tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Abstract 19738: Normal Coronary CT Angiography as a Strong Negative Predictor for Atherosclerosis of Carotid Artery in Patients with Suspected Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Naoyuki Yokoyama, Kumiko Konno, Ryu Iino, Kazuya Naito, Akiyoshi Miyazawa, Takaaki Isshiki
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Background:  Atherosclerosis of carotid artery is associated with cerebrovascular and cardiovascular event. However, few studies have compared atherosclerosis of carotid artery with coronary CT angiography (CCTA) findings within the same population.   Objective:  The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between CCTA and carotid ultrasound measures of atherosclerosis.   Methods:  CCTA and carotid ultrasound were performed in 232 consecutive patients (66±10 years, 115 males) with suspected coronary artery disease. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) was assessed by MSCT using Agaston method prior to CCTA. Normal CCTA was defined as no coronary artery plaque. Carotid plaque was defined as a focal region with IMT >1.0mm by carotid ultrasound. Carotid plaque score (CPS) was defined as the sum of all plaque heights in bilateral carotid arteries. Carotid stenosis was defined as a ≥70% reduction in diameter. All patients were classified as having (group 1) CACS=0, (group 2) 0   Result:  CACS was significantly correlated with CPS (r = 0.33, p    Conclusion:  Patients with CACS=0 have no carotid stenosis. However, even in patients with CACS=0, nearly 75% had carotid plaque. Normal CCTA, but not CACS=0, is a strong negative predictor for carotid artery plaque.
Effect of LAEDI (Local awareness and early diagnosis initiatives) in a low socioeconomic area population in United Kingdom
Authors: Farrukh Rauf, Peter Handslip
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:Compared to emergency admissions, patients referred to outpatients have earlier stage disease and better over-all survival. People from poor socioeconomic class have higher chance of overlooking early cancer symptoms and therefore delay seeking medical advice.  National Awareness and early diagnosis initiative (NAEDI): NAEDI is a public /third sector partnership aiming to improve awareness of cancer symptoms in public.  LAEDI: In response to NAEDI, Arden cancer network took number of local initiatives including visits to GPs, cartoon advertisement on local buses and road shows.  Performance measurement criteria and targets:  1) Fast track GP referrals to increase  2) Routine GP referrals to increase  3) Emergency Admissions to reduce  4) Operable disease at presentation to increase  5) Advanced disease at presentation to reduce  Target population:  North Warwickshire community selected from MSOA codes to represent the most deprived areas.  Results:  Interpretation: It was expected at the outset that the LAEDI should have greatest impact on the most deprived areas and this is exactly what we observed.  Conclusion: There has been a significant increase in operable stage from 8-18% across network but more marked in North Warwickshire from 13-24%.  LAEDI positively impacts on cancer outcome if targeted to right population with right support and this is strongly recommended from our observation.
Brief Report: Clinical Course Over Two Years in Patients With Early Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis and Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis Not Treated With Tumor Necrosis Factor Blockers: Results From the German Spondyloarthritis Inception Cohort
Authors: Denis Poddubnyy, Hildrun Haibel, Jürgen Braun, Martin Rudwaleit, Joachim Sieper
Journal: Arthritis & Rheumatology (2015)

Objective To investigate the clinical course of disease over 2 years in patients with nonradiographic axial spondylarthritis (SpA) and patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods The study group comprised 303 patients with axial SpA (158 patients with AS and a symptom duration of ≤10 years and 145 patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and a symptom duration of ≤5 years) who did not receive tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers during 2 years of followup. Results The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) did not differ between patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and those with AS at any time point during followup. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index was significantly higher in patients with AS at baseline only, but spinal mobility was generally better in patients with nonradiographic SpA compared with those with AS. At all time points, C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels were significantly higher in patients with AS compared with patients with nonradiographic axial SpA. Accordingly, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) was significantly higher in the patients with AS at 2 of 4 time points. When patients with a BASDAI score of ≥4 plus an elevated CRP level at baseline were analyzed over time, there were no significant differences in the proportions of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and those with AS who reached low disease activity status at ≥2 time points during 2 years of followup when a clinical definition of low disease activity was used (38% and 35%, respectively, achieved a BASDAI score of &lt;4, and 13% and 15%, respectively, achieved a score of ≤2). When definitions that included the CRP level were used, however, a greater percentage of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA achieved low disease activity (25% of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and 10% of patients with AS achieved a BASDAI score of &lt;4 and a normal CRP level, and 13% of patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and 3% of those with AS achieved ASDAS‐defined low disease activity). Conclusion Patients with nonradiographic axial SpA and those with AS who were not treated with TNF blockers demonstrated a similar clinical disease course over 2 years. Patients with nonradiographic axial SpA achieved a status of low disease activity more frequently than those with AS if outcome parameters that included the CRP level were used.
Coherent view of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Authors: A C Aisenberg
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

Even though non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is already sixth in incidence and mortality among malignant neoplasms (and the incidence was increasing at a rate of 3% to 4% per year before the advent of AIDS epidemic-associated lymphomas), most physicians and many oncologists find the disorder arcane. The problem lies in the complexity of human lymphoma, which encompasses more than a dozen neoplasms of the lymphoid system. The goal of this review is to provide user-friendly access to the condition.The variety of inputs required for a subdivision of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that is useful to clinicians includes lymphocyte lineage and sublineage based on microscopic appearance and immunophenotype, clinical behavior manifest in survival and early dissemination, and analysis of molecular genetic and cytogenetic abnormalities, which reflect pathogenic oncogene derangements. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) are important in certain uncommon lymphomas.The subtypes of primary B-lineage nodal lymphoma include low-grade (small lymphocytic, lymphoplasmacytic-lymphoplasmacytoid, follicular small cleaved cell, and follicular mixed small cleaved and large cell), intermediate-grade (follicular large cell, diffuse small cleaved or mixed, and intermediate lymphocytic), and high-grade (diffuse large cell, immunoblastic, and small noncleaved cell) neoplasms. The less common lymphomas of T lineage and lymphomas that arise in extranodal sites are placed in separate subdivisions. This subdivision serves as a guide to prognosis and treatment.
The effect of smoking on phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted from chromosome 10 (PTEN) mRNA expression in human airway epithelial cells
Authors: Kazuhiro Yamada, Kazuhisa Asai, Yuko Ohara, Yukari Sugiyama, Atsuko Shirai, Kanako Sato, Norio Yamamoto, Gakuya Tamagaki, Tetsuya Watanabe, Kazuhisa Konishi, Yoshihiro Tochino, Masato Uji, Hiroshi Kanazawa, Kazuto Hirata
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction  Cigarette smoking, a major etiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) , causes persistent airway inflammation.Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are family of enzyme involved in synthesis of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P3), which induce cellular functions such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation and production of inflammatory mediator. In contrast, Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Deleted from Chromosome 10 (PTEN) is known to be an endogenous inhibitor of PI3Ks. However, little is known regarding the effect of cigarette smoke on PI3Ks and PTEN expression.  Aim  The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of cigarette smoke on PI3Ks and PTEN expression in human airway epithelial cells.  Methods  Bronchoscopic brushing cells from twenty current smokers (15 COPD patients and 5 smoking non-COPD patients) and 7 healthy non-smoker were evaluated for PI3Kcatalytic delta polypeptide (PI3KCD) and PTEN mRNA expressions by RT-PCR.  Results  The ratio of PI3KCD to PTEN mRNA expression was significantly increased (p  Conclusion  Cigarette smoke altered PI3KCD/PTEN balance in human airway epithelial cells.
Abstract 18468: ERK-Mediated Phosphorylation of GRK2 at Ser 670 is Essential for its Hsp90-dependent, Stress-Activated Mitochondrial Localization
Authors: Mai Chen, J Kurt Chuprun, Erhe Gao, Nicholas J Otis, Walter J Koch
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Background: G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinase-2 (GRK2) regulates intracellular signaling via phosphorylation of agonist-occupied GPCRs. Identification of novel binding partners for GRK2, inc...
Chemotherapy-induced interstitial pneumonitis during treatment of small cell anaplastic lung cancer.
Authors: M S Zimmerman, J C Ruckdeschel, M Hussain
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1984)

Twelve cases of interstitial pneumonitis were seen in 50 patients (24%) treated with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and etoposide (VP-16-213) for small cell anaplastic lung cancer. The clinical course and pathologic characteristics were consistent with drug-induced pneumonitis in all 12 cases. One additional patient had concurrent histologic evidence of interstitial pneumonitis, pneumocystis infection, and perivascular metastases. Patients presented with severe dyspnea, hypoxemia, cough, fever, and bilateral interstitial infiltrates on chest films. The onset was rapid and unpredictable, following as little as one month or as much as five months of therapy. Nine patients recovered but there were three deaths in the acute period directly attributable to the drug-induced pneumonitis. Although the use of twice weekly oral methotrexate may have been a causative factor, a previously unsuspected drug interaction with etoposide may be the etiologic factor resulting in this unusually high incidence of pulmonary toxicity. The difficulty in establishing a diagnosis of interstitial pneumonitis in this group of patients with chronic lung disease and lung cancer is well known. The extent of morbidity and mortality seen in this study and the commercial availability of etoposide make earlier clinical recognition of this complication imperative.
Information about Strokes Lost between Post-Mortem and Reported Cause of Death
Authors: Hedley Peach
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1985)

Pathologists' opinions of cause of death given at the end of post-mortem (PM) reports have often been used to validate clinicians' death certificates. Information about strokes, common coincident conditions and complications in 120 full PM reports was compared with the pathologists' opinions of cause of death given at the end of the reports. Intracranial haemorrhage and myocardial infarction were mentioned as frequently in the cause of death as in the full PM report. On the other hand, cerebral infarction, precerebral artery occlusion, severe cerebral atheroma, coronary artery occlusion, bronchopneumonia and pulmonary embolism were all under-cited in the causes of death. Whether a pathological condition mentioned in the full PM report also appeared in the cause of death varied with the decedent's age, the extent of the condition and type of stroke. Consideration should be given to using all the information in PM reports rather than just pathologists' opinions of cause of death given at the end of PM reports when studying the validity of clinicians' death certificates.
Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) has a protective role in emphysema
Authors: Christophe Poirier, Natalia Bogatcheva, Christiana Dimitropoulou, Paul Biddinger, Alexander Verin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction & background: nSMase2 is an enzyme converting sphingomyelin into ceramide. Others have proposed that nSMase2 activation and ceramide production are linked to emphysema development. The goal of this study was to test the effect of nSMase2 deficiency on lung phenotype in mice.

Animals: The mouse mutation fro carries a deletion within the nSMase2-encoding gene, rendering this enzyme inactive. In this study, we analyzed lung histology and lung function in adult fro mice.

Methods: Mean linear intercept (Lm) and alveolar destructive index (DI) were used to assess morphological changes in lungs. Lung compliance was measured to assess changes in lung function.

Results: We found that lungs of nSMase2-deficient mice exhibited emphysematous changes.

![Figure][1] 



Both Lm and DI were significantly increased in fro / fro mice.

Consistent with emphysema, lung compliance was increased in fro / fro mice.

![Figure][1] 



We found that heterozygous females were less affected than heterozygous males.

Conclusion: In contradiction with the current hypothesis, we have shown that nSMase2-deficient mice develop emphysema. We conclude that at least some levels of ceramide are necessary to ensure proper lung development.

 [1]: pending:yes
Increased reports of Mycoplasma pneumoniae from laboratories in Scotland in 2010 and 2011 – impact of the epidemic in infants
Authors: N J Gadsby, A J Reynolds, J McMenamin, R N Gunson, S McDonagh, P J Molyneaux, D L Yirrell, K E Templeton
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2012)

In common with reports from other European countries, we describe a substantial increase in the number of laboratory reports of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in Scotland in 2010 and 2011. The highest number of reports came from those aged one year and younger. However, reports from young children were more likely to come from PCR testing than serological testing.
Sequential carboplatin-gemcitabine (CG) and docetaxel (D) in the first-line treatment of patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): A phase II trial
Authors: A. M. Murad, R. C. Guimaraes, A. O. Scalabrini-Neto, A. M. Papa
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

7353 Background: Combination of CG is active in the first-line treatment for patients with metastatic NSCLC. In a phase II trial conducted by us it has produced a RR of 39% and a median survival of 11 months. Sequential three-drug regimens may improve response rate and survival. We conducted a prospective trial evaluating a sequential 3-drug schedule including CG and docetaxel. Methods: We combined C - AUC 5 on day one and G - 1,000 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, every 21 days, for 3 cycles followed by D - 35 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks every 4 weeks for 3 additional sequential cycles to treat 13 chemo-naive pts with Stages IIIB and IV NSCLC, PS 0–2 with adequate renal, hepatic and cardiac functions. Results: Seven(54%) patients were men and 6(46%) were women with a median age of 64 yr (55–70). Median ECOG PS was 1 (0–2). Histology was adeno in 8(61%) pts, epidermoid in 4(31%) and large cell in 1(8%). A total of 74 cycles were administered (median: 5 per patient; range: 4–6). The regimen was well tolerated: thrombocytopenia WHO grades 3/4 was observed in 14% of the cycles; neutropenia grades 3/4 in 17%. Two patients developed reversible febrile neutropenia. Anemia grade 3 occurred in 2 patients. One patient developed grade 3 neuropathy. No bleeding episodes were observed. 56(76%) cycles were administered without delays or dose reductions. Four pts (31%) had OR (all PR) and 3(23%) pts had stable disease. Median overall survival was 10 months (4–21) and median time to progression was 7 months. Conclusions: Reponse rate survival do not seem to be superior with the use of sequential chemotherapy including CG and D in comparison with CG. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Role of PI3K/AKT/IKK pathway in NFκB- and β-catenin- dependent transcription in colorectal cancer
Authors: Anju Agarwal, Kingshuk Das, Natalia Lerner, Nywana Sizemore
Journal: Cancer Research (2004)

1445   The transcription factors, nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and β -catenin coordinate the expression of genes that control cell proliferation, survival, and transformation. Recently our laboratory has delineated a direct role of the phosphatidylinositol 3’ kinase (PI3K)/AKT and PTEN pathways in regulating the anti-apoptotic transcription factor NFκB. AKT and PTEN control the ability of IκBkinase (IKK) to phosphorylate and activate the p65 subunit of NFκB. In addition, our preliminary data from IKKα/β-null mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) reveal that the IKKs in response the PI3K/AKT pathway also play a role in the regulation of β -catenin. β -catenin is a transcriptional regulator which, when bound to T cell factor (TCF) and lymphoid-enhancer factor (LEF), provides a potent transcriptional transactivation domain. Many colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines and tissues demonstrate inappropriate constitutive activation of both NFκB and β -catenin transcriptional activities and maintenance of these activities seems to be necessary for CRC cell proliferation and resistance to apoptosis. Therefore, we investigated the effect of inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/IKK pathway in regulating the inappropriate constitutive transcriptional activation of both NFκB and β -catenin in CRC cell lines. The RKO CRC cells were engineered to inducibly express either wild type (WT) PTEN to inhibit PI3K/ AKT or kinase dead (KD) IKKα to inhibit IKK activation. Inducible expression of either WT PTEN or KD IKKα inhibited both the constitutive NFκB and β –catenin promoter activity in these cells. An affymetrix gene chip assay was also performed on these inducible cell lines, which revealed many potential CRC genes downregulated by both WT PTEN and KD IKKα. These included several EGF ligands, uPA, IL-8, VEGF and MMP’s. We decided to study the regulation of the PI3K/AKT/IKK pathway and its regulated genes in several CRC cell lines. Both RKO and SW480 CRC cell lines had the highest levels of activated AKT and several of the identified genes including EGF, TGFα, uPA. Activated AKT as well as levels of EGF Receptor and several of the identified genes are dramatically reduced following treatment with the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. Collectively this data indicates a novel role of the PI3K/ AKT/IKK pathway in regulating the inappropriate constitutive activation of both NFκB and β -catenin in colorectal cancer. We plan to further investigate the effect of inhibiting the PI3K/ AKT/IKK pathway on controlling the proliferation, survival, and metstatic potential of colorectal cancer cells using this model system.
Children hospitalized with pneumonia in Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Center Split (2010 – 2011)
Authors: Neven Pavlov, Natasa Pupovac
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Aim: To determine whether there is a shortening of hospital stay in children treated for pneumonia by assessing parameters affecting hospital duration.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of medical records of patients treated mostly for outpatient pneumonia at the Department of Pediatrics (DP), University Hospital Center Split from 2010 to 2011 compared with prior research (1998/1999 and 2004/2005). The study population consisted of 2098 patients less than 18 years of age hospitalized with pneumonia and patients that suffered from pneumonia during hospitalization. Patients with cystic fibrosis were excluded from the study. For the statistical analysis of the collected data, we used the Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney and χ2–test with a level of statistical significance of p<0.05.

Results: In 2010 and 2011, the length of hospitalization was reduced to a median of 9 days (IQR: 7–11 days) compared to other years (median 10–11 days, IQR: 8–15 days). Patients who were treated with one or two antibiotics prior to admission had a shorter stay (median 9 days) in the hospital compared to patients who previously weren´t or were treated with three antibiotics (median 10 days). Before hospitalization, patients were primarily treated with macrolides (33.7%) and penicillin antibiotics (33.1%). The median length of antibiotic treatment before hospitalization decreased over the years. In the DP, the most commonly used treatments were third-generation cephalosporins (72.0%) and macrolides (18.0%).

Conclusion: Shortening the length of hospitalization is a result of the rationalization of the treatment of children with pneumonia at the PD of University Hospital Center Split in 2010 and 2011.
Two Faces of SIVA
Authors: Lois Resnick-Silverman, James J. Manfredi
Journal: Cancer Discovery (2015)

Abstract Summary: In non–small cell lung cancer cells that contain a mutated KRAS gene, SIVA, a p53 target gene that is critical for apoptosis, is overexpressed in a p53-independent manner and promotes tumorigenesis through the stimulation of mTOR signaling. The ablation of Siva in conditional knockout mice results in an inhibition of tumor development that makes SIVA an interesting new candidate therapeutic target for the treatment of a carcinoma with few therapeutic options. Cancer Discov; 5(6); 581–3. ©2015 AACR. See related article by Van Nostrand and colleagues, p. 622.
Intensive chemotherapy versus autologous or allogeneic stemcell transplantation for the treatment of patients with poor risk MDS and secondary AML-A joint study of the Eortc, Ebmt, Hovon, Swiss, Scandinavian and Gimema leukemia groups: A biomed-2 EU-project.
Authors: TM deWitte, Augustin Ferrant, Stefan Suciu, O Anak, Anne Hagemeijer, D. Selleslag, Michel Delforge, A Belhabi, H Schouten, A. Gratwohl, C Aul, M Aivado, S. Amadori, P. Muus, I. Tigaud, M Jotterand-Bellomo, R. Willemze
Journal: Blood (1999)
Randomized comparison of cisplatin and etoposide and either bleomycin or ifosfamide in treatment of advanced disseminated germ cell tumors: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group, Southwest Oncology Group, and Cancer and Leukemia Group B Study.
Authors: C R Nichols, P J Catalano, E D Crawford, N J Vogelzang, L H Einhorn, P J Loehrer
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1998)

PURPOSE To compare standard therapy with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin (BEP) to experimental therapy with etoposide, ifosfamide, and cisplatin (VIP) as primary treatment of men with advanced, disseminated germ cell tumors. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 304 men with advanced disseminated germ cell tumors were randomly allocated to receive four courses of BEP or VIP. Two hundred ninety-nine patients were assessable for toxicity and 286 were assessable for response. Complete response rates, favorable response (complete remission, surgical free of disease, continuous partial remission for 2+ years), time to treatment failure, and overall survival were assessed. RESULTS Overall complete remission rate (VIP, 37%; BEP, 31%), favorable response rate (VIP, 63%; BEP, 60%), failure-free at 2 years (VIP, 64%; BEP, 60%), and 2-year overall survival (VIP, 74%; BEP, 71%) were not significantly different between the two treatments. Grade 3 or worse toxicity, particularly hematologic and genitourinary toxicity, was significantly more common in patients who received VIP. CONCLUSION BEP and VIP produce comparable favorable response rate and survival in patients with poor-risk germ cell tumors. The substitution of ifosfamide for bleomycin, however, was associated with significantly greater toxicity. Four courses of BEP remain the standard treatment for advanced disseminated germ cell tumors.