tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 expression in acute and chronic human nephritides
Authors: G Grandaliano, L Gesualdo, E Ranieri, R Monno, V Montinaro, F Marra, F P Schena
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1996)

Tubulointerstitial damage is a common histopathological feature of acute and chronic renal diseases and a prognostic indicator of renal function outcome. Monocytes infiltrating the interstitium, through the release of cytokines and/or growth factors, may play a key role in the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial damage. Monocyte chemotactic peptide-1 (MCP-1) is a specific and powerful chemoattractant and activating factor for monocytes. This study investigated MCP-1 expression and its correlation with monocyte infiltration and tubulointerstitial damage in biopsies of patients with acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) and a chronic glomerulonephritis, namely immunoglobulin. A nephropathy (IgAN), often characterized by tubulointerstitial involvement. Six patients with AIN and 20 patients with IgAN, nine with mild (G1 to 2) and 11 with moderate to severe histologic lesions (G3 to 5), were studied. MCP-1 gene and protein expression were evaluated by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Infiltrating CD68-positive cells were identified as monocytes. MCP-1, weakly expressed in normal kidneys, was clearly upregulated in AIN biopsies. The gene and the protein expression were primarily localized in tubular and glomerular parietal epithelial cells, as well as in infiltrating mononuclear cells. In IgAN, a striking increase in MCP-1 mRNA and protein expression was observed only in the biopsies with moderate to severe lesions, with a pattern of expression similar to AIN. The MCP-1 expression strictly correlated with monocyte infiltrates and tubulointerstitial damage. In addition, the urinary excretion of this chemokine was studied in 17 IgAN patients. MCP-1 protein concentration was higher, compared with healthy subjects, in IgAN patients, especially in the G3 to 5 group, and directly correlated with the renal MCP-1 gene expression. In conclusion, these data suggest that production of MCP-1 in the tubulointerstitial compartment may play a key role in modulating monocytes influx and, consequently, tubulointerstitial damage.
&lt;italic&gt;Brief Communication:&lt;/italic&gt; Mammary Carcinogenesis-Enhancing Effect of Adrenalectomy in Irradiated Rats With Pituitary Tumor MtT-F4&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: K H Clifton, B N Sridharan, E B Douple
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1975)

Mammary carcinomas were found at autopsy 98--100 days after irradiation in 12 of 14 (86%) multiparous Fischer female rats which had been adrenalectomized and given grafts of secretory pituitary tumor strain MtT-F4 soon after exposure to gamma-rays or fission neutrons. A single carcinoma was found in 1 of 10 unirradiated, MtT-bearing, adrenalectomized animals. When adrenalectomy was not done, no tumors were found in 8 unirradiated or in 13 irradiated MtT-bearing rats rats. In view of the well-established finding that Cortisol is essential for milk production, we suggested as a working hypothesis that, in the presence of high titers of mammotropic hormone and adrenal corticoids, differentiation of a given cell for milk secretion reduced that cell's proliferative potential. When such differentiation was precluded by adrenocorticoid deficiency, more irradiation-altered mammary epithelial cells retained their high proliferative potential and contributed to carcinoma formation.
Systematic review of inspiratory muscle training for asthma
Authors: Ivanizia Silva, Guilherme Fregonezi, Fernando Dias, Cibele Ribeiro, Ricardo Guerra, Gardenia Ferreira
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: In patients with COPD, the IMT significantly increases strength of the inspiratory muscles, reduces dyspnoea and improves quality of life. Nevertheless there was insufficient evidence on the clinical benefits of IMT for asthma. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of IMT with an external resistive device in patients with asthma. We searched the Cochrane Airways Group Specialised Register of trials, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ClinicalTrials.gov and reference lists of the articles. Methods: All randomised controlled trials that involved the use of an external inspiratory muscle training device versus a control in patients with stable asthma were considered for inclusion. Two reviewers independently selected articles for inclusion, evaluated risk of bias of the studies and extracted data. Results: A total of five studies involving 113 asthmatic patients were included. The included studies showed a statistically significant increase in PImax (MD 13.34 cmH2O, 95% CI 4.70 to 21.98). There was no statistically significant difference between the IMT group and the control group for PEmax, PEFR, FEV1, FVC, sensation of dyspnoea and use of beta2-agonist. There were no studies describing exacerbation events that required a course of oral or inhaled corticosteroids or emergency department visits, inspiratory muscle endurance, hospital admissions and days off work or school. Conclusions: There is no conclusive evidence in this review to support or refute IMT for asthma, once the evidence was limited by the small number of studies included and number of participants in them. Thus, more well conducted randomised controlled trials are needed.
Prediction of response to antiestrogen therapy in advanced breast cancer patients by pretreatment circulating levels of extracellular domain of the HER-2/c-neu protein.
Authors: H Yamauchi, A O'Neill, R Gelman, W Carney, D Y Tenney, S Hösch, D F Hayes
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1997)

PURPOSE Overexpression of the HER-2/c-neu/c-erbB2 proto-oncogene is associated with a worse prognosis in patients with breast cancer, perhaps due to an association of the HER-2 proto-oncogene protein with resistance to hormone and/or chemotherapy. Circulating levels of the extracellular domain (ECD) of the HER-2/c-neu-related protein (NRP) are elevated in 20% to 40% of patients with metastatic breast cancer. We investigated whether pretreatment levels of NRP predict response to hormone therapy (HT). MATERIALS AND METHODS Circulating NRP levels were determined in 94 patients who participated in a randomized trial of three different doses of the antiestrogen, droloxifene (DRO), as first-line HT for metastatic breast cancer. RESULTS NRP levels were elevated (&gt; or = 5,000 U/mL) in 32 of 94 patients (34%). Only three of 32 patients (9%) with elevated NRP levels responded to DRO, compared with 35 of 62 (56%) with nonelevated NRP levels (P = .00001). Low pretreatment NRP level was the most powerful predictor of response to DRO (odds ratio of response, 22.4; P = .0001). Elevated pretreatment NRP levels were also associated with a shorter time to progression (TTP) and survival duration. CONCLUSION Pretreatment circulating NRP levels predict a low likelihood of benefit from HT, specifically DRO, in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and/or progesterone receptor (PgR)-positive or receptor-unknown metastatic breast cancer, even when adjusted for other known predictive factors, such as ER and/or PgR levels, site of disease, disease-free interval from primary treatment to recurrence, and prior adjuvant chemotherapy. These data suggest that pretreatment NRP levels may be useful in deciding whether to treat a patient who otherwise appears to be likely to respond to HT.
Use of Cell Separation at 1 g for Cytokinetic Studies in Spontaneous AKR Leukemia&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Mitsuhiro Omine, Seymour Perry
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1972)

A cell separation technique based on 1-g sucrose gradient sedimentation was utilized to analyze cytokinetically the leukemic cell population in advanced, spontaneous, AKR leukemia which is considered to be a valid experimental model (or human acute leukemia. The cohort of cells labeled in vivo with tritiated thymidine moved progressively through the cell cycle as cell size changed during mitosis and growth. The estimates thus obtained for the various phases of the cell cycle correlated reasonably well with those obtained by the labeled-mitoses curve method. The cell cycle time was 18 hours, DNA synthesis time approximately 8 hours, TG2 + M approximately 4 hours, and TG1 6 hours. After multiple labeling with tritiated thymidine (or one cell cycle time, 60% of the cell population was labeled, but most small cells remained unlabeled. With longer labeling periods, the labeling index of the total population increased, principally due to an increase of labeled cells in the small cell population. However, even after 87 hours' labeling, unlabeled small cells were still present.
Intellectual Outcome After Reduced-Dose Radiation Therapy Plus Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Medulloblastoma: A Children’s Cancer Group Study
Authors: M. Douglas Ris, Roger Packer, Joel Goldwein, Dana Jones-Wallace, James M. Boyett
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: To investigate the intellectual outcomes of children with medulloblastomas/primitive neuroectodermal tumors (MB/PNET) treated with reduced-dose craniospinal radiotherapy (RT) plus adjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-three children with average-risk posterior fossa MB/PNETs underwent longitudinal intelligence testing. All had been treated with a reduced-dose craniospinal RT regimen (23.4 Gy to the neuraxis, 32.4-Gy boost to the posterior fossa) and adjuvant chemotherapy. RESULTS: The estimated rate of change from baseline was significant for Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ), Verbal IQ (VIQ), and Nonverbal IQ (NVIQ) (P &lt; .001 for all three outcomes). The rate of change was estimated to be −4.3 FSIQ points per year, −4.2 VIQ points per year, and −4.0 NVIQ points per year. Females were more subject to VIQ decline than were males (P = .008), and young children (&lt; 7 years of age) were more negatively affected than were older children, with a significant decline in NVIQ (P = .016). Finally, patients with higher baseline evaluations suffered greater declines in IQ than did those with lower baseline scores. CONCLUSION: This study represents the largest series of patients with average-risk MB/PNETs treated with a combination of reduced-dose RT and adjuvant chemotherapy whose intellectual development has been followed prospectively. Intellectual loss was substantial but suggestive of some degree of intellectual preservation compared with effects associated with conventional RT doses. However, this conclusion remains provisional, pending further research.
Correlation between volumetric CT scans and lung function in lower respiratory tract infection
Authors: Ana Oliveira, Sílvia De Francesco, Paula Martins, Cátia Pinho, Alda Marques
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Computed tomography(CT) is currently the gold standard to monitor lower respiratory tract infection(LRTI), however CT is expensive and involves considerable doses of radiation which prevents monitoring patients with the required frequency. As spirometry is a simple procedure that measures inhaled and exhaled volume of air as a function of time, it may have potential to overcome some of these difficulties. This study aimed to explore the correlation between spirometry and CT parameters in LRTI.

Volumetric CT was performed in 34 outpatients with LRTI using a 64 MultiDetector CT. Tracheobronchial tree and lung parenchyma were segmented with Region Growing technique and Morphological Operations to obtain tracheobronchial and bronchial(left and right) trees and lung parenchyma volumes(LPV). Forced expiratory volume in the 1o second percentage predicted(FEV1pp), forced vital capacity percentage predicted(FVCpp) and FEV1/FVC ratio were also collected. Correlations were explored with Pearson’s Correlation(PASW 18.0).

Participants’(47.1% males) mean age was 52.7±18.9y. Tracheobronchial tree volume correlated significantly with FEV1pp(r=0.357, p=0.038) and FVCpp(r=0.369, p=0.032). Left and right bronchial tree volumes also correlated significantly with FEV1pp(r=0.514, p=0.02 and r=0.507, p=0.02, respectively) and FVCpp(r=0.503, p=0.002 and r=0.436, p=0.010, respectively). Regarding the FEV1/FVC ratio, a negative and significant correlation with LPV was found(r=0.385, p=0.025).

These findings suggest that spirometry should not be used alone to monitor LRTI as correlations found were mainly moderate. Further research is needed to explore other non-invasive measures, e.g., respiratory sound analysis.
Clinical and prognostic significance of 3q26.2 and other chromosome 3 abnormalities in CML in the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors
Authors: Wei Wang, Jorge E. Cortes, Pei Lin, Michael W. Beaty, Di Ai, Hesham M. Amin, Timothy J. McDonnell, Chi Young Ok, Hagop M. Kantarjian, L. Jeffrey Medeiros, Shimin Hu
Journal: Blood (2015)
Problem Solving in Clinical Medicine.
Authors: B.J. Kaufman
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1980)

dolic agents tend to conflict with the. earlier findings.Melatonin is also reported to have a direct action on adrenocortical function: it enhances the in vitro formation of 5a-reduced metabolites of corticosterone.Pineal involvement in growth is reiterated through evidence that pinealectomy reduces the daytime levels of growth hormone in rats.Under the heading of miscellaneous effects are reports on pineal and melatonin involvement in tumour growth, activity and behaviour, temperature and blood pressure regulation, glucose metabolism and levels of serum electrolytes, and the pineal as a biologic clock.The last chapter, devoted to the human pineal, deals with reports on pineal tumours and their treatment, and with the measurement of melatonin in pineal tissue and body fluids.Important new data indicate that pineal function in.humans is in many respects similar to that in other animals.This review will be of immense value to those researching the physiologic roles of the pineal gland.
Is there any correlation between apoptosis of the cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Authors: Agata Nowicka, Halina Batura-Gabryel, Mariusz Kaczmarek, Jan Sikora, Krzysztof Swierkocki, Anna Czyz
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: It has been already well known that neutrophilic inflammation, oxidative stress and protease/antiprotease imbalance play a significant role in the pathogenesis of COPD. In recent years some data were published, showing that also apoptosis may be one of the processes concerned in the pathogenesis of this disorder.

Objectives: We presumed that apoptosis of the cells (granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages) from COPD patients' bronchoalveolar lavage fluid increases along with the decline of FEV1 (forced expiratory capacity in 1 second).

Methods: 19 patients (16 men and 3 women), smokers or former smokers, diagnosed with COPD (stages 2-4) were enrolled into the study. The mean age was 64,95±7,83. In all subjects spirometry after the inhalation of beta-2-agonist was performed, to confirm the diagnosis of COPD according to GOLD criteria and to estimate FEV1. BALF during fiberoptic bronchoscopy was taken in all patients. We used annexin V to assess apoptosis of the cells concerned in BAL fluid. (BD Biosciences, Annexin V - FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit I)

Results: The median FEV1 was 38,6%. Only the patients with advanced COPD were enrolled into the study (max FEV1 55,3%, min FEV1 15,3%). In the group of patients with FEV1 lower than 38,6% median for apoptosis was 4% (0-59%), in the group with FEV1 higher than 38,6% median for apoptosis was 5% (3-16%). No correlation between FEV1 and apoptosis of the cells concerned in COPD patients BALF was found (p= 0,74).

Conclusions: Our data suggest that there is no correlation between apoptosis and the progression of COPD.
Primary Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma of the Orbit
Authors: A R Makepeace, D C Fermont, M H Bennett
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1988)

Between 1954 and 1980, 9 patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the orbit were treated at the Regional Radiotherapy Centre, Mount Vernon Hospital. Following radiotherapy complete local regression of the tumour was seen in every case. Three patients subsequently developed recurrent disease which proved fatal in two cases. The overall 5 year survival was 89%.
LVRS in patients with severe emphysema: Relationship between patients age and surgical results
Authors: Stanislav Gorbunkov, Olga Lukina, Larisa Kirukhina, Vladimir Varlamov, Andrey Akopov
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction: The present study is a retrospective analysis of surgical treatment results for respiratory failure in pulmonary emphysema patients of different age.

Methods: Patients with severe emphysema underwent LVRS between 2004 and 2012 were divided into two groups: patients aged 35 years old and younger (group A) and patients aged more than 35 years old (group B). Comparison of clinical data, radiology, functional test, operative reports, early postoperative course and follow-up results was made.

Results: Of 123 patients with indication for LVRS (group A-9 patients, group B-114 patients) 69 patients were operated (group A-7 (78%), group B-62 (53%). Average age for group A was 30 y.o.(from 24 to 35) and for group B-54 y.o. (from 41 to 71). Respiratory function disturbances were considerably heavier in group A( FEV1 20% (864ml), RV 368%) than in group B (FEV1 29%(1090ml), RV 229%).

In 66 patients unilateral LVRS via thoracotomy was performed, three patients underwent bilateral LVRS via median sternotomy. The average occurrence of postoperative complications was 14% in group A and 42 % in group B (p<0,05). Prolonged air leak was the most common complication (n=19%). Postoperative mortality was 7,2% (n=5) and had place only in group B. The frequency of bacterial exacerbation in first year after operation was 14% in group A and 23% in group B). Positive effect on forced expiration volume lasted in average of 29 months in group A and 27 months in group B).

Conclusions: Despite of initially heavier respiratory failure in younger patients LVRS performed in this group is characterised by more favorable early postoperative course and remote follow-up results are comparable in both groups.
Accuracy of "pulmonary fibrosis" diagnosis on death certificates - All scarring isn't IPF
Authors: Haval Balata, Sheila Grecian, Robert Grecian, Sheila Augustine, Imran Aziz, Abdul Ashish
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background   IPF is a progressive condition that carries a prognosis worse than many cancers. Local mortality rates attributed to pulmonary fibrosis were noted to be higher than national average   Aims   We sought to determine accuracy of deaths attributed to pulmonary fibrosis   Methods   Retrospective analysis of clinical, radiological and pathological data of cases with “Pulmonary Fibrosis” registered on death certificates over a 24 month period (01/04/2010 - 01/04/2012). All cases with “Primary” (main) or “Secondary”(contributing significantly) cause of death were reviewed by a respiratory physician and a radiologist with special interest in Interstitial Lung Disease   Results   Of 31 patients with Pulmonary Fibrosis registered as a cause of death, 18 (58%) had IPF as a primary and 13 (48%) had “pulmonary fibrosis (unspecified) as a secondary cause. On review only 14/18 (78%) with primary cause and 7/13 (53%) with secondary cause had any evidence of fibrotic lung disease (IPF or other). Overall, 10/31 (33%) did NOT have sufficient evidence for a diagnosis of any fibrotic lung disease. Of these only 3 /10 (30%) were seen by a respiratory physician   Conclusions   In a third of our patients, pulmonary fibrosis is a “loosely “used term on death certificates without any evidence of fibrotic lung disease. This is most likely in cases where respiratory physicians are not involved. All cases of deaths in patients with pulmonary fibrosis are to be discussed with a respiratory physician at our trust to ensure accurate certification.
Incidence of Prostate Cancer and Marital Status
Authors: G R Newell, E S Pollack, M R Spitz, J G Sider, J J Fueger
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1987)

Analyses were made of the marital status of 48,106 men with adenocarcinoma of the prostate, who were reported to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program of the National Cancer Institute during the 9 years ending in 1981. The hypothesis tested was that widowers and possibly divorced men were at higher risk for developing this cancer than were married men. Age- and marital-specific incidence rates were calculated for 4 age groups (45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and greater than or equal to 75 yr) for U.S. white, black, and Puerto Rico Hispanic men. Risks for other marital status groups were calculated relative to "married." Among the 45-54 age group, all ethnic groups had an excess risk for widowed as compared to the risk for married men [whites, relative risk (RR) = 1.7; blacks, RR = 1.5; Hispanics, RR = 2.5]. These excesses were not significantly different from unity. In the other 3 age groups and among each ethnic group, among whom 97.3% of all prostate cancers occurred, there was no suggestion of an excess risk for the development of prostate cancer among widowed men relative to married men. Unexpected findings were significant deficits in risk for single, separated, and divorced white men as compared to the risk for married men. Thus this study does not support an association between widowerhood and an increased risk for the development of prostate cancer. Additional studies are required to investigate a suggestion of decreased risk for older, separated, and divorced men.
Chymase: a multifunctional player in pulmonary hypertension associated with lung fibrosis
Authors: Djuro Kosanovic, Himal Luitel, Bhola Kumar Dahal, Teodora Cornitescu, Wiebke Janssen, A.H. Jan Danser, Ingrid M. Garrelds, Jo G.R. De Mey, Gregorio Fazzi, Paul Schiffers, Marc Iglarz, Walter Fischli, Hossein Ardeschir Ghofrani, Norbert Weissmann, Friedrich Grimminger, Werner Seeger, Irwin Reiss, Ralph Theo Schermuly
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2015)

Limited literature sources implicate mast-cell mediator chymase in the pathologies of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis. However, there is no evidence on the contribution of chymase to the development of pulmonary hypertension associated with lung fibrosis, which is an important medical condition linked with increased mortality of patients who already suffer from a life-threatening interstitial lung disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of chymase in this particular pulmonary hypertension form, by using a bleomycin-induced pulmonary hypertension model. Chymase inhibition resulted in attenuation of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary fibrosis, as evident from improved haemodynamics, decreased right ventricular remodelling/hypertrophy, pulmonary vascular remodelling and lung fibrosis. These beneficial effects were associated with a strong tendency of reduction in mast cell number and activity, and significantly diminished chymase expression levels. Mechanistically, chymase inhibition led to attenuation of transforming growth factor β1 and matrix-metalloproteinase-2 contents in the lungs. Furthermore, chymase inhibition prevented big endothelin-1-induced vasoconstriction of the pulmonary arteries. Therefore, chymase plays a role in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension associated with pulmonary fibrosis and may represent a promising therapeutic target. In addition, this study may provide valuable insights on the contribution of chymase in the pulmonary hypertension context, in general, regardless of the pulmonary hypertension form.
Possible Involvement of<i>Mycoplasma fermentans</i>in the Development of Nonsexually Acquired Genital Ulceration (Lipschütz Ulcers) in 3 Young Female Patients
Authors: Chiho Horie, Yoko Kano, Takayo Mitomo, Tetsuo Shiohara
Journal: JAMA Dermatology (2015)