tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Abstract 1094: Inflammation Results In Increased Allele-specific Apo(a) Levels In African Americans: Potential Explanation For Inter-ethnic Difference?
Authors: Anuurad Erdembileg, Alan Chiem, Russell P Tracy, Thomas A Pearson, Lars Berglund
Journal: Circulation (2007)

Background: The role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is well recognized. Lipoprotein(a), Lp(a), is an independent CVD risk factor where plasma levels are largely determined by apo(a) gene size. Allele-specific apo(a) levels are higher among African Americans (AA) compared to Caucasians (C), and the most pronounced inter-ethnic difference is seen for medium-sized apo(a) alleles. This difference remains unexplained. The apo(a) gene contains response elements for inflammatory factors. However, the effect of inflammation on Lp(a) level, particularly on allele-specific apo(a) levels is unknown. Objective: We investigated the effect of inflammation measured by two acute-phase reactants (CRP and fibrinogen) on allele-specific apo(a) levels in AA and C. Methods: We determined Lp(a) levels, apo(a) sizes, allele-specific apo(a) levels, fibrinogen and CRP levels in 167 AA and 259 C. Results: Lp(a) levels were increased among AA with higher vs. lower CRP (&gt;3 mg/dl) or fibrinogen (&gt;340 mg/dl) levels (143 vs. 108 nmol/l, P =0.009, and 146 vs. 105 nmol/l, P =0.002, respectively). We next analyzed allele-specific apo(a) levels for different apo(a) sizes. No differences in allele-specific apo(a) levels across CRP (&gt;3 vs. ≤3 mg/dl) or fibrinogen (&gt;340 vs. ≤340 mg/dl) groups were seen among AA or C for small apo(a) sizes (&lt;22 K4). Allele specific apo(a) levels for medium apo(a) sizes (23–30 K4) were significantly higher among AA with high levels of CRP or fibrinogen compared to those with low levels (88 vs. 67 nmol/l, P =0.014 and 91 vs. 59 nmol/l, P&lt; 0.0001, respectively). In contrast, there were no significant differences in allele-specific apo(a) levels across CRP or fibrinogen groups among C with medium sized apo(a) alleles. Conclusion: Increased levels of CRP or fibrinogen are associated with higher allele-specific medium-sized apo(a) levels in AA, but not in C. Our results implicate that a pro-inflammatory stimulus may result in a selective increase in Lp(a) levels among AA carrying medium-sized apo(a). These findings provide a potential explanation for differences in Lp(a) levels between African Americans and Caucasians and suggest that inflammation-associated events may contribute to this inter-ethnic difference.
No benefit in hernia repair..
Authors: M J Notaras
Journal: BMJ (1994)

EDITOR, - In his review of minimally invasive procedures in abdominal surgery John R T Monson described procedures that have gained acceptance,1 but some procedures are still experimental and controversial. An example is laparoscopic repair of an inguinal hernia, which has been promoted as less painful than conventional open repair, with a shorter stay in hospital and a shorter recovery period. Both procedures are suitable for day case surgery.

Laparoscopic repair of an inguinal hernia requires …
Abstract 557: A novel integrated i-FISH technology to detect and characterize non-hematopoietic heteroploid CTC subtypes with or without expressing vimentin or other tumor biomarkers
Authors: Peter Lin
Journal: Cancer Research (2015)

Abstract Most of the current circulating tumor cell (CTC) detection technologies rely on expression of EpCAM and cytokeratins (CK) as well as the size of tumor cells shed into peripheral blood of cancer patients or tumor animal models. However, it has been demonstrated that expression of EpCAM and/or cytokeratins in CTCs might be down-regulated or absent during epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), potentially resulting in significant false negative detection of CTCs. Whereas expression of vimentin in EMT tumor cells has been reported. In this study, a new strategy integrating phenotypic immunofluorescent staining of vimentin and karyotypic FISH has been well developed to detect and characterize CTC and its subtypes isolated by subtraction enrichment in various biofluid samples including blood, bone marrow, malignant pleural effusion and ascites as well as cerebrospinal fluid of cancer patients or blood samples of mice bearing human tumors. Both large and small and clusters of vimentin positive or negative non-hematopoietic CTCs with heteroploid chromosome(s) were identified. The similar procedure has also been successfully extended to other desired single or combined tumor biomarkers in addition to vimentin as needed. The established SET-iFISH® platform will help identify and characterize diversified CTC subtypes which may possess distinct clinical significance in terms of drug sensitivity, resistance, and tumor metastasis as well as recurrence, respectively. Citation Format: Peter Lin. A novel integrated i-FISH technology to detect and characterize non-hematopoietic heteroploid CTC subtypes with or without expressing vimentin or other tumor biomarkers. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 557. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-557
Evaluation of vitamin D levels in COPD and its correlation with disease severity and frequency of exacerbations
Authors: Balakrishnan Menon, Ankit Mittal, Gaki Nima, Charanjeet Kaur, Upasana Mittal, Vikas Dogra
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction  Vitamin D may have significant role in COPD. Few studies have shown that Vitamin D deficiency is present in COPD and Vitamin D supplementation may reduce exacerabtions in severe COPD  Aims  To evaluate Vitamin D levels in COPD and to correlate its levels with severity of disease and exacerbation rate  Methods  Sixty two patients of COPD were recruited. BODE index and CCQ was calculated. Staging, Severity and Exacerbation rate was assessed as per GOLD guidelines. Vitamin D levels were measured by ELISA.  Results  Of the 62 subjects, 6 were in GOLD stage I, 21 in stage II, 24 in stage III and 11 in stage IV. The mean CCQ score was 20.75±12.11. The mean BODE index was 3.80±2.97.  The mean Vitamin D level was 23.33±17.56. 15 subjects were in GOLD severity grade A, 6 in grade B, 7 in grade C and 34 in grade D. Vitamin D levels were seen to decrease with increasing severity of disease. Mean levels in Gold severity grade A was 41.02±14.12, in grade B was 31.57±12.49, in grade C was 17.63±8.51 and in grade D was 16.91±7.89.  Vitamin D correlated negatively with GOLD severity grade (-0.406), BODE index (-0.408), CCQ (-0.495), exacerbation rate (-0.536) and GOLD staging (-0.369). These were highly significant (p  There were a total of 36 exacerbations with a mean of 0.58±0.49. The mean exacerbations were 0.88±0.76 in severity grade C and 0.90±0.79 in grade D groups. There was highly significant correlation of Vitamin D levels with exacerbation rates for these groups (p  Conclusion  Vitamin D levels were decreased in COPD. It decreased with increasing severity of disease and showed highly significant correlation with CCQ, BODE index, exacerbation rate and severity of disease.
Temporal Trends and Factors Associated With Cardiac Rehabilitation Referral Among Patients Hospitalized With Heart Failure
Authors: Harsh Golwala, Ambarish Pandey, Christine Ju, Javed Butler, Clyde Yancy, Deepak L. Bhatt, Adrian F. Hernandez, Gregg C. Fonarow
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2015)
Abstract 1106: Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens reveal candidate therapeutic targets and tumor suppressor genes for human glioma
Authors: Yu Ding, Chad Toledo, Pia Hoellerbauer, Ryan Basom, Emily Girad, Eunjee Lee, Philip Corrin, Qi Lin, Xiao-Nan Li, Do-Hyun Nam, Jeongwu Lee, Jun Zhu, Steven Pollard, Jeffery Delrow, Jim Olson, Patrick J. Paddison
Journal: Cancer Research (2015)

Abstract Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most aggressive and common form of brain cancer in adults. There are currently no effective therapies for GBM. Even with standard of care treatments, such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, ∼90% of adult patients die within 2 years of diagnosis. Our inability to develop new more effective therapies may arise from pre-clinical models that inadequately predict therapeutic window and the fact that many new GBM drugs are “hand-me-downs” from other cancers, not specifically developed for treating brain tumors. To identify patient-tailored drug targets for GBM, our group has performed a series of functional genetic screens in patient derived GBM stem-like cells (GSCs) and also non-transformed human neural stem cells (NSCs). GSCs retain tumor-initiating potential and tumor-specific genetic and epigenetic signatures, even during extended outgrowth in serum-free culture. NSCs represent non-transformed candidate cell of origin controls, which share similar gene expression signatures and identical in vitro growth conditions. Using these systems along with RNAi or CRISPR/Cas9 platforms, we have identified multiple molecular vulnerabilities specific to GSCs, which appear to be largely driven by oncogenic transformation, in processes ranging from kinetochore regulation to 3′ pre-mRNA splice site recognition. At this meeting, we present our latest findings from genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 gene knockout screens in multiple GSC and NSC isolates. These include validation studies of patient tumor-lethal genes using gene knockout rather than gene knockdown technology. In addition, we will present validation studies of gene products growth limiting for NSC expansion/self-renewal from these screens, a subset of which are candidate tumor suppressors for glioma. Strengths and weaknesses of using gene editing technology and GSC isolates for identification of therapeutic targets will be discussed. Citation Format: Yu Ding, Chad Toledo, Pia Hoellerbauer, Ryan Basom, Emily Girad, Eunjee Lee, Philip Corrin, Qi Lin, Xiao-Nan Li, Do-Hyun Nam, Jeongwu Lee, Jun Zhu, Steven Pollard, Jeffery Delrow, Jim Olson, Patrick J. Paddison. Genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screens reveal candidate therapeutic targets and tumor suppressor genes for human glioma. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2015 Apr 18-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(15 Suppl):Abstract nr 1106. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2015-1106
Abstract 5825: Association between Patterns of FDG Uptake and Arterial Wall Calcification on PET/CT and Atherogenic Risk Factors in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Hiroya Narumi, Katsuya Yoshida, Nobusada Funabashi, Naotake Hashimoto, Isao Umehara, Shouji Yoshida, Issei Komuro
Journal: Circulation (2008)

Background: Augmented metabolic activity of macrophages leads to enough F-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptake to allow visualization by positron emission tomography (PET). A large body of data, based on computed tomography (CT), has also accumulated concerning the relevance of vascular calcification to the atherosclerotic process. FDG PET/CT can localize both inflammatory changes and vascular calcification. The purpose of this study was to investigate risk factors contributing to these changes in the aorta in healthy subjects. Materials and Methods: A total of 66 consecutive healthy subjects (44 men, 22 women; age range, 30–82 years, mean age, 55.8 years) participating in a health check protocol including FDG PET/CT were evaluated retrospectively. We placed regions of interest on the arterial wall to measure FDG uptake by PET images. To assess arterial calcification, the calcium score of the aorta was measured on CT images. Results: FDG uptake was observed most commonly in proximal, followed by descending, thoracic, and abdominal segments. On the other hand, the most common site of vascular calcification was the descending thoracic aorta, followed by abdominal and, proximal segment. Whole aortic calcification (total calcium score of the whole aorta) was significantly correlated with age (r= 0.353, P= 0.004). On the other hand, FDG uptake (total SUV max of the whole aorta) was significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r= 0.303, P= 0.013), triglyceride (TG) (r= 0.281, P= 0.022), fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (r= 0.317, P= 0.010), HbA1c (r= 0.433, P&lt; 0.001), visceral abdominal fat area (r= 0.319, P= 0.005), and was negatively correlated with high density lipoprotein (HDL) (r= −0.317, P= 0.010), and adiponectin (r= −0.273, P= 0.029). Conclusions: Aortic calcification was significantly correlated with age. On the other hand, FDG uptake was significantly correlated with the components of metabolic syndrome such as SBP, TG, FPG, HbA1c, visceral adipose fat area and negatively correlated with HDL and adiponectin, but not with age. Our results may suggest that the components of metabolic syndrome and aging affect the progression of atherosclerosis differently.
Abstract 340: A Few but Nonnegligible Patients Without Any Coronary Calcification Had CT-based Vulnerable Plaque
Authors: Takeshi Kondo, Makoto Kondo, Akitsugu Ohida, Hiroshi Fukazawa, Takahide Kodama, Tadaaki Orihara, Shinichi Takase, Narula Jagat
Journal: Circulation (2009)
Abstract 4340: Sirolimus- versus Paclitaxel-Eluting Stents in Diabetic Patients: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Feng Zhang, Lili Dong, Junbo Ge
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Background: Recent data with drug-eluting stents have shown improved clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the relative efficacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) versus paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES) remains controversial. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing SES with PES in diabetic patients.

Methods and results: The published literature was scanned by formal searches of electronic databases such as PubMed from January 2001 to April 2009. All randomized trials on head-to-head comparison of SES versus PES in diabetic patients were examined for analysis. Finally, a total of 5 randomized trials were included in the present meta-analysis, involving 1,173 patients (594 in SES group and 579 in PES group). SES was significantly more effective in the reduction of target lesion revascularization (TLR) (5.1% vs. 11.4%; Odds ratio [OR] 0.41, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.26 – 0.64; P<0.001) (Figure 1[⇓][1]) and angiographic binary (≥50%) restenosis (5.6% vs. 16.4%; OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.19 – 0.48; P<0.001) compared to PES. In contrast, the differences between SES and PES were not statistically significant with respect to cardiac death (2.2% vs. 2.9%; OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.34 –1.47; P=0.35), myocardial infarction (1.5% vs. 2.6%; OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.26 –1.31; P=0.19) and stent thrombosis (0.6% vs. 1.2%; OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.18 – 0.84; P=0.35).

Conclusions: In patients with DM, SES is superior to PES in reducing the incidences of restenosis and TLR, with nonsignificant differences in terms of cardiac death, myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis. Longer follow-up data will certainly provide important additional information.



   ![][2]  Figure 1.  
ORs of TLR Associated with SES vs PES in Diadetes Patients

 [1]: #graphic-1
 [2]: /embed/graphic-1.gif
The Kinetics and Extent of Engraftment of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Cells in Non-Obese Diabetic/Severe Combined Immunodeficiency Mice Reflect the Phase of the Donor’s Disease: An In Vivo Model of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Biology
Authors: Francesco Dazzi, Debora Capelli, Robert Hasserjian, Finbarr Cotter, Margherita Corbo, Alessandro Poletti, Wimol Chinswangwatanakul, John M. Goldman, Myrtle Y. Gordon
Journal: Blood (1998)
Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance in schizophrenia: remediation of a stubborn deficit
Authors: M F Green, P Satz, S Ganzell, J F Vaclav
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1992)

Schizophrenic patients typically perform poorly on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, which is a putative index of prefrontal functioning. The authors attempted to remediate the deficits of schizophrenic patients on this measure by giving detailed instructions and monetary reinforcement.Forty-six inpatients with chronic schizophrenia and 20 control subjects with other psychiatric illnesses were given the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test under four conditions that varied in monetary reinforcement and level of instructions. The schizophrenic patients were given the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and three information processing measures (the Continuous Performance Test, Span of Apprehension, and Pin Test).Schizophrenic patients performed worse than psychiatric control subjects across most conditions. Monetary reinforcement had little effect on performance, but detailed instructions significantly improved the scores for both groups. When instructions were withdrawn and monetary reinforcement was maintained, both groups continued to show improved performance over baseline. Symptoms were not significantly associated with Wisconsin Card Sorting Test performance. One measure (the Pin Test) correlated significantly with performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test.The results suggest the importance of combining motivational with instructional factors for training psychiatric patients in problem solving.
Tobacco use among confirmed pollution victims and its impact on lung function and respiratory symptoms
Authors: Kenji Kotaki, Hideaki Senjyu
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background

Respiratory disease caused by air pollution (measured using PM 2.5) is a growing public

health issue in many parts of the world. In Japan, air quality deteriorated markedly during the country's period of rapid economic growth, increasing the prevalence of pulmonary morbidity.

While air quality has since improved, there remain many pollution victims who were also smokers. It is unclear, however, how air pollution and tobacco use together influence respiratory function and morbidity.

Aims and objectives

This retrospective cross-sectional study sought to elucidate how tobacco use affected pollution victims with and without obstructive ventilatory defects over a 30-year period.

Methods

We selected 730 individuals over 65 years of age previously diagnosed with pollution-related respiratory disease residing in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture. Participants were classified

into four groups according to their smoking status and whether or not they had an obstructive impairment. We then compared prevalence of respiratory symptoms and lung function over time between groups.

Results

Rates of tobacco use and respiratory disease were high in our sample. While respiratory

function in non-smoking participants did not completely recover, the annual of rate change in lung function was within the normal range. However, tobacco users presented worse lung function and were more likely to report pulmonary symptom.(P<0.01)

Conclusions

Participants' respiratory function did not fully recover despite improved air quality. Our results suggest that tobacco use in the context of overexposure to PM 2.5 results in additional loss of lung function and exacerbates respiratory symptoms.
Low urinary indoxyl sulfate levels early after transplantation reflect a disrupted microbiome and are associated with poor outcome
Authors: Daniela Weber, Peter J. Oefner, Andreas Hiergeist, Josef Koestler, André Gessner, Markus Weber, Joachim Hahn, Daniel Wolff, Frank Stämmler, Rainer Spang, Wolfgang Herr, Katja Dettmer, Ernst Holler
Journal: Blood (2015)
别再把体重指数（BMI）作为预测心血管危险性的指标
Authors: 杜昕（译）
Journal: BMJ (2006)

尽管肥胖者肯定是冠心病的危险因素，但现有的观察性的研究结果表明，在冠心病患者中，体重指数与死亡率和心血管事件发生率之间的关系并不一致，一项系统性综述回顾了40项研究，入选患者总数超过250000例，平均随访4年。
Abstract 3043: Population Characteristics, Treatment Assignment and Survival of Elderly Patients with Aortic Stenosis Referred for Percutaneous Valve Replacement
Authors: Amber M Otten, Ron T van Domburg, Patrick W Serruys, Peter P de Jaegere
Journal: Circulation (2008)

An increasing number of elderly are being referred for percutaneous aortic valve replacement (PAVR). Although case studies are available on treatment and outcome and phase II studies are ongoing, little is known about the demographics of the total population referred in addition to treatment assignment and survival of the entire population. This was subject of the present prospective observational cohort study. Since November 2005, 167 patients were referred for PAVR of whom 65 pts received valve replacement (47 PAVR, 3 balloon valvuloplasty [PABV], 15 surgical [AVR]), 18 refused treatment and 27 were no candidate for PAVR or AVR and received medical therapy. Patients who are still under evaluation (60) were excluded from the analysis. Predefined demographic, clinical, technical, laboratory and procedural variables were prospectively entered into a dedicated database. Follow-up of vital status was obtained by contacting the civil registries. The follow-up was complete for all patients. Treatment assignment, baseline characteristics, risk and mortality at FU are summarized in the table . Most patients referred for PAVR are female. Although the majority received PAVR, still 14% received AVR and 25% were rejected for valve replacement. AVR treated patients have the lowest risk score, yet a higher mortality than the PAVR group. Patients who refused treatment had the highest mortality. It is conceivable that in the latter group, earlier referral and treatment may reduce mortality. Demographics.
The combined use of pumpless extracorporeal lung assist and continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration with citrate anticoagulation in polytrauma patients
Authors: Hakan Korkut Atalan, Bulent Gucyetmez, Mert Dumantepe, Mehmet Berktas, Tarik Bugra Denizalti, İbrahim Arif Tarhan, Azmi Ozler
Journal: Intensive Care Medicine (2015)
Insulin sensitivity of muscle protein metabolism is altered in patients with chronic kidney disease and metabolic acidosis
Authors: Giacomo Garibotto, Antonella Sofia, Rodolfo Russo, Ernesto Paoletti, Alice Bonanni, Emanuele L. Parodi, Francesca Viazzi, Daniela Verzola
Journal: Kidney International (2015)

An emergent hypothesis is that a resistance to the anabolic drive by insulin may contribute to loss of strength and muscle mass in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We tested whether insulin resistance extends to protein metabolism using the forearm perfusion method with arterial insulin infusion in 7 patients with CKD and metabolic acidosis (bicarbonate 19 mmol/l) and 7 control individuals. Forearm glucose balance and protein turnover (2H-phenylalanine kinetics) were measured basally and in response to insulin infused at different rates for 2 h to increase local forearm plasma insulin concentration by approximately 20 and 50 μU/ml. In response to insulin, forearm glucose uptake was significantly increased to a lesser extent (-40%) in patients with CKD than controls. In addition, whereas in the controls net muscle protein balance and protein degradation were decreased by both insulin infusion rates, in patients with CKD net protein balance and protein degradation were sensitive to the high (0.035 mU/kg per min) but not the low (0.01 mU/kg per min) insulin infusion. Besides blunting muscle glucose uptake, CKD and acidosis interfere with the normal suppression of protein degradation in response to a moderate rise in plasma insulin. Thus, alteration of protein metabolism by insulin may lead to changes in body tissue composition which may become clinically evident in conditions characterized by low insulinemia.