F. Tubau, O. Gutierrez, A. Domínguez, A. Oliver, M. Pujol, F. Gudiol, J. Ariza
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2007)
Radial endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) guided suction catheter-biopsy in diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions
Authors: Bojan Zaric, Vladimir Stojsic, Vladimir Carapic, Nensi Lalic, Goran Stojanovic, Evica Budisin, Tatjana Sarcev, Branislav Perin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background : EBUS guided biopsy became standard in diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). Suction catheter-biopsy is a technique for obtaining a histology sample from peripheral lung parenchyma. Aim of this study was to evaluate diagnostic efficiency, feasibility and safety of EBUS guided suction catheter-biopsy (SCB) in comparison to transbronchial biopsy (TBB) in diagnosis of PPL.   Methods : Radial EBUS probe (UM-3R) without guiding sheath was used to navigate suction catheter and TBB forceps to the PPL. Catheter was connected to the collection canister via vacuum pump. The SCB specimens were fixed with 10% buffered formalin on room temperature over night. Tissue specimens were embedded in paraffin. Serial sections, 4-μm thick, were cut from each selected block, deparaffinized, rehydrated and stained for histological examination.   Results : There were 168 patients enrolled in this study; 69.9% males and 30.1% females. Main lesion diameter was 4.7±1.9 cm. Diagnostic efficiency of EBUS-SCB was 71.3% and EBUS-TBB 70.8%. Prevalence of malignancy in the study was 41.1%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) of EBUS-SCB in diagnosis of malignancy were 95.1%, 44.2%, 52.6% and 93.3%, respectively. Positive and negative likelihood ratios (PLR and NLR) for both SCB and TBB, were 1.7 and 0.1, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for EBUS-TBB were 95.3%, 46.2%, 55.3% and 93.4%, respectively.  Conclusion : EBUS guided SCB is efficient, feasible and safe in diagnosis of peripheral lung cancer. Absence of guiding sheath might be the reason for relatively low specificity.
Effect of Time Spent Outdoors at School on the Development of Myopia Among Children in China
Authors: Mingguang He, Fan Xiang, Yangfa Zeng, Jincheng Mai, Qianyun Chen, Jian Zhang, Wayne Smith, Kathryn Rose, Ian G. Morgan
Journal: JAMA (2015)

IMPORTANCE Myopia has reached epidemic levels in parts of East and Southeast Asia.However, there is no effective intervention to prevent the development of myopia.OBJECTIVE To assess the efficacy of increasing time spent outdoors at school in preventing incident myopia.
The origin of a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolate at a neonatal ward in Sweden—possible horizontal transfer of a staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec between methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: C. Berglund, B. Söderquist
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2008)
Abstract 13637: The Best Histopathologic Predictors of DES Restenosis in Human Coronary Autopsy Cases are Media Injury and Inter-Strut Distance
Authors: Masataka Nakano, Fumiyuki Otsuka, Saami K Yazdani, Robert Kutys, Naima Carter-Monroe, Elena R Ladich, Aloke V Finn, Frank D Kolodgie, Renu Virmani
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Purpose:  BMS restenosis histologically is related to the extent of inflammation induced by media injury and strut penetration into necrotic core (Circulation. 2002;105;2974), yet the mechanisms of DES restenosis remain poorly understood.   Methods:  248 coronary artery lesions with 1 st  and 2 nd  generation DES implanted for >30 days were processed at 2-3 mm intervals and histologically evaluated. Of those, restenosis (in-stent >75% x-sectional luminal narrowing or healed total occlusion) was observed 23 lesions (9.3%). Following the exclusion of lesions with acute stent thrombosis and unhealed struts, 65 stented coronary lesions were included where a total of 608 cross-sections including 130 sections from proximal and distal non-stented segments were analyzed. The stented segments were categorized into 4 types of lesion based on the most severe cross-sectional luminal area stenosis per segment, and designated as: i) Patent ( 75%, n=14), and vi) Total occlusion (n=9).   Results:  There was no significant difference in overall underlying plaque morphologies among study groups. However, detailed examination revealed medial disruption was more frequent for stents with total occlusion while strut penetration into the necrotic core was solely identified in stents without restenosis (Table). Of the measured parameters, notable difference was observed for the normalized maximum inter-strut distance where the degree of separation of stent struts was a significant predictor of restenosis (Table).   Conclusions:  Restenosis of DES appears to be independent of strut penetration into necrotic core. However, the extent of inflammation associated with medial injury and the distribution of the anti-proliferative drug (dependent on inter-strut distance) are the best predictors of restenosis.
Predictors and Temporal Trends of Adjuvant Aromatase Inhibitor Use in Breast Cancer
Authors: Tiffany H. Svahn, Joyce C. Niland, Robert W. Carlson, Melissa E. Hughes, Rebecca A. Ottesen, Richard L. Theriault, Stephen B. Edge, Anne F. Schott, Michael A. Bookman, Jane C. Weeks
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2009)

After the first report of the ATAC (Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination) trial, adjuvant aromatase inhibitor use increased rapidly among National Comprehensive Cancer Network member institutions. Increased aromatase inhibitor use was associated with older age, vascular disease, overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), or more advanced stage, and substantial variation was seen among institutions. This article examines adjuvant endocrine therapy in postmenopausal women after the first report of the trial, identifies temporal relationships in aromatase inhibitor use, and examines characteristics associated with choice of endocrine therapy among 4044 postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor–positive nonmetastatic breast cancer presenting from July 1997 to December 2004. Multivariable logistic regression analysis examined temporal associations and characteristics associated with aromatase inhibitor use. Time-trend analysis showed increased aromatase inhibitor and decreased tamoxifen use after release of ATAC results (P < .0001). In multivariable regression analysis, institution (P <. 0001), vascular disease (P <. 0001), age (P = .0002), stage (P = .0002), and HER2 status (P = .0009) independently predicted aromatase inhibitor use. Institutional rates of use ranged from 15% to 66%. Adjuvant aromatase inhibitor use increased after the first report of ATAC, with this increase associated with older age, vascular disease, overexpression of HER2, or more advanced stage. Substantial variation was seen among institutions.
Response to ‘Dual training in general internal medicine and rheumatology: the Irish context’ by Dr Sheane
Authors: Francisca Sivera, Sofia Ramiro, Johannes W Bijlsma
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2015)

We would like to thank Dr Sheane for his interest in our paper 1 and for his comments providing further insight into the Irish situation. 2As he highlights Ireland is one of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) member countries with the longest training in general internal medicine (GIM) followed by a relatively short training in rheumatology.There is a general consensus that rheumatology is a specialty closely related to GIM, as all countries but one includes mandatory training.However, the training can take place at several timepoints (before or during the training programme) and carries a different weight and length in each country.Many of these differences seem to result from local traditions and idiosyncrasies but not from a conscious decision-making process of societal needs.In fact, this project is a first step, aimed at defining the issue of European heterogeneity in training in rheumatology and its magnitude.A further second step will analyse the training experience in the different countries by gathering information and opinions from trainees and young rheumatologists.After we are aware of the current situation, relevant discussions should take place at a European level in order to promote an increase in the European harmonisation and the quality of training.It is essential that rheumatologists from the different countries engage in these efforts, leading discussions with relevant stakeholders.Otherwise change and improvement will prove impossible.
Stereotactic body radiation does not impair respiratory health in patients with stage I non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Rehan Kahloon, Tamas Dolinay, Xiangke Huang, Emily Day, Anastasia Brit, Christy Stewart, Frank Kimsey, Jeffrey Gefter, Suresh Enjeti
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Rationale: Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has been used in early stage non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) as an alternative to surgery in patients with poor lung function. With recent technological advances the target volume can be estimated based on the tumor distance from the spine without invasive and potentially risky placement of fiducials. While SBRT provides high cure rate for NSCLC, irradiation raises concerns about lung health and long-term outcomes. We evaluated the effect of SBRT with lung optimization treatment (LOT) on lung function and quality of life. Patients and methods: Between 2011 and 2013, we enrolled 13 patients (74.5±8.7 years, female 46%) with Stage I NSCLC who were not surgical candidates and were offered SBRT due to impaired lung function (predicted postoperative FEV1
Assessing the Reliability of Patient, Nurse, and Family Caregiver Symptom Ratings in Hospitalized Advanced Cancer Patients
Authors: Cheryl L. Nekolaichuk, Thomas O. Maguire, Maria Suarez-Almazor, W. Todd Rogers, Eduardo Bruera
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability of symptom assessments in advanced cancer patients under various conditions, including multiple raters (patients, nurses, and family caregivers), occasions, and symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 32 advanced cancer patients admitted to a tertiary palliative care unit. Symptom assessments were completed for each patient on two separate occasions, approximately 24 hours apart. On each occasion, the patient, the primary care nurse, and a primary family caregiver independently completed an assessment using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). The ESAS is a nine-item visual analogue scale for assessing symptoms in palliative patients. The reliability of the assessments (r) was examined using generalizability theory. RESULTS: Three important findings emerged from this analysis. First, the analysis of individual symptom ratings provided a more meaningful representation of the symptom experience than total symptom distress ratings. Secondly, patients, nurses, and caregivers varied in their ratings across different patients, as well as in their ratings of shortness of breath, which may have been a result of individual rater variability. Finally, reliability estimates (r), based on a single rater and one occasion, were less than .70 for all symptoms, except appetite. These estimates improved substantially (r ≥ .70) for all symptoms except anxiety and shortness of breath, using three raters on a single occasion or two raters across two occasions. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study reinforce the need for the development of an integrated symptom assessment approach that combines patient and proxy assessments. Further research is needed to explore individual differences among raters.
Unraveling the Role of Huntingtin in Breast Cancer Metastasis
Authors: Morgane S. Thion, John R. McGuire, Cristovao M. Sousa, Laetitia Fuhrmann, Julien Fitamant, Sophie Leboucher, Sophie Vacher, Sophie Tezenas du Montcel, Ivan Bièche, Agnès Bernet, Patrick Mehlen, Anne Vincent-Salomon, Sandrine Humbert
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2015)

Huntingtin (HTT) is mutated in Huntington's disease but is ubiquitously expressed, and mutant HTT influences cancer progression. We investigated wild-type HTT function during breast cancer. We analyzed HTT and ZO1 expression as well as the HTT phosphoserine 421-activated form (S421-P-HTT) in human breast cancer tissues by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. We performed in vitro migration and invasion assays as well as in vivo tail vein injections of the metastatic 4T1 cells in BALB/c mice (n = 11 per group). We analyzed tumor progression in knock-in mice with modified S421 crossed with the MMTV-PyVT mammary cancer model (at least n = 12 per group). Data were analyzed with unpaired t tests, analysis of variance, Pearson or Spearman correlation, and Mann Whitney or Kruskal-Wallis tests. All statistical tests were two-sided. Levels of HTT and of S421-P-HTT are abnormally low in poorly differentiated and metastatic human breast cancers. HTT expression is downregulated in invasive compared with in situ carcinoma (P < .001). In BALB/c mice, silencing of HTT promotes lung colonization by a metastatic mammary cancer cell line (P = .005) and S421-unphosphorylatable-HTT accelerates cancer progression. HTT interacts with ZO1 and regulates both its expression and its localization to tight junctions. In human breast tumors, the patterns of HTT and ZO1 expression are similar (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.66, P < .001). HTT may inhibit breast tumor dissemination through maintenance of ZO1 at tight junctions. Downregulation of HTT transcript and protein levels is a prognostic factor for poor prognosis and metastasis development.
Rapid Growth of a Bronchiogenic Carcinoma
Authors: M. S. Eveleth, Norman C. Wetzel
Journal: Cancer Research (1941)

Bohrod (i) has reported a pleural mesothelioma with an unusually rapid growth rate, having an average daily rate of growth of 27.6 gm. This estimate of growth rate of an internal tumor was possible because a known amount of fluid was re- moved from the chest and this space was filled with tumor at the time of autopsy. The case we are reporting in this communication offered an exceptional opportunity to observe the rate of free growth of a human carcinoma. The removal of a lung left an open pleural sac into which there was neoplastic proliferation from an exceedingly small residual mass of bronchiogenic carcinoma, proceeding without any restrictive influence of immediately neigh- boring tissue.
Abstract 3153: Adipocyte Dysfunction Contributes to Metabolic Abnormalities in Acute Decompensated Heart Failure
Authors: P Christian Schulze, Andreia Biolo, Joshua Blalog, Mark Fish, Deborah Siwik, Wilson S Colucci
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Patients with chronic heart failure (HF) develop metabolic abnormalities including a catabolic state, weight loss and cachexia that are associated with adipocyte dysregulation. Several factors, such as inflammatory cytokines and neurohormones, that regulate adipocytes are known to be elevated in ADHF. Therefore, we hypothesized that in acute decompensation (ADHF) there is marked dysregulation of adipocyte function as reflected by circulating adipocytokines including visfatin, a recently described adipocytokine. Methods: Plasma was obtained from 41 patients with ADHF (EF 27 ± 14, BMI 32 ± 6), 25 patients with chronic stable HF (EF 27 ± 18, BMI 28 ± 5), and 21 control subjects (EF 63 ± 3, BMI 31 ± 6) without HF. Levels of NT-proBNP, visfatin, adiponectin, resistin, leptin, insulin, IGF-1 and TNFα were measured by ELISA. Insulin resistance was assessed by HOMA-IR quotient. Results: NT-proBNP was 330 ± 28 fmol/mL in control (Con) patients, elevated to 704 ± 86 fmol/mL in chronic HF and elevated further to 1774 ± 206 fmol/mL in ADHF. Adiponectin was 14.9 ± 3 ng/mL in Con, increased to 28.9 ± 5.7 (p &lt; 0.05) in stable HF, and increased further to 42.9 ± 2.8 ng/mL in ADHF (p &lt; 0.05). Likewise, visfatin was 16.9 ± 3.5 ng/mL in Con, increased to 43.4 ± 9.5 (p &lt; 0.05) in stable HF, and increased further to 79.9 ± 4.6 ng/mL ng/mL in ADHF (p &lt; 0.05). Leptin and resistin were not elevated in chronic stable HF, whereas in ADHF, leptin (9.6 ± 1.0 vs 3.7 ± 0.6 ng/mL; p &lt; 0.0001) and resistin (11.6 ± 1.3 vs 5.7 ± 0.9 ng/mL; p &lt; 0.01) were both elevated compared to Con. Insulin resistance was present in chronic stable HF (24.5 ± 2.2 μU/mL*mg/dL) and increased further in ADHF (32.9 ± 2.0 vs; p &lt; 0.001 vs. Con). In contrast, IGF-1 or insulin were unchanged in the three groups. In patients with ADHF, visfatin, resistin and insulin resistance all correlated with TNFα (p &lt; 0.05 for all). Conclusion: In ADHF there is marked dysregulation of adipocytes as evidenced by elevated blood levels of several adipocytokines, including adiponectin, visfatin, leptin and resistin, and paralleled by worsening insulin resistance. TNFα may contribute to both adipocyte dysregulation and insulin resistance. Metabolic dysfunction in ADHF is associated with elevated adipocytokines that have important effects on insulin signaling.
MK-0457, an Aurora kinase and BCR–ABL inhibitor, is active in patients with BCR–ABL T315I leukemia
Authors: F J Giles, R T Swords, A Nagler, A Hochhaus, O G Ottmann, D A Rizzieri, M Talpaz, J Clark, P Watson, A Xiao, B Zhao, D Bergstrom, P D Le Coutre, S J Freedman, J E Cortes
Journal: Leukemia (2012)
Validation of a compact accelerometer for the measurement of physical activity in patients with COPD
Authors: Yoshiaki Minakata, Akihito Sugino, Manabu Nishigai, Masae Kanda, Keiichiro Akamatsu, Akira Koarai, Tsunahiko Hirano, Hisatoshi Sugiura, Kazuto Matsunaga, Masakazu Ichinose
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  The DynaPort Activity Monitor (DAM) has been reported to be useful to evaluate the activity in patients with COPD. However, its battery works for only several hrs and it should be worn at two parts of body. A newly developed compact, single-position triaxial accelerometer (Actimarker) can measure the activity for more than 1 month, but has not been validated for patients with COPD.   Objectives:  The validation of the Actimarker in patients with COPD was evaluated and the conditions of day for analysis were determined.   Methods:  In study 1, the reproducibility of the Actimarker was evaluated for 14 stable COPD patients by comparing it with DAM. In study 2, the influence of holiday and the weather on the activity was examined. In study 3, the number of measurement days to ensure repeatability was determined.   Results:  The differences in the activity by Actimarker and the locomotion by DAM were all within the limit of agreement at the intensity of ≥2.0 METs, ≥2.5 METs and ≥3.0 METs with Bland-Altman Plots. The durations of activity on holidays in patients with jobs and on rainy days were significantly shorter than those on weekdays and on non-rainy days, respectively. The values of intra-class correlation coefficient were more than 0.8 in 3, 4 or 5 day-measurements, and the mean values of duration of activity from 3 or 4 days were all within the limit of agreement with Bland-Altman Plots.   Conclusions:  The physical activity assessed by Actimarker was confirmed for its reproducibility and repeatability when the data from 3 non-rainy weekdays were analyzed. Actimarker seems to be useful as a simplified method to evaluate the physical activity in patients with COPD.