tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Independent Evaluation of Middle School–Based Drug Prevention Curricula
Authors: Anna B. Flynn, Mathea Falco, Sophia Hocini
Journal: JAMA Pediatrics (2015)

Lack of robust program evaluation has hindered the effectiveness of school-based drug abuse prevention curricula overall. Independently evaluated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of universal, middle school-based drug abuse prevention curricula are the most useful indicators of whether such programs are effective or ineffective.To conduct a systematic review identifying independently evaluated RCTs of universal, middle school-based drug abuse prevention curricula; extract data on study quality and substance use outcomes; and assess evidence of program effectiveness.PsycInfo, Educational Resources Information Center, Science Citation Index, Social Science Citation Index, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched between January 1, 1984, and March 15, 2015. Search terms included variations of drug, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana use, as well as school, prevention, and effectiveness. Studies included in the review were RCTs carried out by independent evaluators of universal school-based drug prevention curricula available for dissemination in the United States that reported alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, or other drug use outcomes. Two researchers extracted data on study quality and outcomes independently using a data extraction form and met to resolve disagreements.A total of 5071 publications were reviewed, with 13 articles meeting final inclusion criteria. Of the 13 articles, 6 RCTs of 4 distinct school-based curricula were identified for inclusion. Outcomes were reported for 42 single-drug measures in the independent RCTs, with just 3 presenting statistically significant (P < .05) differences between the intervention group and the control group. One program revealed statistically significant positive effects at final follow-up (Lions-Quest Skills for Adolescence).The results of our review demonstrate the dearth of independent research that appropriately evaluates the effectiveness of universal, middle school-based drug prevention curricula. Independent evaluations show little evidence of effectiveness for widely used programs. New methods may be necessary to approach school-based adolescent drug prevention.
A prospective study of pyrogenic reactions in hemodialysis patients using bicarbonate dialysis fluids filtered to remove bacteria and endotoxin.
Authors: D A Pegues, C W Oettinger, L A Bland, J C Oliver, M J Arduino, S M Aguero, S K McAllister, S M Gordon, M S Favero, W R Jarvis
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1992)

Pyrogenic reactions (PR) are a well-recognized complication of hemodialysis and have been associated with dialyzer reuse, high-flux dialysis, and bicarbonate dialysate. However, the roles of bacteria and endotoxin in dialysate for producing PR are not well defined. To determine the effect of removing most bacteria and endotoxin from the dialysate on the incidence of PR, a cohort of chronic hemodialysis patients receiving high-flux, high-efficiency, or conventional hemodialysis at three centers with bicarbonate dialysis fluids that had been filtered with a polysulfone high-flux hemodialyzer was prospectively studied. Unfiltered bicarbonate concentrate had median bacterial and endotoxin concentrations of 479,000 CFU/mL and 39,800 pg/mL, respectively. After filtration of the bicarbonate concentrate at the central proportioner, dialysate had a median 9.2 CFU/mL of bacteria and 17.8 pg/mL of endotoxin. Dialysate filtered at individual proportioning dialysis machines had a median 0.001 CFU/mL of bacteria and 0.19 pg/mL of endotoxin. Nine PR were identified among 303 patients after 28,007 hemodialysis treatments (0.3 PR/1,000 treatments). The rate of PR was similar for the three hemodialysis treatment modalities and for first-use compared with reused dialyzers. Although the PR rate in this study was lower (P = 0.046) than the PR rate of a previous study with unfiltered dialysis fluids (0.7 PR/1,000 treatments), it represents a difference of only 10 PR in over 28,000 treatments. It was concluded that filtration of hemodialysis fluids is efficacious in removing bacterial and endotoxin contamination and can result in a lower incidence of PR in patients receiving high-flux, high-efficiency, or conventional hemodialysis.
Doctor-patient communication and ethical issues.
Authors: L M Parker
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1989)

Article Tools Article Tools OPTIONS & TOOLS Export Citation Track Citation Add To Favorites Rights & Permissions COMPANION ARTICLES No companion articles ARTICLE CITATION DOI: 10.1200/JCO.1989.7.9.1182 Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print September 22, 2016 PMID: 2671278 Doctor-patient communication and ethical issues. L M ParkerxL M ParkerSearch for articles by this author https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.1989.7.9.1182 PDF "Doctor-patient communication and ethical issues.." Journal of Clinical Oncology, 7(9), pp. 1182–1183© 1989 by American Society of Clinical OncologyKeywords: Biomedical and Behavioral ResearchProfessional Patient Relationship... Show All
Usutu virus – potential risk of human disease in Europe
Authors: A Vázquez, M A Jiménez-Clavero, L Franco, O Donoso-Mantke, V Sambri, M Niedrig, H Zeller, A Tenorio
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2011)

Usutu virus (USUV) is an African mosquito-borne flavivirus, member of the Japanese encephalitis antigenic group. This avian virus is transmitted by arthropod vectors (mainly mosquitoes of the Culex pipiens complex). It is well known that free-living birds, including migratory species, have the potential to disperse certain pathogenic microorganisms. Usutu virus has recently been introduced to Europe and is spreading through Austria, Hungary, Italy, Spain and Switzerland, causing disease in birds and humans. Like West Nile virus, USUV may become a resident pathogen in Europe and the consequences for public health should be considered. Many different biotic and abiotic factors affect the survival of the virus in a new environment and influence the efficiency of its geographical dispersal. In this article, we consider the possibility of including USUV infections among the vector-borne diseases to be monitored in Europe.
Endothelin Receptor Blockade Ameliorates Vascular Fragility in Endothelial Cell–Specific Fli‐1–Knockout Mice by Increasing Fli‐1 DNA Binding Ability
Authors: Kaname Akamata, Yoshihide Asano, Takashi Yamashita, Shinji Noda, Takashi Taniguchi, Takehiro Takahashi, Yohei Ichimura, Tetsuo Toyama, Maria Trojanowska, Shinichi Sato
Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology (2015)

Objective It is generally accepted that blockade of endothelin receptors has potentially beneficial effects on vasculopathy associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc). The aim of this study was to clarify the molecular mechanism underlying these effects using endothelial cell–specific Fli‐1–knockout (Fli‐1 ECKO) mice, an animal model of SSc vasculopathy. Methods Levels of messenger RNA for target genes and the expression and phosphorylation levels of target proteins were determined in human and murine dermal microvascular endothelial cells by real‐time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting, respectively. The binding of Fli‐1 to the target gene promoters was evaluated using chromatin immunoprecipitation. Expression levels of Fli‐1 and α‐smooth muscle actin in murine skin were evaluated using immunohistochemistry. Vascular structure and permeability were evaluated in mice injected with fluorescein isothiocyanate–dextran and Evans blue dye, respectively. Results In human dermal microvascular endothelial cells, endothelin 1 induced phosphorylation of Fli‐1 at Thr 312 through the sequential activation of c‐Abl and protein kinase Cδ, leading to a decrease in Fli‐1 protein levels as well as a decrease in binding of Fli‐1 to the target gene promoters, whereas bosentan treatment reversed those effects. In Fli‐1 ECKO mice, 4 weeks of treatment with bosentan increased endothelial Fli‐1 expression, resulting in vascular stabilization and the restoration of impaired leaky vessels. Conclusion The vascular fragility of Fli‐1 ECKO mice was improved by bosentan through the normalization of Fli‐1 protein levels and activity in endothelial cells, which may explain, in part, the mechanism underlying the beneficial effects of endothelin receptor blockade on SSc vasculopathy.
Distinct bacterial species: Escherichia coli and staphylococcus aureus have specific microcalorimetric patterns
Authors: Alexandru Steriade, Dragos Zaharia, Alexandru Muntean, Octavian Balint, Miron Bogdan, Mircea Popa, Vlad Popa
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Premise: Microcalorimetry represents a method through which micro heat variations of bacterial cultures can be recorded, in a form of a heatflow-time curve.

Objective: Our research aimed to identify the similarities and differences in bacterial microcalorimetric growth patterns of 2 distinct bacterial species.

Material and method: Series of experiments were conducted for E.Coli (15 experiments) as well as for S.Aureus (13 experiments) and the obtained thermograms were then compared. Several heatflow curve parameters were identified and then used for comparison.

Results: The obtained microcalorimetric curves present 2 peaks, each curve providing different recorded parameters.

After data analysis, we identified a set of parameters of thermograms that can be used to objectively differentiate the 2 species (with differences being statistically significant). In our opinion, these parameters could allow a primary microcalorimetric characterization of the bacterial growth. Furthermore, by using this method, identification of bacterial species could be possible in the near future.

The following parameters were defined: Time (h) to first peak, time to second peak, time to bacterial growth signal detection, time to bacterial growth signal loss, max first peak height, max second peak height.

Conclusion: Microcalorimetry represents a method which could be used to differentiate 2 bacterial species and maybe even to identify bacteria. Provided with a high sensibility in detecting bacterial presence, it could offer real time information regarding the characteristics of the bacterial population (antibiotic susceptibility).
Montelukast improves air trapping, not airway remodeling, in moderate-to-severe patients with asthma: A pilot tudy
Authors: Jinming Gao, Feng Cai, Bing Wang
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background We hypothesized that oral LTRA with ICS and LABA combination would improve small airways function in moderate-to-severe asthmatics.

Methods This was a randomized, double-blind, parallell study performed in 38 patients treated with salmeterol/fluticasone (SFC) plus montelukast (SFC+M) or SFC plus placebo over 24 weeks. Small airways function was assessed by physiological studies and HRCT image analysis.

Results Over 24 weeks of treatment, RV/TLC was improved by 15.41 ± 6.67 % in patients receiving SFC+M while RV/TLC was decreased by 8.57 ± 10.26% in patients receiving SFC, the difference was siginificant ( P =0.02).

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There was a trend towards a significant difference in FEV1/FVC in SFC+M group compared to that in SFC group (17.87 ± 8.17% vs 12.28 ± 9.2%, P =0.056).

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There was no significant change in wall area. Patients receiving SFC+M showed significant improvement in E:I ratio (0.894 ± 0.005 vs 0.871 ± 0.003, P =0.002).

Conclusions We have shown that montelukast improves distal lung function reflected by air trapping, but not airway wall thickness, in moderate-to-severe asthma.

 [1]: pending:yes
Effects of caffeine on the human circadian clock in vivo and in vitro
Authors: Tina M. Burke, Rachel R. Markwald, Andrew W. McHill, Evan D. Chinoy, Jesse A. Snider, Sara C. Bessman, Christopher M. Jung, John S. O’Neill, Kenneth P. Wright
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2015)

Caffeine delays the human circadian clock and affects cellular timekeeping through an adenosine receptor–dependent mechanism.
Secondary Disease in Rat Radiation Chimeras&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN2"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN3"&gt;3&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: H. Balner, M. J. de Vries, D. W. van Bekkum
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1964)

Journal Article Secondary Disease in Rat Radiation Chimeras Get access H. Balner, H. Balner Radiobiological Institute TNO, 151 Lange Kleiweg, Rijswijk Z. H., The Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar M. J. de Vries, M. J. de Vries Radiobiological Institute TNO, 151 Lange Kleiweg, Rijswijk Z. H., The Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar D. W. van Bekkum D. W. van Bekkum Radiobiological Institute TNO, 151 Lange Kleiweg, Rijswijk Z. H., The Netherlands Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 32, Issue 2, February 1964, Pages 419–459, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/32.2.419 Published: 01 February 1964 Article history Received: 03 July 1963 Published: 01 February 1964
Pulmonary arterial hypertension – A single-centre experience
Authors: Abílio Reis, Ana Gomes, Miguel Ricardo, Célia Cruz, Joana Rocha, Luísa Carvalho, Fabienne Gonçalves
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background and objectives   Registries are an important source of information for rare diseases like Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), but don9t always translate real life results. Specialized PAH Centres experience can add important information about local specificities conditioning clinical management and outcomes.   Methods   Data from 211 consecutive patients referred as Pulmonary Hypertension (PH), between April 2002 and October 2013, was exported from the centre dedicated software to Excel and then analysed with SPSS. Bivariate analysis was performed using Student t or Wilcoxon tests; survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meyer method.   Results   PH was confirmed in 120 (56.8%) patients. CHD (18%), CTEPH (18%), IPAH/HPAH (15.8%) and CTD (9.2%) were the most frequent etiologies; 18% patients had a mixed one. Nineteen patients were excluded for analysis (9 with PAWP > 15 mmHg and 10 without a follow-up visit) and a 101-study population was established. Mean age at diagnosis was 49.6±19.6 years; 66% were women; mean follow-up time was 46±33 months and mortality rate was 28%. Most patients (91%) were treated with PAH-specific therapy and more frequently (44%) with a single drug. Follow-up evaluation (1 st  and last visit) showed significant improvement for: FC (III/IV 60.4% and 41.6%, p=0.000), 6MWD (319.6±132.9 and 357.7±162.1 mts, p=0.003) and PVR (8.1±4.8 and 5.8±3.2, p=0.007). No significant differences were found for NT-proBNP, RAP and CI. Global survival at 1, 3 and 5 years was 87%, 77% and 64%, respectively.   Conclusions   CHD, CETPH and mixed were the main aetiologies of our casuistic. Pre-defined follow-up and treatment protocols and specific-PAH drugs availability surely contributed for the good outcomes.
Prognostic and predictive value of ERβ1 and ERβ2 in the Intergroup Exemestane Study (IES)—first results from PathIES
Authors: V. Speirs, G. Viale, K. Mousa, C. Palmieri, S.N. Reed, H. Nicholas, M. Cheang, J. Jassem, P.E. Lønning, E. Kalaitzaki, C.J.H. van de Velde, B.B. Rasmussen, D.M. Verhoeven, A.M. Shaaban, J.M.S. Bartlett, J.M. Bliss, R.C. Coombes, J. Jassem, A. Brociek, A. Pliszka, J. Andersen, B. Bruun Rasmussen, C. van de Velde, E. Meershoek, R. Paridaens, A. Delorge, A. Coates, R. Camler, R.C. Coombes, K. Mousa, S. Reed, D. Verhoeven, S. Herman, M. Visini, P. Lonning
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2015)
Relationship of quality of life and life expectancy with tolerance to physical exercises and cardio respiratory parameters in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Diloram Rakhimova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in many respects predetermines the failure of disease, connected with reduction in quality of life (QL) and life expectancy (LE).

Aim. Estimation of relation of quality of life and life expectancy with clinical-functional parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) complicated by PAH.

Methods. In 66 patients with PAH we assessed a clinical status on scale «BODE», tolerance to physical exercises was measured by 6-minute walk test (6-MWT), QL was measured by specialized Seattle questionnaire. Retrospective analysis helped to define LE. Functional condition of pulmonary ventilating abilities (PVA) is determined on device peak flowmeter. Parameters of pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) were obtained by echocardiography.

Results. There were no differences in QL and LE self-assessment between patients COPD with alike ventilating abilities pulmonary, alike 6-MWT and «BODE».

QL and LE is related to the severity of PVA, PAH and clinical status as assessed by COPD class.

Weak or moderate relationship was found to parameters of PVA, PAP. In the multivariate model with only 6-MWT distance clinical status were found to be an independent predictor of QL and LE.

Conclusion. Consequently, 6-MWT, clinical status were provide additional clinical information related to QL and LE outcome that is not captured by other indexes of clinical status and pulmonary arterial pressure.
Radiological features of solitary pulmonary nodule (SPN) and application of two lung cancer prediction models
Authors: Zhaorong Ou, Lianqin Tao, Guochao Shi, Huanying Wan
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Objective To summarize the imaging features of solitary pulmonary nodules, and compare the two types of lung cancer prediction models for solitary pulmonary nodules. Methods A retrospective study of Ruijin Hospital between 2002 and 2009 with newly discovered SPNs which is less than 30mm. The patients all received pathological diagnosis. Summarize the clinical and imaging characteristics, then validate and compare the diagnostic accuracy of two lung cancer prediction models for estimating the probability of malignancy in patients with SPNs. Results 90 patients were enrolled, of which 32 cases are benign, 58 cases are malignant. Our study showed that we can identify the SPNs between benign and maligant by the SPN edge features of lobulation (P<0.05). The area under ROC curve of VA model was 0.712 (95% CI 0.606 to 0.821); Area under ROC curve of Mayo Clinic model was 0.753(95% CI 0.652 to 0.843), and it is superior to VA model. Conclusions It is meaningful for the identification of benign and maligant SPNs by the lobulation sign in CT scan. We can integrate the clinical features and the lung cancer predicting models to direct our clinical work.

![Figure][1]  [1]: pending:yes
The Impact of Aging and Smoking on the Future Burden of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: TALITHA L. FEENSTRA, MARIANNE L. L. van GENUGTEN, RUDOLF T. HOOGENVEEN, EMIEL F. WOUTERS, MAUREEN P. M. H. RUTTEN-van MÖLKEN
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2001)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) causes extensive disability, primarily among the elderly. On the World Health Organization ranking list of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), COPD rises from the twelfth to the fifth place from 1990 to 2020. The purpose of this study is to single out the impact of changes in demography and in smoking behavior on COPD morbidity, mortality, and health care costs. A dynamic multistate life table model was used to compute projections for the Netherlands. Changes in the size and composition of the population cause COPD prevalence to increase from 21/1,000 in 1994 to 33/1,000 in 2015 for men, and from 10/ 1,000 to 23/1,000 for women. Changes in smoking behavior reduce the projected prevalence to 29/1,000 for men, but increase it to 25/ 1,000 for women. Total life years lost increase more than 60%, and DALYs lost increase 75%. Costs rise 90%; smokers cause approximately 90% of these costs. The model demonstrates the unavoidable increase in the burden of COPD, an increase that is larger for women than for men. The major causes of this increase are past smoking behavior and the aging of the population; changes in smoking behavior will have only a small effect in the nearby future.
Investigations on the role of region-specific IL-13 receptor alpha 1 expression along the airway tree in mucus production in asthma
Authors: Christina Vock, Ali Önder Yildirim, Christina Wagner, Heinz Fehrenbach, Michael Wegmann
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Increased mucus production is a critical factor impairing lung function in patients suffering from bronchial asthma. In acute and chronic mouse models of allergic asthma metaplasia of mucus producing goblet cells (GC) was found in proximal but not in distal airways although secretion of interleukin (IL)-13, the main trigger of mucus production, was significantly elevated along the entire airway tree. The current study aimed at elucidating what detains TH2 cell derived IL-13 from inducing mucus in distal airways.  BALB/c mice were sensitized with OVA/Alum and subsequently challenged with OVA for one (acute) or twelve weeks (chronic). Lungs were fixed under constant pressure with 4% PFA followed by paraffin embedding. Samples were stained with PAS to analyse mucus production. Quantitative (q)PCR was performed on microdissected airways and airway epithelial cells isolated by laser-capture microdissection (LCM).  QPCR revealed higher expression of IL-13Rα1 in proximal versus distal airways in both acutely (1.5-fold) and chronically (1.5-fold) challenged mice. Similarly, in PBS-treated control mice expression of IL-13Rα1 was higher in proximal airways (1.3-fold) and even more prominent in epithelial cells (2-fold) isolated by LCM from proximal airways.  Expression levels of transcription factors down-stream the IL-13Rα1 signalling implicated in mucus hyper-production, such as Spdef or FoxA2, were also region-specifically regulated.  These results suggest, that the low expression of IL-13Rα1 and hence, the reduced sensitivity towards IL-13, might protect distal airways from mucus plugging which would impair ventilation of the alveoli of the respective acinus.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in smokers with asthma
Authors: Plamen Pavlov, Yavor Ivanov, Pavlina Glogovska, Tsanya Popova, Elena Borissova, Ventzislav Nozharov
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Aim:  To find out what the prevalence of COPD amongst smokers with asthma is.   Material:  The study included 154 asthmatic patients - 46 (29.9%) men and 108 (70.1%) women, aged between 40 and 69 years, all of them current or ex-smokers. The patients did spirometry and filled in a specially designed respiratory questionnaire.   Results:  Spirometric criteria for COPD were found in 29.9% of all patients, in 24.1% of female and 43.5% of male patients (p=0.02). The prevalence of COPD was 23.2% amongst patients aged between 40 and 50 and 32.2% in patients above 50 (p=0.1). COPD was found in 6.1% of patients with less than 20 pack-years and in 56.2% in patients with ≥ 20 pack-years (p=0.0001). More current smokers had COPD than ex-smokers - 38.2% vs. 20.5% respectively (p=0.02) The risk for COPD in smokers with asthma was OR = 15.7 (95% CI, 3.8 - 64.5).   Conclusions:  One third of the current/former asthmatic patients above the age of 40 met the functional criteria for COPD. The prevalence of COPD was significantly higher in males and in older patients and depends on the pack-years.