tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
CPAP therapy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
Authors: Charalampos Mermigkis, Izolde Bouloukaki, Katerina Antoniou, Giannis Giannarakis, Demetrios Mermigkis, Nikolaos Siafakas, Sophia Schiza
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background: Recent literature shows an increased incidence of OSA in patients with IPF. However, there are no published studies related to CPAP treatment in these patients.  Aims and objectives: We aimed to assess CPAP effectiveness and adherence in sleep and overall quality of life parameters in IPF patients with OSA.  Methods: Twelve patients with newly diagnosed IPF and moderate to severe OSA were included and CPAP therapy was initiated. The patients completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Functional Outcomes in Sleep Questionnaire (FOSQ), the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire and the Beck Depression scale (BDS) before and 1, 3, 6 months after CPAP therapy.  Results: Statistical significant improvement was observed in the FOSQ at CPAP initiation and after 1, 3 and 6 months (p: 0.02). Improvement, although not statistical significant, was noted in ESS score (p: 0.65), PSQI (p: 0.41), FSS (p: 0.43), SF-36 (p: 0.31) and BDS (p: 0.53). All patients had intense follow up by our CPAP Clinic. Two patients experienced difficulties in CPAP acceptance and stopped usage after the first month. Heated humidification was added in all patients in order to improve compliance.  Conclusion: Effective CPAP treatment, with intense follow up by the CPAP clinic, in IPF patients with OSA, results in a significant improvement in daily living activities based on the FOSQ namely an OSA specific follow up questionnaire. Improvement, though not statistical significant, was also noted based on other questionnaires, probably related to the multifactorial influences of IPF in physical and mental health.
Pregnant teenagers and contraception
Authors: B J Whitlow, N Desmond, P Hay
Journal: BMJ (1995)

Psychiatric tourism is overloading London beds EDITOR,-A recent conference on metropolitan health care highlighted the plight of mentally ill people in London.Of special note was the serious shortage of admission beds in all urban areas in the United Kingdom,'2 with the bed occupancy rate for mental health now well above 100%, with some units actually running at over 120%.3Pressure seems greatest in inner London, and it is a far cry from the therapeutic standard of a bed occupancy rate no greater than about 85%.4Such occupancy would allow patients to be placed in their catchment area ward, with effective aftercare and an allocated key worker, as envisaged in the care programme approach.This shortage is generating extracontractual referrals to hospitals, both NHS and private, that are often far removed from the community from which the patient originates.The situation is exacerbated by the current shortfall in community care resources, and the increasing diversion of patients from the criminal justice system into the NHS.The lack of medium secure beds compounds the problem further.Such bed pressures have been identified as a key factor in the recent tragedy involving the homicide committed by Christopher Clunis.5A factor not previously noted, in our view, is
The Fifty-Year Decline of Cancer in America
Authors: Brad Rodu, Philip Cole
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: From 1950 to 1990, the overall cancer mortality rate increased steadily in the United States, a trend which ran counter to declining mortality from other major diseases. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of lung cancer on all-cancer mortality over the past 50 years. METHODS: Data from the National Centers for Health Statistics were used to develop mortality rates for all forms of cancer combined, lung cancer, and other-cancer (all-cancer minus lung cancer) from 1950 to 1998. RESULTS: When lung cancer is excluded, mortality from all other forms of cancer combined declined continuously from 1950 to 1998, dropping 25% during this period. The decline in other-cancer mortality was approximately 0.4% annually from 1950 to 1990 but accelerated to 0.9% per year from 1990 to 1996 and to 2.2% per year from 1996 to 1998. CONCLUSION: The long-term decline is likely due primarily to improvements in medical care, including screening, diagnosis, and treatment.
Serum B cell activating factor (BAFF) as a prognostic biomarker in interstitial lung diseases associated with connective tissue diseases
Authors: Tsutomu Hamada, Takuya Samukawa, Tomohiro Kumamoto, Ikkou Higashimoto, Keiko Mizuno, Masaki Watanabe, Hiromasa Inoue
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background; B cell activating factor (BAFF) is a vital homeostatic cytokine for B cells, and has been associated with autoimmune diseases. We have already shown that the However, the elevation of serum BAFF has not been investigated in patients with interstitial lung diseases associated with connective tissue diseases (CTD-ILD) and idiopathic interstitial pneumonia (IIP). However, BAFF has not been confirmed as a prognostic biomarker for CTD-ILD.  Aim; The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of serum BAFF as a prognostic useful biomarker in patients with CTD-ILD.  Methods; We evaluated the association between serum BAFF concentrations and mortality in 37 patients with CTD-ILD. 23 healthy volunteers were included as a control group. Serum BAFF levels were measured by ELISA.  Results; Serum BAFF levels in serum were significantly elevated in patients with CTD-ILD (2.2±1.1 ng/ml) compared with control subjects (0.7±0.1 ng/ml, pl0.01). We found that increased serum BAFF level (g2.4 ng/ml) was associated with increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 15.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.43 to 156.70; p=0.02).  Conclusions; Increased serum BAFF level might be a predictor of mortality in patients with CTD-ILD.
Electron Microscopy in Mammary Cancer Research&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1"&gt;1&lt;/xref&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Nurul H. Sarkar, Dan H. Moore
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1972)

Morphological details of B and C particles are quite variable when observed in thin sections, and in many cases individual particles cannot be identified as either B or C. Negative staining provides a more discriminatory technique, since the unique surface projections of B particles are revealed by this method, enabling them to be clearly distinguished from C particles or other debris. By use of this technique, types of virus-like particles were observed in human milk: 1) MS-1 with spikes identical to the spikes of mouse mammary tumor virus (MuMTV); 2) MS-2 with spikes which are not identical to those of MuMTV, and 3) MS-3 having heads and tails and a smooth outer membrane. Some human milks have a destructive effect on the morphology of MuMTV.
News
Authors: Adrian Bridge
Journal: BMJ (1993)

UK woman wins first settlement for passive smoking Employers are under growing pressure to introduce no smoking policies in workplaces following the first successful claim for com- pensation for passive smoking in the United Kingdom.Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council has paid £15 000 in an out of court settlement to Veronica Bland, aged 36, who developed chronic bronchitis after 11 years of exposure to smoke from workmates' cigarettes.Ms Bland, a non-smoker who has worked in the council's education division since 1970, has been treated for respiratory problems since 1980.BetweenJuly 1988 and September 1989, when she sat near seven chain smoking colleagues in the school meals section, she claims that she inhaled the smoke of 150 cigarettes daily.The settlement was won with the help of Ms Bland's union, NALGO, which backed her legal action.It was hailed as a significant victory by the antismoking pressure group, ASH, which predicted a flood of similar claims.Deputy director Mark Flannagan said that the first passive smoking settlement in Australia, won by a bus driver, Sean Carroll, prompted employers to introduce smoke free zones "virtually overnight."He added: "The message to employers is: develop smoke free areas or you could be the next to pay out."Ms Bland suffered from persistent coughs, sore throats, catarrh, and eye irritation throughout her employment.She had antral washouts in 1989, but within a week of returning to work "felt as ill as ever," she said.She had been a soloist with a local choir performing throughout England and Europe, but her voice was no longer good enough for solos.She had stopped going to the theatre for fear of disrupting performances with a coughing fit, and took an hour each morning to "settle" her cough.The £15 000 covers pain, suffering and loss of amenity, disadvantage in the labour market through having to work in a smoke free environment, and the cost of medicines.Municipal Mutual, insurers for Stockport, settled the claim without admitting liability.Bruce Piper, NALGO's legal officer, said that the union had been prepared to go to court if necessary and to pay for a QC to represent Ms Bland.Ms Bland's case was supported by a strong medical report from a consultant at the London Chest Hospital.It says: "There can be no reasonable doubt that exposure to passive smoking at work has played an important part in causing her respiratory symptoms."fter her settlement was announced
Salmeterol versus slow-release theophylline combined with ketotifen in nocturnal asthma: a multicentre trial. French Multicentre Study Group
Authors: JF Muir, L Bertin, D Georges
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1992)

We wished to assess the efficacy of inhaled salmeterol (SML; 50 micrograms b.i.d.) compared to a combination of slow-release theophylline and ketotifen p.o. (TK; T 300 mg+K 1 mg b.i.d.) for the treatment of nocturnal asthma. Ninety six patients with nocturnal asthma, (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 60-90% of predicted value, reversibility > or = 15%, at least two nocturnal awakenings per week) were eligible for a multicentre, double-blind, double-dummy cross-over study (14-day run-in, two successive 28-day treatment periods). Efficacy was assessed as success/failure, success being defined as the complete disappearance of nocturnal symptoms/awakening during the last week of each treatment period. There was a statistically significant difference between SML and TK for this criterion: 46% and 39% success with SML during periods I (first 28-day period) and II (following the cross-over), compared to only 15% and 26% with TK, respectively (p < 0.01). SML was also significantly better for the other criteria (lung function, rescue salbutamol intake during day and night). Side-effects were five times less frequent in SML-treated patients (p < 0.004). Efficacy and tolerance of SML were obviously far better than those of TK in patients with nocturnal asthma.
Postoperative intraperitoneal (IP) 5’-fluoro-2’-deoxyuridine (FUDR) added to chemoradiation in patients curatively resected (R0) for locally advanced gastric and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma
Authors: E. Newman, R. Y. Chang, M. Potmesil, B. Donahue, S. G. Marcus, S. P. Hiotis, S. Iqbal, T. Ryan, H. S. Hochster, F. M. Muggia
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

4163 Background: Locally advanced gastric cancer, AJCC stage IB-IV (M0), is the most common presentation among patients (pts) in the US. Intergroup trial 0116 (NEJM, 2000, 345:925) evaluated the role of postoperative 5-Fluorouracil/Leucovorin (5-FU/LV) and 45 Gy of external beam radiation: adjuvant treatment improved overall survival (OS) over surgery alone. However, loco-regional recurrences were similar. We sought to test IP FUDR as a way to reduce peritoneal relapse and contribute to improved survival. Methods: The objective was to determine in 25 pts the rate of treatment completion and safety of IP FUDR (the Simon 2-stage optimum design), added after R0 gastric resection and preceding chemoradiation as per INT 0116. Pts with gastric/GEJ adenocarcinoma stage IB-IV (M0), R0 resection, performance status (PS) 0–2, were eligible. IP FUDR 3gm/dose/day was delivered on protocol days 1, 2, 3, 15, 16, and 17, followed by 5-FU/LV and external beam 45 Gy. Results: Pts with gastric/GEJ cancer (18/2), median age 61 years (31–74), male/female=15/5, ECOG PS 0/1/2=4/16/0, were enrolled. R0 gastric resection with dissection of median 22 lymph nodes (range, 10–76) was performed, with insertion of IP catheter. IP therapy started at median postoperative day 27 (range 13 - 42). 13 patients (65%) completed IP treatment with full dose of FUDR. The IP treatment was incomplete in 4 pts: obstructed catheter, grade 3 nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain (1 patient each) and one patient developed intra-abdominal abscess and bleeding after first IP course (the only major adverse event). As yet, three pts are not evaluable. Eleven pts completed post-IP chemoradiation: toxicities grade 3/4 included neutropenia (7 pts), febrile neutropenia (2), nausea/vomiting (3), mucositis (3), dehydration (3), diarrhea (2) and abdominal pain (1). With median follow-up of 11.6 months (range, 7.2–20.9), all pts are alive without evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: The adjuvant treatment regimen including IP FUDR is well tolerated. A randomized trial is planned to establish IP treatment impact on loco-regional recurrences and OS. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Major and Minor Criteria in Schizophrenia
Authors: ALVIN YUSIN, KAZUO NIHIRA, CLEMENT MORTASHED
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1974)

This study examines a population composed of schizophrenic and nonschizophrenic patients seen in the psychiarric emergency area of a medical center between May 1972 and July 1972. The authors determined the frequency distribution of their symptoms and from this distribution attempted to identify major and minor criteria that can be used to differentiate the schizophrenic syndrome from other psychiatric entities.
Oral N-acetylcysteine reduces selected humoral markers of inflammatory cell activity in BAL fluid from healthy smokers: correlation to effects on cellular variables
Authors: A Eklund, O Eriksson, L Hakansson, K Larsson, K Ohlsson, P Venge, H Bergstrand, A Bjornson, R Brattsand, C Glennow, al. et
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1988)

Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed on eleven healthy smokers before and after eight weeks of oral treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) 200 mg t.i.d. The concentrations of selected eosinophil and neutrophil granule constituents and of selected proteases and protease inhibitors, albumin and endotoxin were determined in the recovered BAL fluid and in plasma or serum samples. In addition, in vitro chemotactic activities for neutrophils and eosinophils were assessed in the BAL fluid. Significant reductions in BAL fluid content of lactoferrin (LF), eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), antichymotrypsin (ACT) and chemotactic activity for neutrophils were recorded after NAC treatment. The levels of other examined markers tended to be reduced or were not affected. In serum/plasma, the concentrations of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and elastase were reduced after NAC treatment whereas concentrations of other constituents examined were unaltered. These data, together with previously reported findings, suggest that oral NAC may influence the activity of "inflammatory" cells in the bronchoalveolar space of smokers.
Intraocular Methotrexate Level After High-Dose Intravenous Infusion
Authors: John W. Henson, Jane Yang, Tracy Batchelor
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

Article Tools Correspondence Article Tools OPTIONS & TOOLS Export Citation Track Citation Add To Favorites Rights & Permissions COMPANION ARTICLES No companion articles ARTICLE CITATION DOI: 10.1200/JCO.1999.17.4.1326c Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print September 21, 2016 Intraocular Methotrexate Level After High-Dose Intravenous Infusion John W. HensonxJohn W. HensonSearch for articles by this author , Jane YangxJane YangSearch for articles by this author , Tracy BatchelorxTracy BatchelorSearch for articles by this author Show More Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.1999.17.4.1326c First Page Full Text PDF Figures and Tables © 1999 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Etiology of spontaneous pneumothorax in Algiers: A retrospective study in Bab El Oued University Hospital
Authors: Meriem Kacimi, K. Khennouf, R. Yahiaoui, A. Fissah, R. Amrane
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Pneumothorax is defined as the presence of air in the pleural space described for the first time by Itard in 1803. The purpose of this retrospective study conducted over 23 months was to determine the etiological characteristics of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax in Algiers.This study was conducted in a respiratory unit of Bab El Oued university hospital between January 2011 to November 2012 .All patients over 18 with spontaneous pneumothorax were included. Sociodemographic, clinical, radiological data were recorded for all patients. Of the 52 patients admitted to the unit during the study period 68% presented secondary spontaneous pneumothorax and 32% classified as primary .Median patient age was 44 (range 19-70), the male to female ratio was 10.11; the most common causes of secondary spontaneous pneumothorax were emphysema and pulmonary tuberculosis.The findings of this study indicate the results closeness between infectious etiology and the non infectious disease which mirror an epidemiological transition in Algeria.
OrthoFinder: solving fundamental biases in whole genome comparisons dramatically improves orthogroup inference accuracy
Authors: David M. Emms, Steven Kelly
Journal: Genome biology (2015)

Abstract Identifying homology relationships between sequences is fundamental to biological research. Here we provide a novel orthogroup inference algorithm called OrthoFinder that solves a previously undetected gene length bias in orthogroup inference, resulting in significant improvements in accuracy. Using real benchmark datasets we demonstrate that OrthoFinder is more accurate than other orthogroup inference methods by between 8 % and 33 %. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of OrthoFinder by providing a complete classification of transcription factor gene families in plants revealing 6.9 million previously unobserved relationships.
Development and Testing of a Visit-Specific Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire: The Princess Margaret Hospital Satisfaction With Doctor Questionnaire
Authors: D. Andrew Loblaw, Andrea Bezjak, Terry Bunston†
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: To develop a psychometrically sound patient-satisfaction-with-physician questionnaire that can be used in an outpatient oncology setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was developed by a four-step process involving a total of 277 cancer patients. The item-generation process utilized input from 95 oncology outpatients, three medical researchers, and the relevant literature. Items were tested by 70 of the above patients. Initial item reduction was achieved by input from another eight patients. Factor analysis and validity testing used data derived from a different group of 174 oncology outpatients. Convergent validity was tested by correlating the Princess Margaret Hospital Patient Satisfaction with Doctor Questionnaire (PMH/PSQ-MD) with Rubin et al's Physician subscale of the Patient's Viewpoint Questionnaire (PS-PVQ) and Smith et al's Patient-Doctor Interaction Scale (PDIS). Divergent validity was tested by comparing these questionnaires with Spitzer's quality of life (QOL) questionnaire. RESULTS: The final PMH/PSQ-MD is a 29-item self-administered questionnaire with four response categories and a “does not apply” category. Four domains were confirmed by factor analysis: (1) information exchange, (2) interpersonal skills, (3) empathy, and (4) quality of time. The questionnaire has an overall Cronbach's alpha of 0.97; the values for each domain are, respectively, 0.92, 0.90, 0.88, and 0.88. The PMH/PSQ-MD correlated well with both the PDIS and the PS-PVQ (P &lt; .001 for both). Divergent validity was confirmed with Spitzer's QOL questionnaire. CONCLUSION: The PMH/PSQ-MD is an outpatient satisfaction questionnaire specific to the patient-physician interaction that has shown excellent internal consistency, is feasible, and has strong support for validity in this oncology population.
High-dose chemotherapy and autologous bone marrow support as consolidation after standard-dose adjuvant therapy for high-risk primary breast cancer.
Authors: W P Peters, M Ross, J J Vredenburgh, B Meisenberg, L B Marks, E Winer, J Kurtzberg, R C Bast, R Jones, E Shpall
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1993)

PURPOSE We studied high-dose cyclophosphamide, cisplatin, and carmustine (CPA/cDDP/BCNU) with autologous bone marrow support (ABMS) as consolidation after standard-dose adjuvant chemotherapy treatment of primary breast cancer involving 10 or more axillary lymph nodes. PATIENTS AND METHODS One hundred two women with stage IIA, IIB, IIIA, or IIIB breast cancer involving 10 or more lymph nodes at surgery were registered; 85 were eligible, treated, and assessable. Patients were treated with four cycles of standard-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and fluorouracil (CAF), followed by high-dose CPA/cDDP/BCNU with ABMS. RESULTS Actuarial event-free survival for the study patients at a median follow-up of 2.5 years is 72% (95% confidence interval, 56% to 82%). Comparison to three historical or concurrent Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) adjuvant chemotherapy trials selected for similar patients showed event-free survival at 2.5 years to be between 38% and 52%. Therapy-related mortality was 12%; pulmonary toxicity of variable severity occurred in 31% of patients. Quality-of-life evaluations indicate that patients are functioning well without major impairments. CONCLUSION High-dose consolidation with CPA/cDDP/BCNU and ABMS after standard-dose CAF results in a decreased frequency of relapse in patients with high-risk primary breast cancer compared with historical series at the median follow-up of 2.5 years. Evaluation in a prospective, randomized trial is warranted and currently underway.