tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
A randomized comparison of cold snare polypectomy versus a suction pseudopolyp technique
Authors: Said Din, Alex Ball, Stuart Riley, Panagiota Kitsanta, Shawinder Johal
Journal: Endoscopy (2015)

<b>Background:</b> Cold snare techniques are widely used for removal of diminutive and small colorectal polyps. The influence of resection technique on the effectiveness of polypectomy is unknown. We therefore compared standard cold snare polypectomy with a newly described suction pseudopolyp technique, for completeness of excision and for complications. <b>Patients and methods:</b> In this single-center study, 112 patients were randomized to cold snare polypectomy or the suction pseudopolyp technique. Primary outcome was endoscopic completeness of excision. Consensus regarding the endoscopic assessment of completeness of excision was standardized and aided by chromoendoscopy. Secondary outcomes included: completeness of histological excision, polyp “fly away” and retrieval rates, early bleeding (48 hours), delayed bleeding (2 weeks), and perforation. <b>Results:</b> 148 polyps were removed, with size range 3 – 7 mm, 60 % in the left colon, and 90 % being sessile. Regarding completeness of excision (with uncertain findings omitted): endoscopically, this was higher with the suction pseudopolyp technique compared with cold snare polypectomy but not statistically significantly so (73/74 [98.6 %] vs. 63/68 [92.6 %]; <i>P</i> = 0.08). A trend towards a higher complete histological excision rate with the suction pseudopolyp technique was also not statistically significant (45/59 [76.3 %] vs. 37/58 [63.8 %]; <i>P</i> = 0.14). Polyp retrieval rate was not significantly different (suction 68/76 [89.5 %] vs. cold snare 64/72 [88.9 %]; <i>P</i> = 0.91). No perforation or bleeding requiring hemostasis occurred in either group. <b>Conclusion:</b> In this study both polypectomy techniques were found to be safe and highly effective, but further large multicenter trials are required. Clinical trial registration at www.clinicaltrials.gov: NCT02208401
Treatment with proteinase inhibitor, BbCI, modulates inflammatory response, mechanic alterations, and remodeling on elastase-induced emphysema in mice
Authors: Rafael Almeida-Reis, Bruno T.M. Oliveira, Osmar A. Theodoro-Junior, Leandro V. Oliva, Nathalia Pinheiro, Marlon V. Brito, Fernanda D.Q.T. Lopes, Carla M. Prado, Milton A. Martins, Maria Luiza V. Oliva, Iolanda F.L.C. Tibério
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Bauhinia bauhinioides Cruzipain Inhibitor (BbCI) is a proteinase inhibitor that neutralizes neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G. The present study evaluated the capacity of BbCI in the treatment of elastase-induced emphysema.  Methods:  Mice received elastase intratracheally (ELA group) or saline (SAL group). Afterwards, mice were treated with BbCI (2 mg/kg) at days 1, 15 and 21 after elastase (ELABI group) or saline instillation (SALBI group). At day 28, mice were ventilated and respiratory resistance (Rrs), elastance (Ers), tissue elastance (Htis), tissue damping (Gtis), airway resistance (Raw), and exhaled nitric oxide (ENO) were analyzed, and BALF was obtained. We also quantified, mean linear intercept (Lm), elastic and collagen fibers.  Results:  In ELA group, there was a significant increase in the Ers, Rrs, Raw, Htis, Lm, ENO, total cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes in BALF, elastic and collagen fibres compared to controls (p Conclusions:  The treatment with BbCI reduced inflammatory, mechanics and extracellular matrix remodeling alterations induced by elastase. Although more studies need to be performed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in this process, but we may considerate BbCI as a therapeutic tool for COPD management.  Supported by: FAPESP, CNPq, LIM-20 HCFMUSP .
How Long is Your Waiting List? Experience of a Urological Waiting List Initiative
Authors: Gillian E Mobb, Felicity Pugh, Brian Peeling
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1994)

Experience with a urological waiting list initiative is presented, wherein a list of 231 non-urgent cases was cleared over a 5 month period by a single operator. Some patients had waited 10 years for surgery. Following a postal request, the waiting list was validated; 31.2% of patients wished to be removed. The remaining 68.8% desired surgery and consisted of 51 requiring minor surgical procedures and 108 who needed more major surgery mostly for the relief of bladder outflow obstruction. Minor cases received dates for surgery; however, only 68.2% of this group attended despite being given more than one date for admission. Major cases were reviewed in a pre-admission clinic. General and urological condition was assessed, improved where necessary and surgery booked or delayed accordingly. A small number of patients did not attend or only attended to be reassured that surgery was not needed. Following clinical review, 18.5% of this group did not require operation. The long urological waiting list is a unique situation where patients listed may no longer require surgery. Reviewing these patients not only reduces numbers but also markedly increases percentage attendance for surgery.
High-Dose <i>N</i>-Acetylcysteine in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Prone Positioning in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, and Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Exhaled Nitric Oxide in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Allison A. Lambert, Ann M. Parker, Karoline K. Moon
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2014)
Ground's slope affects the ventilatory efficiency in skyrunners (SKY) during a race simulation at altitude
Authors: Gaia Mandolesi, Gianpaolo Mossuto, Maria Spiridonova, Riccardo Telli, Antonio Marchetti, Simona Rosa, Giulio Sergio Roi, Annalisa Cogo
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction 

Skyrunning is the running in the mountains > 2000m where slope can exceeds 30%. During races at altitude the ventilatory request increases due to the combined effect of exercise and hypoxia. It is known that a deeper and slower ventilation (VE) is more efficient in terms of gas exchanges. We aimed to analyse VE, ventilatory pattern, thoraco-abdominal coordination and oxygen saturation (SpO2) in SKY during a race simulation.

Methods 

14 SKY (12M; age 34-60) run from 2030m to 2804m wearing an inductive pletismography system (Lifeshirt) equipped with a pulse-oximeter and GPS (Garmin). We evaluated SpO2, ventilation (VE), tidal volume (VT), ventilatory pattern (VE/VT) and phase angle (PhA), index of thoraco-abdominal coordination.

Results 

SKY run 6.2km, mean speed 1.6m/s. Values at rest and during the ascent are respectively: SpO2 (%)(94.8±1.2; 85.2±3.2) VE (L/min) (20.3±4.3;128.6±29.3), VE/VT (22.4±3.9;52.3±8.4). The relationship between the slope (S) and PhA is represented by a quadratic curve. As S increases >30% an increase in PhA is observed (p<0.01), index of worsening thoraco-abdominal coordination.

The increase in PhA is related to an increase in VE/VT (r 0.4*) which in turn affects SpO2. The correlation between VE/VT and SpO2 is highly significant (r - 0.69*). The low SpO2 is associated to a lower race speed (r 0.33*). *p<0.01

Discussion 

Our data evidence that in SKY the slope of ground negatively influences the thoraco-abdominal coordination, mostly when slope is >30%. The increase in slope is also related to a decrease in SpO2through a change in ventilatory pattern toward a less efficient breath. These factors negatively influence the speed performance.
Abstract 19950: SIRT1-Mediated Deacetylation Promotes Akt Membrane Localization and Activation During Development of Cardiac Hypertrophy.
Authors: Nagalingam Sundaresan, Vinodkumar Pillai, Sadhana Samant, Ayman Isbatan, Gupta Madhu, Mahesh P Gupta
Journal: Circulation (2010)
TRAIL-R2 expression correlates with the sensitivity of neuroblastoma cells to activated NK cells, but high TRAIL-R2 expression correlates with poor prognosis
Authors: Michael A. Sheard, Shahab Asgharzadeh, Hong-Wei Wu, Wei Ye, Susan Groshen, Nino Keshelava, Patrick Reynolds, Robert C. Seeger
Journal: Cancer Research (2006)

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006

625 

TRAIL is a cell surface death ligand that can kill most tumor cell types expressing TRAIL-receptor 1 (TRAIL-R1) or TRAIL-R2. Observing that TRAIL was expressed by natural killer (NK) cells which were activated (aNK) with IL2 plus IL15, we characterized the role of TRAIL in aNK cytotoxicity against neuroblastoma cells, a tumor type reported to be resistant to soluble , recombinant TRAIL. We examined a panel of 17 human neuroblastoma cell lines (multi-drug sensitive and resistant) and found that sensitivity to cytotoxicity mediated by purified (>98%) aNK cells (calcein-AM 8 hr assay) correlated with expression of TRAIL receptor-2 (TRAIL-R2) mRNA expression (Affymetrix U133A oligonucleotide microarray analysis) and with surface protein expression (flow cytometry). mRNA correlated with surface TRAIL-R2 protein expression (p < 0.024). Little or no TRAIL-R2 was expressed by 4 of the 6 cell lines exhibiting partial resistance to aNK killing. TRAIL-R1 was not expressed by any of the cell lines, and no correlation was observed with TRAIL-R3 or TRAIL-R4. A neutralizing mAb (75411.11) that blocks TRAIL on aNK cells significantly increased the survival of 9 of the 13 TRAIL-R2+ tumor cell lines (median 14%, range 6%-27%), demonstrating a measurable role for TRAIL-R2 in aNK cytotoxicity in vitro . Even though TRAIL contributed to the cytotoxicity of aNK cells, perforin was the dominant pathway since concanamycin A, an inhibitor of the perforin pathway, almost completely inhibited killing in all 17 cell lines. Microarray analysis of primary neuroblastomas from 153 patients with stage 4 (metastatic) disease revealed that almost all expressed higher TRAIL-R2 mRNA levels than were expressed by most normal neural or neural crest derived tissues. Progression-free survival (PFS) for patients diagnosed after 12 months of age correlated inversely with expression of TRAIL-R2 independent of MYCN status; PFS associated with high and low expression (above and below the median value) was 35% and 75%, respectively (p<0.0012). This, as well as our in vitro data wherein 4 of 13 TRAIL-R2+ cell lines were insensitive to aNK expression of TRAIL, suggests that neuroblastoma cells with high expression can survive by disabling the TRAIL-R2 mediated death pathway. Definition of mechanisms of resistance may lead to therapeutic strategies that restore sensitivity to TRAIL.
Family-based pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Alda Marques, Cristina Jácome, Joana Cruz, Raquel Gabriel, Daniela Figueiredo
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Pulmonary Rehabilitation (PR) for COPD focus on patients9 needs, often neglecting the family. This study aimed to assess the impact of family-based PR on patients with COPD and their family members.  Patients and family members were randomly assigned to family-based or conventional PR. All patients underwent 12-weeks of exercise training (3*wk) and psychoeducation (1*wk). In family-based PR, family members participated in psychoeducation together with patients. Family coping was assessed with the Family Crisis Oriented Personal Scales (F-COPES) in patients and family members. Patients9 dyspnoea was assessed with the Modified British Medical Research Council scale, knee extensors strength with the 10 repetition maximum and exercise tolerance with the 6-minute walk test.  42 patients (67±11yrs; FEV 1  70±22pp) and 42 family members (59±12yrs) participated. Adherence to family-based PR (22 dyads) was 92±9%. Improvements in family coping in patients (p=.048) and family members (p=.004) of the family-based PR exceed the improvement of the conventional PR (Fig.1). Patients from both groups had significant improvements in dyspnoea, muscle strength and exercise tolerance (p  Fig 1. Mean changes in F-COPES by group.  Family-based PR is feasible and does not interfere with the widely recognised patients9 benefits in conventional PR. Moreover, the inclusion of family members enhances the coping resources of the family system to manage COPD.
Predicted residual activity of rilpivirine in HIV-1 infected patients failing therapy including NNRTIs efavirenz or nevirapine
Authors: K. Theys, R.J. Camacho, P. Gomes, A.M. Vandamme, S.Y. Rhee
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2015)

Rilpivirine is a second-generation nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) currently indicated for first-line therapy, but its clinical benefit for HIV-1 infected patients failing first-generation NNRTIs is largely undefined. This study quantified the extent of genotypic rilpivirine resistance in viral isolates from 1212 patients upon failure of efavirenz- or nevirapine-containing antiretroviral treatment, of whom more than respectively 80% and 90% showed high-level genotypic resistance to the failing NNRTI. Of all study patients, 47% showed a rilpivirine resistance-associated mutation (RPV-RAM), whereas preserved residual rilpivirine activity was predicted in half of the patients by three genotypic drug resistance interpretation algorithms. An NNRTI-dependent impact on rilpivirine resistance was detected. Compared with the use of nevirapine, the use of efavirenz was associated with a 32% lower risk of having a RPV-RAM and a 50% lower risk of predicted reduced rilpivirine susceptibility. Most prevalent RPV-RAMs after nevirapine experience were Y181C and H221Y, whereas L100I+K103N, Y188L and K101E occurred most in efavirenz-experienced patients. Predicted rilpivirine activity was not affected by HIV-1 subtype, although frequency of individual mutations differed across subtypes. In conclusion, this genotypic resistance analysis strongly suggests that the latest NNRTI, rilpivirine, may retain activity in a large proportion of HIV-1 patients in whom resistance failed while they were on an efavirenz- or nevirapine-containing regimen, and may present an attractive option for second-line treatment given its good safety profile and dosing convenience. However, prospective clinical studies assessing the effectiveness of rilpivirine for NNRTI-experienced patients are warranted to validate knowledge derived from genotypic and phenotypic drug resistance studies.
Assessment of Radiological Changes in the Hands and Feet in Rheumatoid Arthritis. Their Correlation with Prognosis
Authors: A. K. Thould, G. Simon
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1966)

A patient with chronic renal failure, a dialysis encephalopathy syndrome and renal osteodystrophy associated with aluminium intoxication developed an avascular necrosis of the left femoral head. Histological examination of the excised head confirmed the zone of avascular necrosis and demonstrated an exuberant formation of cartilage around this zone. Calcification was sparse and the cartilage exhibited histological features similar to those seen in classical rickets. Histochemical and electron probe x-ray microanalysis demonstrated aluminium in the matrix around hypertrophic chondrocytes, at the tide mark of articular cartilage and at the mineralised tissue/osteoid interface of trabecular bone. Aluminium, therefore, preferentially localises at sites of calcification and possibly exerts an inhibitory effect on this reaction. This is taken to account for the relative failure of endochrondral ossification and the development of a rachitic appearance. A comparison with five other examples of avascular necrosis of the femoral head (occurring after renal transplantation, as an idiopathic phenomenon and as a complication of steroid therapy) showed that, in addition to the more commonly described appositional bone formation, cartilage formation and endochondral ossification were present in three of these comparison cases, although less prominent and of considerably less degree than in the main case.
Putative roles of leptin on airways reactivity
Authors: Irina Luciana Dumitriu, Elena Cojocaru, Bogdan Gurzu, Liliana Georgeta Foia, Simona Mihaela Slatineanu
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

There is growing evidence that sustain the associations between the airway hiperreactivity and obesity. Leptin is an adipokine with a not well-established functional role on airways function. The specific airway resistance (sRaw) and isolated bronchial rings reactivity were assessed on obese resistant (OR) and obese prone (OP) rats, fed with hight fat diet. Results were compared with data from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed with standard diet. In vitro experiments were performed on main left bronchus rings. Both contraction induced by 10μM acetylcholine (ACh) and terbutaline-induced relaxation were assessed. On OP bronchi, the terbutaline dose-response curve was shifted to the right and the maximal relaxant effect was decreased up to 20%. Leptin pretreatment did not significantly modify terbutaline relaxant effects on OR rats but restored terbutaline effects on OP bronchi. Inhibition of all NO synthases (NOS) with 10μM N(G)-nitro L-arginine methyl ester blocked the leptin effects. Aminoguanidine (inhibitor of inducible NOS) partially prevented the leptin effects. The ACh-induced sRaw variation was not significantly modify by intratracheal administration of leptin on OP, as compared with OR. On the other hand, the exogenous leptin significantly increased the sRaw on OR as compared with SD. These results suggest that leptin could have protective effects on airway hyperresponsiveness by stimulation of NO synthesis due to the activation mainly of constitutive NOS (cNOS), and not only the obesity but also the diet could modify the airways function.
The Impact of the First 3 Years of Breast Cancer Screening on the Overall Presentation of Breast Cancer
Authors: Christine Moody, Allan Corder, M A Mullee, P Guyer, C Rubin, M Cross, G T Royle, I Taylor
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1994)

We have assessed the effect of the first round of the Breast Cancer Screening Programme on the presentation of breast cancer in the Southampton Health District with respect to number of cases and pathological characteristics. A retrospective comparative survey of the presentation of breast cancer in the 3 years prior to breast cancer screening (1985-1988) with the presentation of breast cancer during the prevalent round of breast cancer screening (1988-1991) was performed. During the period of study 1536 cases of breast cancer presented. Six hundred and sixty presented in the years prior to screening and 864 during the first round of screening. All patients lived within the Southampton Health District. The study was designed to assess the changes in breast cancer presentation with regard to age, pathological characteristics, and treatment. Even allowing for the increases in the local population there was a significant increase in the number of cases of breast cancer diagnosed (chi 2 = 23.7, df = 1, P < 0.001). The majority of this increase was in the 50-64 age group. There was also a significant shift towards an earlier stage at diagnosis and a significant reduction in tumour size when all cases were included (mean 26 mm versus 34 mm P < 0.001). Screening also created the opportunity for less invasive treatment. Consequently there was a rise in the number of excisions by localization biopsy from 1% to 13% during the screening period. In conclusion, the National Breast Cancer Screening Programme (NBCSP) has had a significant impact on the presentation of breast cancer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Estimation of size of pneumothorax under the new BTS guidelines
Authors: S S Chan
Journal: Thorax (2004)

I read with interest the new BTS guidelines for the management of spontaneous pneumothorax.1 Henry and colleagues acknowledged that the plain radiograph was a poor method of quantifying the size of a pneumothorax, yet then went on to use one radiographic method of assessment to estimate the degree of lung collapse.

Under the new guidelines, the size of a pneumothorax is divided into “small” or “large” depending on the presence of a visible rim of <2 cm or ⩾2 cm between the lung margin and the chest wall. The authors then explained in detail how these distances could be used to estimate the percentage of lung collapse. A schematic figure was even used to illustrate the calculations. However, the method used by the authors (the method of Axel),2 like most other methods, has been found to be unsatisfactory for determining pneumothorax size under clinical conditions.3

I do not see any evidence that the new classification is in any way better than the old one. The calculations based on the distance of the rim correlated poorly with the actual size of …
Smoking influence on lung function characteristics of potash miners
Authors: Halina Baradzina, Hennadi Hurevich, Nikolay Denisevich
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

There are known negative effects of smoking on the lung function. The impact of smoking on the lung function of the potash mines with different industrial work record of service has not been so far well investigated.   Objective:  To evaluate the influence of smoking on the lung function characteristics of the miners potash mines with different industrial work record of service.   Methods:  We examined 111 miners of potash mine in Soligorsk (all male, average age 36.1 yrs with different industrial work record by spirometry: I gr. with the record of service less than 10 yrs, II gr. has the record of service from 10 to 20 yrs, and III gr. - more than 20 yrs. 74% of examined miners were smokers. Period of smoking was in average 1.3 year more than industrial work record of service.   Results:  The miner9s lung function characteristics were in total very high and according to the normal significance. In I gr. of miners the lung function characteristics were equal to characteristics of smokers and nonsmokers. There were no significant differences in characteristics between the smokers and nonsmokers in II gr. of miners, but there was a tendency to decreasing VC and MEV 75  in smokers. MEV 75  was decreased in smokers of III gr. compare to nonsmokers (81.2±10.1 and 102.8±9.4; p    Conclusion:  Our investigation shows that smoking exerts more intensive negative influence on the lung function of the potash mine workers than industrial aerosols. Antismoking programs could be one of the main points of prophylactic strategy in Soligorsk Central Hospital.  The presumably positive effect of potash mine microclimate neutralizes the negative impact not only of industrial aerosols but also of smoking on the lung function.
Impact of Fertility Concerns on Tamoxifen Initiation and Persistence
Authors: Natalia C. Llarena, Samantha L. Estevez, Susan L. Tucker, Jacqueline S. Jeruss
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2015)

Adjuvant tamoxifen reduces breast cancer recurrence risk and mortality; however, initiation and treatment persistence are poor for younger patients. We hypothesized that a unique set of factors, including fertility concerns, would contribute to the poor tamoxifen use among premenopausal patients.
The Measurement of Preoperative Anxiety
Authors: J A Hicks, J G Jenkins
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1988)

Preoperative anxiety was assessed using the hospital anxiety and depression (HAD) scale, multiple affect adjective check list (MAACL) and linear analogue anxiety scale (LAAS) in 100 consecutive day case patients undergoing termination of pregnancy. The HAD scale, a recently introduced self assessment scale comprising 7 multiple choice questions, was readily accepted and easily understood by patients. There was a high degree of correlation between the HAD scale and both the MAACL (correlation coefficient 0.74) and the LAAS (correlation coefficient 0.67). There was only a moderate degree of correlation between the HAD scale and the anaesthetist's assessment of anxiety (correlation coefficient 0.46). The HAD scale is a useful method of subjective measurement of preoperative anxiety.