tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Promotion of Syngeneic Intraocular Tumor Growth in Mice by Anterior Chamber-Associated Immune Deviation&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN3"&gt;3&lt;/xref&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN4"&gt;4&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Jerry Y Niederkorn, J. W. Streilein, M. L. Kripke
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1983)

Regressor tumors (P91 and UV-5C25), known to express potent tumor-specific transplantation antigens, were briskly rejected when transplanted either sc or ip into syngeneic mice (DBA/2 and BALB/c, respectively). These tumors demonstrated markedly different behavior following transplantation into the anterior chamber of syngeneic mice. Tumors grew to significant masses and survived for prolonged periods within the anterior chamber of the eye. The extended growth and survival of regressor tumors in the anterior chamber (i.e. immune privilege) were abrogated by splenectomy and thus resemble anterior chamber-associated immune deviation. However, this immune privilege proved to be temporary and was superseded by complete tumor resolution. Studies of mice immunosuppressed with UV light or X-ray irradiation demonstrated that spontaneous intraocular resolution of regressor tumors was due to specific systemic immunity that not only led to intraocular tumor resolution but also prevented the spread of the primary intraocular tumor to distant organs and rendered the hosts highly resistant to secondary challenge with sc tumor inocula. The present findings were relevant to understanding human retinoblastoma, an intraocular neoplasm demonstrating a high incidence of spontaneous resolution, and will hopefully form a foundation for designing, immunotherapeutic strategies for treating human intraocular neoplasms.
Access to complementary medicine in general practice: survey in one UK health authority
Authors: A M Wearn, S M Greenfield
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1998)

Complementary therapy (CT) has become increasingly popular with the general public and interest from the health professions has been rising. There has been no study focusing on the pattern of availability of CT within urban and inner-city general practice. We aimed to describe the prevalence and pattern of access to complementary therapy in this setting, identifying the characteristics of practices offering CT and the perceived barriers to service provision. We sent a postal questionnaire to all 254 general practices on the Birmingham Family Health Services Authority list. Practices were asked whether they offered any access to CTs, how services were organized and which therapies were available and to identify any barriers to provision. 175 practices (68.9%) responded. Half of the practices offered access to CT. Of these, half offered an in-house service, usually provided by the doctor (81.8%). Of GPs practising therapies themselves, 58% began in or after 1990. Seventeen separate therapies were offered, most commonly acupuncture, osteopathy, chiropractic, hypnotherapy and homoeopathy. Practices significantly more likely to offer access to CT were of larger list size and training or teaching practices. They were equally likely to be fundholders or non-fundholders. Practices offering an in-house service tended to be fundholding, training and of larger list size. Finance was perceived as the major barrier. In the area studied, many patients now have some access to CT within primary care, often within their own practice. In the main, therapies offered are the 'medically acceptable face' of complementary medicine.
Detection of Occult Melanoma Cells in Paraffin-Embedded Histologically Negative Sentinel Lymph Nodes Using a Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay
Authors: Giuseppe Palmieri, Paolo A. Ascierto, Antonio Cossu, Nicola Mozzillo, Maria L. Motti, Sabrina M.R. Satriano, Gerardo Botti, Corrado Caracò, Egidio Celentano, Rocco A. Satriano, Amelia Lissia, Francesco Tanda, Mario Pirastu, Giuseppe Castello
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: Detection of occult metastasis before the development of clinical disease could allow more accurate staging, appropriate follow-up procedures, and adjuvant therapies in patients with malignant melanoma (MM). The sentinel lymph node (SLN) has been proposed as a reliable predictor of metastatic disease in the lymphatic basin draining the primary melanoma. In this study, we screened both paraffin-embedded SLNs and peripheral-blood (PB) samples from MM patients at various stage of disease using a multimarker reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The prognostic significance of the presence of PCR-positive markers was also evaluated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Total RNA was obtained from paraffin-embedded SLN sections and PB samples of 75 MM patients. RT-PCR was performed using tyrosinase and MelanA/MART1 as melanoma-associated markers. Radiolabeled PCR products were analyzed on denaturing polyacrylamide gels. RESULTS: Good sensitivity of the RT-PCR assay on archival tissues was demonstrated after comparison of RT-PCR results on frozen and paraffin-embedded SLNs from 16 MM patients. Significant correlation between the disease stage and marker expression in both PB and SLN samples was observed; the highest value was for patients who were positive for both markers in SLN (P = .006). Progression of disease was significantly associated with the total number of PCR-positive markers in both PB (P = .034) and SLN (P = .001) samples. CONCLUSION: Although sensitivity is lowered by the use of paraffin-embedded specimens, our data indicate that RT-PCR analysis of serial sections from archival SLNs may be helpful in improving detection of occult micrometastases, thus improving staging of patients with melanoma.
Functional vision is improved in the majority of patients treated with external-beam radiotherapy for choroid metastases: a multivariate analysis of 188 patients.
Authors: S B Rudoler, C L Shields, B W Corn, P De Potter, T Hyslop, W J Curran, J A Shields
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1997)

PURPOSE Metastatic deposits are the most common intraocular malignancies. We evaluated the efficacy of external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT) in the palliation of posterior uveal metastases in terms of clinically relevant outcomes: functional vision, tumor control, and globe preservation. PATIENTS AND METHODS Four hundred eighty-three consecutive patients (578 eyes) were diagnosed with intraocular metastatic disease from solid tumors between 1972 and 1995. Of these, 233 eyes (188 patients) had lesions of the posterior uveal tract and received EBRT. Best-corrected visual acuity (VA) was documented pre- and post-EBRT. Visual function was considered excellent if VA &lt; or = 20/50, navigational if 20/60 to 20/200, and legally blind if &gt; or = 20/400. Most patients received 30 to 40 Gy in 2- to 3-Gy fractions to the posterior or entire globe. RESULTS Fifty-seven percent of all assessable eyes had improved visual function or maintained at least navigational vision following EBRT. Thirty-six percent of legally blind eyes regained useful vision. Ninety-three percent experienced no clinical evidence of tumor progression and the globe preservation rate was 98%. The following characteristics independently predicted improvement to or maintenance of excellent vision on multivariate analysis: excellent vision pre-EBRT (P = .001), age less than 55 years (P = .004), white race (v black/Hispanic) (P = .003), and tumor base diameter less than 15 mm (P &lt; .001). CONCLUSION EBRT effectively restores and maintains useful vision in patients with choroid metastases, with a globe preservation rate of 98%. Patients less than 55 years with pretreatment VA better than 20/60 and tumor diameter less than 15 mm are most likely to benefit from this therapeutic intervention.
What factors are predictive of survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer treated with gefitinib?
Authors: Kirsten Archer
Journal: Thorax (2007)

▴ Satouchi M, Negoro S, Funada Y, et al. Predictive factors associated with prolonged survival in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with gefitinib. Br J Cancer2007;96:1191–6.

[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3]



This study identified factors associated with prognostic benefit from gefitinib chemotherapy. Japanese patients who had received gefitinib monotherapy between 2002 and 2005 at the Hyogo Medical Centre for Adults in Japan (n = 221) were included in the study. Their clinical parameters were retrospectively …

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Arterial thromboembolic complications in patients with lung cancer - Impact on survival
Authors: Catharina Crolow, Markus Samulowski, Timo Weiss, Torsten Blum, Jens Kollmeier, Nicolas Schönfeld, Wolfram Grüning, Torsten T. Bauer
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background:  Venous thromboembolic events (TEE) are a frequent complication in patients with lung cancer (LC) (own data: total 7.6%). Yet the impact of arterial TEE on the patient9s prognosis and preventive treatment strategies is unclear.   Aim:  To evaluate the frequency of arterial TEE and their prognostic relevance in LC.   Methods:  In this monocentric, observational study all patients with primary diagnosis of LC between Jan. 2008 and Dec. 2010 were prospectively recorded and retrospectively evaluated with regard to arterial TEE.   Results:  Within 36 months 1940 patients (1209 men, 731 women) were diagnosed with LC (SCLC 10.3%, NSCLC 89.7 %). Arterial TEE were documented in 51 patients (2.6%) with ischemic stroke as leading event (n=23, 1.2%), followed by events located in coronary (n=14, 0.7%), peripheral (n=12, 0.6%), mesenterial (n=4, 0.2%) and extracranial arteries (n=3, 0.6%). Kaplan-Meier-survival analysis showed shorter survival (p=0.003) for the group of patients with an arterial TEE (median survival 283 days vs. 479 days).   Conclusion:  Besides an increased risk for deep venous TEE the frequency of arterial TEE in patients with LC is also increased. The tumor itself, chemotherapy and frequent cardiovascular comorbidities are believed to increase this risk and result in a significant worse prognosis. These data support prospective studies on primary antithrombotic prophylaxis in patients with LC.
Lipid mediator levels evidence gender-specific increases in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of COPD patients relative to healthy smokers
Authors: Craig Wheelock, David Balgoma, Johan Grunewald, Anders Eklund, Magnus Skold, Asa Wheelock
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, which is increasing particularly among females. Lipid mediators (e.g., eicosanoids) have key roles in the pathology of the inflammatory process in the lower airways. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was obtained from healthy never-smokers, non-symptomatic smokers, and COPD patients of GOLD stage I-II of both genders (20 per group, n=120). A mass spectrometry method was developed to quantify 85 lipid mediators derived from the cytochrome P450 (CYP), lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenase (COX) pathways in BALF. An orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS) analysis of female COPD vs. female smokers gave the strongest model (CV-ANOVA p=8.6*10-6, R2=0.59, Q2=0.57.), with 9 lipids driving the model. Six of these lipids were from the linoleic acid pathway, including the CYP-derived epoxides and their downstream diol metabolites. Three of the lipids were derived from arachidonic acid via the thromboxane synthase pathway. These 9 lipids strongly correlated with lung function (FEV1; R2=0.91). mRNA levels of genes responsible for the lipid mediator synthesis also correlated strongly with FEV1 (R2=0.84). The principal pathway affected was CYP metabolites of linoleic acid, which includes leukotoxin/isoleukotoxin (9(10)-EpOME, 12(13)-EpOME) and leukotoxin-diol/isoleukotoxin diol (9,10-DiHOME, 12,13-DiHOME). These compounds have been previously found to be increased in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients, suggesting that female COPD patients have distinct markers of pulmonary damage that could offer gender-specific treatment strategies.
CD4 as a predictor of systemic inflammatory response and death at severe community-acquired pneumonia
Authors: Kseniia Bielosludtseva, Tetyana Pertseva, Tetyana Kyreeva
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Role of markers of cellular immunity has not been explored at patients (pts) with severe community-acquired pneumonia (sCAP).  Aim: to investigate the prognostic role of CD4 at pts with sCAP without HIV, depending on the level of procalcitonin (PCT).  Methods: 41 non-HIV pts with verified sCAP (age 58,1±2,9, men–30, women–11); general data, HIV-test, CD4 count, serum PCT level on 1st day before antibiotic therapy (ABT) (step 1), on 3–5th day of ABT (step 2).  Results: during step 1 27 pts (65,9%) had CD4 less than normal. CD4 in the whole was 456,3 mcl -1 , and their PCT was more than in 150 times higher than normal (18,2±4,1 ng/ml). There was a strong inverse correlation between CD4 and PCT (r=-0,73, p  Conclusions: 1)sCAP at some pts associates with severe immunodeficiency, even in the absence of HIV; 2)CD4 less than 500 mcl -1  at sCAP is a predictor of severe disease, complications, systemic inflammatory response; 3) progressive decline of individual CD4 during ABT indicates on high risk of death at sCAP.
Acute toxoplasmoses in immunocompetent patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit in French Guiana
Authors: M. Demar, D. Hommel, F. Djossou, C. Peneau, R. Boukhari, D. Louvel, A.-M. Bourbigot, V. Nasser, D. Ajzenberg, M.-L. Darde, B. Carme
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2011)
Phase I study of docetaxel administered as a 1-hour intravenous infusion on a weekly basis.
Authors: E Tomiak, M J Piccart, J Kerger, S Lips, A Awada, D de Valeriola, C Ravoet, D Lossignol, J P Sculier, V Auzannet
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1994)

PURPOSE This phase I study of Taxotere (RP 56976, NSC 628503; docetaxel, Rhône-Poulenc Rorer, Antony, France) was undertaken to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD), toxic effects, and basic pharmacokinetics of a day-1 and -8 schedule of this novel semisynthetic product related to Taxol (paclitaxel; Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wallingford, CT). PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-two eligible patients with refractory solid malignancies have been treated with a 1-hour infusion of Taxotere on a day-1 and -8 schedule every 3 weeks as long as patients maintained a polymorphonucleotide count &gt; or = 1,500/microL and a platelet count &gt; or = 100,000/microL. Dose levels tested have ranged between 20 and 110 mg/m2 per course. RESULTS Considering 128 assessable courses, the main toxicities have been neutropenia (which was dose-limiting), asthenia, alopecia, hypersensitivity reactions, skin toxicity, and edema. No significant cardiac or platelet toxicity has been observed. Seven patients have had aggravation of preexisting paresthesias or new onset of sensory symptoms during Taxotere treatment. The MTD at this schedule appears to be 110 mg/m2 per course, with six of 10 patients at this level experiencing severe toxicity. Five partial remissions have been observed in four heavily pretreated patients with breast cancer and in one patient with adenocarcinoma of unknown origin. Two patients with ovarian cancer have had meaningful decreases in CA125 levels. CONCLUSION Like Taxol, this novel chemotherapeutic agent appears to possess promising activity in patients with refractory breast and ovarian neoplasms, with tolerable toxicities. Using this schedule, 100 mg/m2 per course is the recommended dose for future phase II trials.
Abstract 18282: Use of Percutaneous External Circulatory Support in Patients Undergoing Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation - a Multicenter Experience
Authors: Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, Subba Reddy Vanga, Jared Bunch, Raghuveer Dendi, John Day, Srijoy Mahapatra, Luigi Di Biase, David Burkhardt, Buddhadeb Dawn, Andrea Natale
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Introduction: Recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) in patients with cardiomyopathy and advanced heart failure contributes significant morbidity and mortality. Defibrillator shocks and hemodynamic compromise present a greater therapeutic challenge. VT ablation is challenging in these pts and outcomes using hemodynamic support systems is lacking. Methods: From a multicenter prospective database, all patients who underwent radiofrequency (RF) ablation for VT between 2006 and 2010 were studied. Pts requiring hemodynamic support during ablation were identified. Inclusion criteria were - clinical hemodynamic instability, unstable VTs and/or poor LVEF(&lt;20%). Patients were grouped into 3 groups based on the type of hemodynamic support (operator choice), group 1 (Impella), group 2 (balloon pump) and group 3 (TandemHeart). Results: A total of 31 patients (65 ± 11yrs, 29 (94%) Caucasians, 29(94%) male) were studied. Group1 had 3, group 2 had 9 and group 3 had 19 patients. The baseline, past medical and medication histories including antiarrhythmic drugs were similar. Overall, the mean LVEF was 25±13 and 23 (74%) had non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. On average, 3.87 ± 1.82VTs were induced during ablation and in 26 (84%), clinical VT was induced. Overall acute success rate was 26 (84%), short-term mortality was 5 (16%) and mortality at 12 month follow-up was 6 (19%). Major complications noted in 10 (32%). Significant acute success rate (100%) was noted in group 2 (Balloon pump) while mortality is lower in group 1 (Impella). (Figure1). Conclusion: Our study showed significant mortality benefit when a hemodynamic support is used in patients with hemodynamically unstable VT when compared to historical outcomes. In subgroup analysis, Impella group showed improved mortality. However, no major derivations can be made about the superiority of one device over the other due to the relative smaller numbers.
Clinical characteristics of immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis
Authors: Ho-Kee Yum, I-Nae Park, Sang Bong Choi, Young Min Lee, Sung Soon Lee, Hyuk Pyo Lee, Soo Jeon Choi
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Objective: Pulmonary cryptococcosis typically occurs in immunocompromised patients, but can also occur in immunocompetent patients. According to the host9s immune status, inhaled spores may remain dormant in the lung or may spread to other parts. Thus, clinical manifestations of crytococcosis can be highly variable, from asymptomatic pulmonary disease to life-threatening meningitis depending on the immunity. Our objective was to describe the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, management and prognosis of pulmonary cryptococcosis in immunocompetent patients.  Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 12 cases of immunocompetent patients with pathologically proven pulmonary cryptococcosis during ten years.  Results: Mean patients age was 50 years (20-72 years) and 6 patients were male. The major clinical manifestations were cough (4 patients), chest pain (3 patients), and hemoptysis (1 patients). Four patients were asymptomatic. On CT findings, 10 patients showed single or multiple nodules (7 patients vs 3 patient), while 2 patients showed multiple consolidations. One patient was diagnosed by open lung biopsy, 11 patients by needle biopsy. Eight patients were treated with oral fluconazole and 2 patients with itraconazole. Seven patients of 10 patients with treatment with oral antifungal agents showed completed resolution, 2 patients showed partial resolution, and one patient showed no interval change. During follow-up period, all patients showed favourable outcome without relapse.  Conclusion: These results suggest that pulmonary crypotoccosis was found in all-aged immunocompetent patients with no or mild symptoms. Also treatment with oral fluconazole or itraconazole could achieve favorable outcome.
MicroRNA‐181a, a potential diagnosis marker, alleviates acute graft versus host disease by regulating IFN‐γ production
Authors: Wei Sang, Cong Zhang, Dianzheng Zhang, Ying Wang, Cai Sun, Mingshan Niu, Xiaoshen Sun, Cui Zhou, Lingyu Zeng, Bin Pan, Wei Chen, Dongmei Yan, Feng Zhu, Qingyun Wu, Jiang Cao, Kai Zhao, Chong Chen, Zhenyu Li, Depeng Li, Thomas P. Loughran, Kailin Xu
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2015)

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) is a valuable therapeutic strategy for a wide variety of diseases. Acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) is a major complication in up to 75% of allo‐HSCT. The absence of a reliable predicative marker for aGVHD onset prevents preemptive treatment and impedes widespread and successful application of this therapy. In this study we found that after allo‐HSCT, the levels of miR‐181a were reduced significantly prior to the onset of aGVHD. More importantly, the degree of its reduction correlated with the severity of aGVHD. Mechanistically, miR‐181a affects the function of T lymphocytes by down‐regulating IFN‐γ in a dose‐dependent manner. Meanwhile, we confirmed that miR‐181a can effectively preserve the anti‐leukemic effect in vitro . Using a murine allo‐HSCT model, we demonstrated that murine miR‐181b, the human miR‐181a homolog, served as an effective predictor of aGVHD. Moreover, expression of this microRNA ameliorated the severity of aGVHD. Collectively, these results show that the level of miR‐181a may serve as a reliable marker for the diagnosis and prognosis the onset of aGVHD. Am. J. Hematol. 90:998–1007, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Desquamative interstitial pneumonia: Follow-up of 17 patients
Authors: Lubov Novikova, Yulia Ilkovich, Dali Dzadzua, Alexandra Speranskaya, Ivetta Dvorakovskaya, Marina Kameneva
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Desquamative interstitial pneumonia (DIP) according to ATS\ERS consensus statement belongs to Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonia group.  Materials, methods. We observed 17 patients with DIP: 5 male, 12 female, mean age - 38±5.4 years. 3 patients were smokers (0,2). The diagnosis was established histologically in 15 cases (0,9). The average duration of follow-up was 73,4 ±19,9 months.  Results. The beginning of the disease was acute, the most common symptoms were: rapid progressing inspiratory dyspnea (1,0), unproductive cough (0,6), recurrent fever (0,6), arthralgias (0,2), weight loss (average 5,7±1,2 kg) - 0,6. Medical examination revealed cyanosis in 8 patients (0,5), early inspiratory crackles in 7 cases (0,4), nail clubbing in 3 patients (0,2). On CT scan bilateral widespread ground glass opacities were observed, in 3 cases with areas of honeycomb formation. Routine spirometry and lung volume measurement confirmed restriction and lung diffusion decrease.  The therapy with corticosteroids was held, the initiating dose was 1 mg of prednisolone for each 1 kg of weight, in 15 cases as monotherapy, in 2 cases along with azathioprine.  The patients’ conditions were monitored through time. One patient died of progressing respiratory failure, but in rest cases (0.9) the treatment was effective. In a year positive clinical, radiographic and functional changes were observed in 16 cases.  Conclusion. DIP is characterized by acute onset, rapid progression, but favorable prognosis when treated with corticosteroids.