tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of mentally ill smokers participating in a smoking cessation program
Authors: Chihiro Nishio, Hiromi Tomioka, Reina Sekiya, Shuji Yamashita, Toshihiko Kaneda, Yoko Kida, Masahiro Kaneko, Hiroshi Fujii, Kyosuke Ishihara
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

RATIONALE  An appreciation of the high rate of tobacco use by those with mental illness is emerging. Although the practice guidelines suggest that interventions useful with the general population should be used, it remains unclear whether mentally ill smokers could benefit from smoking cessation program. The study aims were to determine the abstinence rate among people with or without mental illness, and to identify the factors influencing on it.  METHODS  An observational study was conducted on all smokers who participated in the three-months smoking cessation program in our clinic between August 2007 and March 2011. Clinical and tobacco-related variables were assessed.  Results  Of the 370 participants, 105(28.4%) had mental disorders (mean age: 52.7±12.8, male/woman=52/53). 49 (46.7%) mentally ill patients accomplished the program. The cessation rate at 12 weeks was 49.0% in those with mental illness and 70.4% in those without mental illness (  P  P  = 0.035), showed lower exhaled carbon monoxide level (11.8±8.9 and 18.3±11.7,  P  = 0.037), and lower %FEV1 (70.1±22.3 and 83.6±15.9,  P  = 0.020), compared with smokers. No significant differences were found between quitters and smokers in the average nicotine addiction level, according to the tobacco dependence screener (TDS) test, the average pack-year, and the prescription rate of varenicline.  CONCLUSIONS  The quit rate in mentally ill people was lower than in general population. Further studies are needed to modify the cessation interventions that address mental illness.
Bioassay of 29 Alkylatlng Chemicals by the Pulmonary-Tumor Response In Strain A Mice
Authors: M. B. Shimkin, J. H. Weisburger, E. K. Weisburger, N. Gubareff, Valentina Suntzeff
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1966)

Twenty-nine alkylating agents, including aromatic and aliphatic nitrogen mustards, aziridines, epoxides, and methanesulfonates, were examined for their ability to induce primary lung tumors in strain A mice in a 39-week test, after 12 intraperitoneal injections given in a 4-week period. Four or more dose levels were used for each chemical. A mathematical relationship between number of tumors and dose level was derived for each compound, which permitted an estimation of its potency at any dose. The aromatic-type nitrogen mustards, especially uracil mustard, L-phenylalanine mustard, and chlorambucil, were most active in producing lung tumors, while aliphatic mustards, aziridines, and methanesulfonates were somewhat less effective. In any given series of compounds, those with structures simulating a naturally occurring substrate were more active. The effectiveness of the aromatic mustards may be related to the greater stability of the reactive intermediate. However, other factors such as detoxification, transport, and solubility are also involved. The carcinogenic activity of these alkylating agents was compared with the activity of a series of other carcinogens and related compounds. The potency of these compounds to induce lung tumors was not related to their carcinostatic effect on the transplantable L1210 leukemia.
&lt;italic&gt;Brief Communication:&lt;/italic&gt; Site of Origin of Mammary Tumors Induced by 7,12-Dimethylbenztal[a]nthracene in the Rat&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: W E Heston
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1975)

C3H-Avy and C3H-AvyfB mice transferred from our colony to the laboratory of Dr. J. R. Sabine in Australia had a markedly reduced incidence of both hepatomas and mammary tumors. Sabine and co-workers (J Natl Cancer Inst 50:1237-1242, 1973) attributed the low incidence of tumors in their laboratory compared to the high incidence in this laboratory to the fact that we routinely use red cedar shavings in the bedding, whereas they use sawdust, predominantly Douglas fir. Results of tests in this laboratory showed that the difference in occurrence of tumors could not be attributed directly to either a difference in diet or bedding. There was no evidence that the cedar shavings were carcinogenic. The animals in Australia on bedding without cedar shavings were not as healthy as our animals, in that they did not grow as well and were infested with ectoparasites; apparently these factors caused the reduced occurrence of tumors.
Leukemia following low-dose total body irradiation and chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Authors: L B Travis, J Weeks, R E Curtis, J T Chaffey, M Stovall, P M Banks, J D Boice
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1996)

Low-dose total body irradiation (TBI) is used to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and several other malignancies. Large volumes of bone marrow and other tissue receive considerable exposure, but few studies have quantified late carcinogenic sequelae.A cohort of 61 2-year survivors of NHL treated initially with low-dose TBI was monitored for second cancer occurrence. Data on primary and subsequent therapy were collected, and cumulative dose of radiation to active bone marrow (ABM) (median, 5.2 Gy) was reconstructed.Thirteen second primary cancers occurred. Four patients developed acute nonlymphocytic leukemia (ANLL), which represents a relative risk (RR) of 117 (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.5 to 300) compared with population rates. A fifth patient was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). All five patients with secondary hematologic malignancies subsequently received salvage treatment, with either alkylating agents alone (n = 1) or combined modality therapy (CMT) (n = 4). Overall, eight solid tumors were observed (RR = 2.0; 95% CI, 0.9 to 4.0). The 15-year cumulative risks of all second cancers and secondary ANLL were 37% and 17%, respectively.Despite the small number of subjects, a considerable risk of leukemia was observed among patients treated with low-dose TBI in combination with CMT including alkylating agents. Based on these results, approximately eight to nine excess ANLLs might be expected to occur among 100 NHL patients treated with low-dose TBI and salvage treatment and followed-up for 15 years.
Paris-Trousseau thrombocytopenia is phenocopied by the autosomal recessive inheritance of a DNA-binding domain mutation in FLI1
Authors: William S. Stevenson, David J. Rabbolini, Lucinda Beutler, Qiang Chen, Sara Gabrielli, Joel P. Mackay, Timothy A. Brighton, Christopher M. Ward, Marie-Christine Morel-Kopp
Journal: Blood (2015)
Prognostic value of SUVmax in patients with lung cancer who underwent surgical treatment
Authors: Daniela Alves, João Cruz, Cecília Pacheco, Beatriz Fernandes, João Cunha
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction : The metabolic activity of a tumor can be measured by the Standardized Uptake Value (SUV) of F-2-deoxy-2-fluoro-D-glucose (FDG), which may provide prognostic information.  Objective : To analyse the prognostic value of SUVmax in surgically treated patients with lung cancer.  Methods : The patients included were selected from a database of patients with lung cancer, between 2007 and 2010, who underwent surgical resection with performance of PET with quantification of SUVmax prior to surgery.  Results : 26 patients underwent surgical resection of lung lesion, with mean age 64 ± 12.2 years, 16 (61.5%) were male. 23 underwent pre-surgical PET. The value of SUVmax was accessed in 21: 9 (42.9%) adenocarcinoma, 8 (38.1%) carcinoid tumors, 2 (9.5%) squamous cell carcinoma and 2 (9.5 %) NSCLC. The mean SUVmax was 5.4 ± 4.4. In carcinoid tumors the mean SUVmax was 3 and in NSCLC 6.9: adenocarcinoma 7.3 and squamous cell carcinoma 5.5. The pre-surgical stage was IA 6 (28.6%), IB 12 (57.1%), IIB 1 (4.8%) and III in 2 (9.5%). After surgery, staging was distributed as follows: IA 8 (38.1%), IB 7 (33.3%), IIA 1 (4.8%), IIB 1 (4.8%) IIIA 4 (19%). Downstaging occurred in 4 and upstaging in 4, with mean SUVmax of 2.2 and 3.2, respectively. With respect to surgical stage, the average SUVmax was 6.1 in stage III, 5.2 in stage II and 5.3 in stage I. Recurrence was observed in 2 (9.5%), with SUVmax of 15.6 and 1.9. The median follow-up was 23.4 months and no deaths were reported.  Conclusion : Although limited by a small sample size, higher values of SUVmax in patients with post-surgery upstaging, in adenocarcinoma and in more advanced stages was observed in this study.
A Randomized Study Assessing the Systematic Search for Maxillary Sinusitis in Nasotracheally Mechanically Ventilated Patients
Authors: LAURENT HOLZAPFEL, CLAUDE CHASTANG, GUY DEMINGEON, JULIEN BOHE, BONAVY PIRALLA, ALAIN COUPRY
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1999)

The objective of this randomized study was to compare the occurrence of nosocomial pneumonia in nasotracheally intubated patients who were randomly allocated either to a systematic search of sinusitis by CT scan (study group) or not (control group). A total of 399 patients were included: 272 male and 127 female; mean age, 61 ± 17 yr; SAPS: 12.6 ± 4.9. The study group consisted of 199 patients and the control group consisted of 200. In the study group, sinus CT scans were performed in case of fever at Days 4 and 8 and then every 7 d. Nosocomial sinusitis was defined as follows: fever of ⩾ 38 ° C, radiographic (sinusal air-fluid level or opacification on CT scan) signs, and presence of purulent aspirate from the involved sinus puncture with ⩾ 103 cfu/ml. Patients with sinusitis received sinus lavage and intravenously administered antibiotics. In the study group, 80 patients experienced nosocomial sinusitis. In the control group, no patient was treated for a sinusitis. Ventilator-associated bronchopneumonia (VAP) was observed in 88 patients: 37 in the study group (1 mo Kaplan-Meier estimate, 34%) versus 51 in the control group (1 mo Kaplan-Meier estimate, 47%); (p = 0.02, log-rank test; relative risk [RR] = 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.40 to 0.93). Two months overall mortality was estimated at 36% in the study group versus 46% in the control group (p = 0.03, log-rank test; RR = 0.71; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.97). We conclude that the occurrence of VAP in patients undergoing prolonged mechanical ventilation via a nasotracheal intubation can be prevented by the systematic search and treatment of nosocomial sinusitis. The effect on mortality should be confirmed.
Lung Colony Assay With a Squamous Cell Carcinoma Derived From the Respiratory Tract of Mice2
Authors: M. L. Williams, P. Nettesheim
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1973)

A lung colony assay with a respiratory tract carcinoma was developed. This transplantation model provides a method to determine the relative frequency of colony-forming units in a neoplasm grownin its natural environment. Experimental evidence indicates that this well-differentiated squamous cell-carcinoma consists of heterogeneouscell populations with differing proliferative and differentiative potentials. This tumor system should be useful for determining the efficacy of various types of lung cancer therapy.
Spirometric Values in Obese Individuals
Authors: GUNNAR GUDMUNDSSON, MELBA CERVENY, D. MICHAEL SHASBY
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1997)

Obesity is increasingly prevalent. Earlier studies indicated that there was a significant but small difference in spirometric values between sitting and standing position in the normal population. It is not known if this is true for obese individuals. The recommendations of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) are to document if a spirometry is done in a sitting or standing position. We performed a study in which we compared sitting and standing spirometric values in obese individuals. Patients with a body mass index (BMI) ⩾ 30 kg/m2 who were referred for spirometry were invited to participate. All tests were done according to American Thoracic Society recommendations. We studied 50 subjects (32 females and 18 males; mean age 45 yr [SD ± 14.4]). Age range was 20–71 years. Average BMI was 39 (SD ± 7, range 30 to 65). Twenty-two did the first testing in the sitting position and 28 standing. There was a small but statistically significant difference between forced vital capacity (FVC) in the standing versus sitting position (Wilcoxen test, p ⩽ 0.05). There was no significant difference in FEV1 between sitting and standing. Our conclusion is that body position is not important when performing spirometry in persons with BMI ⩾ 30 kg/m2.
Does cranial irradiation reduce the risk for bone marrow relapse in acute myelogenous leukemia? Unexpected results of the Childhood Acute Myelogenous Leukemia Study BFM-87.
Authors: U Creutzig, J Ritter, M Zimmermann, G Schellong
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1993)

PURPOSE One of the goals of study AMA-BFM-87 was to test prospectively in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients if cranial irradiation could be replaced by late intensification therapy with high-dose cytarabine (Ara-C) and etoposide (VP-16). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with a low risk of CNS relapses (ie, no initial CNS disease, WBC count at diagnosis &lt; or = 70.000/microL) were randomized for irradiation (group A, 31 patients). In 25 patients (group B), randomization was refused. As interim results showed no increase of CNS relapses in nonirradiated patients, prophylactic irradiation was discontinued after 2 1/2 years to prevent unnecessary CNS toxicity. Forty-four patients (group C) entered the study after randomization had been stopped. RESULTS In all patients with a low risk of CNS recurrences (n = 100), a significantly higher probability of relapse-free interval (pRFI) of 5 years was found in irradiated patients (pRFI = .78) compared with nonirradiated patients (pRFI = .41) (P = .007). Moreover, a slightly higher incidence of CNS relapses was observed in nonirradiated patients. Due to the small number of patients, this was not observed when randomized patients only were analyzed. In accordance with these findings, the favorable outcome of low-risk patients in the preceding study, AML-BFM-83 (pRFI &gt; .80), could only be reproduced in study AML-BFM-87 in patients who had received cranial irradiation. CONCLUSION These results indicate that cranial irradiation should be an integral part of the treatment of all AML patients not undergoing bone marrow transplantation. Residual blasts in the CNS may escape systemic chemotherapy and lead to recurrence of the initial disease not only in the CNS, but also in the bone marrow.
Quality of life and functional capacity in heart failure patients
Authors: Ivan Nogueira, Ingrid Azevedo, Patricia Nogueira, Denise Servantes, Fabricia da Costa, Japy Filho
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction:  Patients with heart failure (HF) show a progressive disability and decline in quality of life, both related to dyspnea and fatigue. Thus, there is a growing interest in measuring quality of life (QoL), either with generic instruments, such as the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), or with specific ones, such as the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ).   Objective:  This study aimed to investigate which QoL questionnaire, SF-36 or MLHFQ, best expresses the functional capacity in HF.   Methods:  We used the SF-36 and MLHFQ for assessment of QoL. For assessment of functional capacity, we used the cardiopulmonary test, on a treadmill, using the Weber protocol, and the distance walked during the six-minute walk test (6MWT).   Results:  46 patients diagnosed with HF (22 men, mean age 52 years), Class II and III of the New York Heart Association. We observed a significant correlation between the physical and emotional domains of the SF-36 and VE/VCO 2  peak (r = -0.3, p  2  (r =- 0.5, p    Conclusion:  The MLHFQ had higher correlation values when considering the variables of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and the distance walked in 6MWT compared to the generic instrument for assessing quality of life, the SF-36.
Photoepilation with a diode laser vs. intense pulsed light: a randomized, intrapatient left-to-right trial
Authors: A. Klein, S. Steinert, W. Baeumler, M. Landthaler, P. Babilas
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2012)

Safe and efficient options for removing unwanted hair are in great demand. Laser devices and intense pulsed light (IPL) sources are the most commonly used treatment modalities. Yet, only a few randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing laser and IPL devices are available, and RCTs with long-term results are missing from the literature.To compare the safety and long-term efficacy of diode lasers (DL) and IPL sources for axillary hair removal, we conducted an intrapatient, left-to-right, assessor-blinded and controlled trial.IPL (Ellipse Flex PPT; Danish Dermatological Development, Hoersholm, Denmark; λem=600-950 nm) and DL (LightSheer XC system; Lumenis Inc., Santa Clara, CA, U.S.A.; λem=800 nm) treatments were evaluated in 30 study participants (skin type II-III) with unwanted axillary hair growth. Six treatments with each device were carried out at 4-week intervals. Final assessment was conducted 12 months after the last treatment by means of hair counts using close-up photographs. The primary endpoint was reduction in hair growth, analysed on an intention-to-treat and last-observation-carried-forward basis (n=30), and secondary endpoints were patient-rated efficacy, treatment-related pain, adverse effects and treatment duration.Both devices significantly reduced hair counts. Mean reductions from baseline (3 and 12 months after the last treatment) were 59·7% and 69·2% for DL and 42·4% and 52·7% for IPL treatment (P<0·01), respectively. DL treatment induced significantly more pain [3·7±2·1 (DL) vs. 1·6±1·4 (IPL); P<0·01; visual analogue scale] but could be conducted faster [33·1±3·8 s (DL) vs. 40·1±5·0 s (IPL); P<0·01]. No severe side-effects were observed for either therapy.Both DL and IPL treatments are highly effective, long lasting and safe. DL was found to be more effective than IPL treatment. DL treatment was more painful but less time-consuming than IPL therapy.
Molecular Pathways: Targeting the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) in the Immunotherapy of Cancer
Authors: Leticia Corrales, Thomas F. Gajewski
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2015)

Novel immunotherapy approaches are transforming the treatment of cancer, yet many patients remain refractory to these agents. One hypothesis is that immunotherapy fails because of a tumor microenvironment that fails to support recruitment of immune cells, including CD8(+) T cells. Therefore, new approaches designed to initiate a de novo antitumor immune response from within the tumor microenvironment are being pursued. Recent evidence has indicated that spontaneous activation of the Stimulator of Interferon Genes (STING) pathway within tumor-resident dendritic cells leads to type I IFN production and adaptive immune responses against tumors. This pathway is activated in the presence of cytosolic DNA that is detected by the sensor cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and generates cyclic GMP-AMP (cGAMP), which binds and activates STING. As a therapeutic approach, intratumoral injection of STING agonists has demonstrated profound therapeutic effects in multiple mouse tumor models, including melanoma, colon, breast, prostate, and fibrosarcoma. Better characterization of the STING pathway in human tumor recognition, and the development of new pharmacologic approaches to engage this pathway within the tumor microenvironment in patients, are important areas for clinical translation.
Pan-Hypopituitarism and Diabetes Insipidus after a Heart Transplant
Authors: B Vaidya, J Cavet, M D Boggild, G Parry, P Kendall-Taylor, S G Ball
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2001)

The increased incidence of malignancy, particularly lymphoproliferative disorder, in organ transplant recipients1 can present diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
To determine the prevalence and predictors of smoking and smokeless tobacco use amongst women in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Nadia Sharif, Javaid Khan
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

STUDY DESIGN Cross sectional study.

STUDY SAMPLE A Convenient sample of 485 female attendants was taken for the study. A standard questionnaire for tobacco use, developed by WHO, was used.

Results : 

Prevalence of tobacco 

Overall, 96(19.6%) admitted to using tobacco in one form or another. 13(2.7%) of the total respondents were smokers and 83(17.1%) were smokeless tobacco users.

The use of tobacco was found to increase with age and was highest among the age group of 66 years and above (P<0.01, C.I 95%). A higher prevalence of tobacco use was found in women who had never gone to school and the prevalence of tobacco use decreased with increasing education(P<0.001,O.R 4.6 with CI 95%). When the association between marital status and tobacco use was assessed it was found that tobacco use was more prevalent amongst married women (P<0.001, O.R 6.13 with CI 95%).It was found that tobacco use was more prevalent amongst the working/employed women as compared to the non working women/house wives (P<0.05,O.R=1.90 with C.I=95%). When the participants were asked about the extent of harm tobacco can cause, 69.5% participants were of the view that it was very harmful while 6.8% thought that it was harmless. The remaining participants thought that it caused little harm.

Being hospital based, our study may have the shortcomings of a hospital based study. Another limitation could be due to the fact that it was done in Karachi and the results may not be generalisable across the whole country.Investment in epidemiological studies of tobacco use and its predictors in different areas of the country among different population groups would be very beneficial in our fight against tobacco.

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LSC 2013 abstract - Volatile organic compounds may provide a new and promising tool for diagnosing interstitial lung diseases
Authors: Agnes Boots, Roel Schins, Roger Godschalk, Catrin Albrecht, Jan Dallinga, Aalt Bast, Marjolein Drent, Frederik-Jan van Schooten
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Although hematological markers may indicate interstitial lung diseases (ILD), ultimate diagnosis requires invasive techniques such as lung biopsy. Therefore, there9s an urgent need for a non-invasive diagnostic tool such as the analysis of exhaled air, containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) useful as biomarkers of pulmonary damaging conditions such as oxidative stress and inflammation.  In vitro, the pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidative effects of bleomycin have been explored in the human epithelial cell line BEAS-2B. Endpoints included the volatome, cytotoxicity and markers of oxidative stress (production of oxidants and malondialdehyde (MDA)) and inflammation (interleukin(IL)-8 and 6). To in vivo identify ILD-specific VOC patterns, the breath of 50 ILD patients and 50 healthy controls was analyzed.  In vitro,5 VOCs were sufficient to correctly classify control and bleomycin-treated cells with 95% correctness using the original data set and 85% using cross-validated observations. These discriminating VOCs are mainly oxygen-containing poly-unsaturated hydrocarbons resulting from lipid peroxidation. Additionally, oxidant production and MDA, IL-8 and IL-6 levels were dose-dependently elevated upon bleomycin treatment whereas no cytotoxicity was observed. The in vivo ILD volatome is currently under analysis. Preliminary data show that discrimination between patients and healthy controls, as well as between the various severity stages of ILD, is possible based on a limited VOC number.  VOC analysis appears to be very promising in detecting ILD-like changes in vitro and is currently investigated as a new tool for diagnosing ILD in vivo.