tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
In vivo purging of bone marrow in children with poor-risk neuroblastoma for marrow collection and autologous bone marrow transplantation.
Authors: U M Saarinen, S Wikström, A Mäkipernaa, M Lanning, M Perkkiö, L Hovi, J Rapola, H Sariola
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1996)

PURPOSE To evaluate the following prospectively in poor-risk neuroblastoma (NBL) patients: (1) the feasibility and efficacy of in vivo purging of bone marrow; and (2) the outcome after autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) when immunologically tumor-free, unpurged autografts were used. PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-three children with poor-risk NBL were evaluated during induction chemotherapy by repeat bone marrow examinations, including aspirate, biopsy, and an immunofluorescence method using the anti-GD2 monoclonal antibody 3A7. Nineteen patients completed the program with surgery with or without local irradiation followed by ABMT. RESULTS Autologous bone marrow grafts, both immunologically and cytologically clean, were obtained and used in 19 of 23 children. The overall 4-year disease-free survival of the 19 grafted children was 53%, with a toxic death rate of 16% and a posttransplant relapse rate of 37%. According to the in vivo purging efficacy of the 18 children with initial marrow disease, the following three groups were formed: patients with (1) perfect in vivo purging (n = 5); (2) eventually successful in vivo purging (n = 8); and (3) unsuccesful in vivo purging (n = 5). The 4-year DFS was 100%, 67%, and 0%, respectively (P &lt; 0.001). The five patients with unsuccessful in vivo purging failed because of resistant/progressive bulky disease. CONCLUSION In patients with poor-risk NBL, in vivo purging of bone marrow by conventional chemotherapy is feasible, can be monitored, and the purging efficacy during the first 3 months after diagnosis is a strong prognostic factor reflecting tumor responsiveness to therapy. Autografting with immunologically clean, unpurged marrows gives a DFS well comparable to previous studies using ex vivo purging.
Spinal computed tomography and computed tomographic metrizamide myelography in the early diagnosis of metastatic disease.
Authors: T O'Rourke, C B George, J Redmond, H Davidson, P Cornett, W L Fill, D B Spring, D Sobel, I B Dabe, R D Karl
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1986)

New lesions were shown by Tc99m bone scans to have developed in sixty patients with known metastatic cancer or high-risk primary cancer and normal neurologic examinations; they were further evaluated with plain radiographs, spinal computed tomography (CT), and CT myelography (CT-M) according to an algorithm. Three groups were identified based on plain radiographs: group 1 (normal radiograph), group 2 (compression fracture as indicated by radiograph), group 3 (evidence of metastasis as indicated by radiograph). In group 1 (n = 18), spinal CT revealed that 33% of the patients had benign disease and 67%, metastases; epidural compression was seen in 25% of the patients with metastasis as indicated by CT-M. In group 2 (n = 26), CT-M disclosed that 38% had a benign compression fracture and 62% had metastases and that 63% of the patients with metastases had an epidural compression. In group 3 (n = 16), spinal CT revealed that 15 patients had metastases (one patient had benign disease). Epidural cord compression was seen in 47% of the patients with metastatic disease. In all groups, the presence of cortical bone discontinuity around the neural canal (seen in 31 patients) was highly associated with epidural compression (seen in 20 patients). Our approach allowed the early and accurate diagnosis of spinal metastasis and epidural tumor as well as the diagnosis of benign disease and was useful in planning optimal local therapy.
Outcomes in a Scottish district general hospital domiciliary NIV service
Authors: Clare Ricketts, Phyllis Murphie, Stuart Little
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction: Our sleep disordered breathing service manages 750 patients, with 55 of these on domiciliary NIV.  Aim: Review rationale for initiating NIV and clinical outcomes.  Results: 20 females (mean age 59 years, range 36-75 years) and 35 males (mean age 61, range 18-83) are managed on home NIV, most having a diagnosis of OSAHS/obesity hypoventilation (44, 80%). Other diagnosis are COPD (3 patients, 4%), neuromuscular (3 patients, 4%) and kyphoscoliosis (5, 9%). 14 commenced therapy during an acute admission with ventilatory failure, the rest electively via the sleep medicine service. The mean duration of therapy is 37 months (range 1 to 130 months). The mean BMI for patients on home NIV for OSA/obesity hypoventilation is 45.3 (range 31-63).  Blood gas analysis pre and on treatment was available for 50 patients; 46 of these showing improvement in both PaCO2 and HCO3, with 3 having recently commenced NIV and yet to be clinically reviewed. There was insufficient information for 2 patients on treatment.  In terms of compliance, 45 of 55 patients had good compliance with therapy, 4 had variable compliance and 3 are poorly compliant with infrequent clinic attendance. 3 had only recently commenced therapy. 11 of 55 patients have had respiratory-related admissions whilst on home NIV, most commonly LRTI, with a mean of 2 admissions each - one patient has had 7 admissions and the others 1 or 2. However 44 patients have had no respiratory related admissions since commencing nocturnal home NIV.  Conclusion: The majority commenced nocturnal NIV for OSAHS/obesity-related hypoventilation, and our review suggests good compliance with treatment benefit, and with a low admission rate following initiation of intervention.
Effect of a Zinc-Deficient Diet on the Growth of an IgM-Secreting Plasmacytoma (TEPC-183)&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: M R Fenton, J P Burke, F D Tursi, F P Arena
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1980)

A diet deficient in zinc resulted in a significant decrease in the number of inbred BALB/c female mice developing transplantable plasmacytoma TEPC-183 compared to pair-fed and ad libitum-fed control mice. The size of the tumor relative to body weight was decreased in the zinc-deficient group. Whereas the uptake of [3H]thymidine into tumor cells did not differ between the groups, the incorporation of [3Hlthymidine into tumor cells was significantly reduced in the animals maintained on a zinc-deficient diet.
LYSERGIC ACID DIETHYLAMIDE (LSD-25)
Authors: CHARLES SAVAGE
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1952)

Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD-25 Sandoz) given orally in single doses as low as 20 micrograms produces depersonalization, derealization, and increased imagery in "normal" individuals. Larger doses are required to produce the same effect in psychotic patients. Of 15 patients with depressive reactions, 3 recovered and 4 improved after one month's treatment with daily oral doses of 20-100 micrograms of LSD. Four patients showed no improvement. In 4 cases, treatment was discontinued before proper evaluation could be made. Anxiety was a prominent reaction while less frequently euphoria was observed. In 3 patients who developed euphoria it served as an aid to psychotherapy by encouraging expression of feeling. In the others the heightened anxiety encouraged reticence rather than confidence. Improvement obtained during the course of LSD therapy was not greater than that obtained without its use in comparable cases. However, LSD affords therapeutically valuable insights into unconscious processes by the medium of the hallucinations it produces.
THE TRANSMISSIBLE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHIES
Authors: Lev G. Goldfarb, M.D, Paul Brown, M.D
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (1995)

▪ Abstract The human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion diseases, are a group of rapidly progressive disorders characterized by a spectrum of clinical abnormalities that include cognitive impairment, ataxia, myoclonus, and visual, pyramidal, and extrapyramidal signs. They share a spongiform (vacuolar) degeneration and variable amyloid plaque formation. Examples of TSEs are kuru, an infectious disease; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), which may take an infectious, genetic, or sporadic form; and Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker disease (GSS) and fatal familial insomnia (FFI), rare familial disorders. With the exception of FFI, all of these disorders have been experimentally transmitted to nonhuman primates and laboratory rodents. The pathogenic PrP protein accumulating in the brain of TSE patients is a protease-resistant and insoluble product of a precursor protein molecule of unknown function that is encoded by the PRNP gene on chromosome 20. Different mutations in this gene are responsible for various phenotypes of TSE in its familial form, and a polymorphism at codon 129 controls susceptibility to the infectious and perhaps sporadic forms of disease. TSEs are transmissible amyloidoses in which the host-encoded protein has the propensity to acquire a beta-sheet conformation and produce amyloid; the accumulation of amyloid eventually destroys the neurons and induces the deadly disease.
Evolution of the Zfx and Zfy genes: rates and interdependence between the genes.
Authors: P Pamilo, N O Bianchi
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1993)

A phylogenetic analysis of sex-chromosomal zinc-finger genes (Zfx and Zfy) indicates that the genes have not evolved completely independently since their initial separation. The sequence similarities suggest gene conversion in the last exon between the duplicated Y-chromosomal genes Zfy-1 and Zfy-2 in the mouse. There are also indications of conversion (or recombination) between the X- and Y-chromosomal genes in the crab-eating fox and in the mouse. The method for estimating synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions is modified by incorporating the substitutions in the twofold-degenerate sites in a novel way. The estimates of synonymous substitutions support the generation-time hypothesis in that the obtained rates are higher in mice (by a factor of 4.7) than in humans and higher in the Y-chromosomal genes (by a factor of 1.9) than in the X-chromosomal genes.
Comparison of asthma prevalence in the ISAAC and the ECRHS. ISAAC Steering Committee and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey. International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood
Authors: N Pearce, J Sunyer, S Cheng, S Chinn, B Bjorksten, M Burr, U Keil, HR Anderson, P Burney
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2000)

International and regional prevalence comparisons are required to test and generate hypotheses regarding the causes of increasing asthma prevalence in various age groups worldwide. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) is the first such study in children and the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) is the first such study in adults. Therefore, a comparison of the findings of these two surveys was conducted, for the 17 countries in which both surveys were undertaken. There was a strong correlation between the ISAAC and ECRHS prevalence data, with 64% of the variation at the country level, and 74% of the variation at the centre level, in the prevalence of "wheeze in the last 12 months" in the ECRHS phase I data being explained by the variation in the ISAAC phase I data. There was also generally good agreement in the international patterns observed in the two surveys for self-reported asthma (74% of country level and 36% of centre level variation explained), self-reported asthma before age 14 yrs (64 and 26%), hay fever (61 and 73%) and eczema (41 and 50%). Thus although there were differences in the absolute levels of prevalence observed in the two surveys, there is good overall agreement between the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood and European Community Respiratory Health Survey study findings with regard to international prevalence patterns. These findings, therefore, add support to the validity of the two studies, which provide a new picture of global patterns of asthma prevalence from child- to adulthood, and identify some of the key phenomena which future research must address.
Glutathione peroxidase-1 gene (GPX1) variants, oxidative stress and risk of kidney complications in people with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Kamel Mohammedi, Thiago A. Patente, Naima Bellili-Muñoz, Fathi Driss, Hervé Le Nagard, Frédéric Fumeron, Ronan Roussel, Samy Hadjadj, Maria Lúcia Corrêa-Giannella, Michel Marre, Gilberto Velho
Journal: Metabolism (2015)
Clinical phenotype in heterozygote and biallelic <scp>B</scp>ernard‐<scp>S</scp>oulier syndrome—A case control study
Authors: Gudrun Bragadottir, Elisabet R. Birgisdottir, Brynja R. Gudmundsdottir, Bylgja Hilmarsdottir, Brynjar Vidarsson, Magnus K. Magnusson, Ole Halfdan Larsen, Benny Sorensen, Jorgen Ingerslev, Pall T. Onundarson
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2014)

Bernard‐Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a rare severe autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. To date heterozygous carriers of BSS mutations have not been shown to have bleeding symptoms. We assessed bleeding using a semi‐quantitative questionnaire, platelet parameters, PFA‐100 closure times, ristocetin response, GP Ib/IX expression and VWF antigen in 14 BSS patients, 30 heterozygote carriers for related mutations and 29 controls. Eight mutations in GP1BA, GP1BB or GP9 were identified including four previously unknown pathogenic mutations. Subjects with BSS reported markedly more mucocutaneous bleeding than controls. Increased bleeding was also observed in heterozygotes. Compared to controls, patients with BSS had lower optical platelet counts ( P &lt; 0.001), CD61‐platelet counts ( P &lt; 0.001) and higher mean platelet volume (17.7 vs. 7.8 fL, P &lt; 0.001) and ristocetin response and closure times were unmeasurable. Heterozygotes had higher MPV (9.7 fL, P &lt; 0.001) and lower platelet counts ( P &lt; 0.001) than controls but response to ristocetin and closure times were normal. The VWF was elevated in both BSS and in heterozygotes ( P = 0.005). We conclude that heterozygotes for BSS mutations have lower platelet counts than controls and show a bleeding phenotype albeit much milder than in BSS. Both patients with BSS and heterozygote carriers of pathogenic mutations have raised VWF. Am. J. Hematol. 90:149–155, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chitotriosidase: A sensitive biomarker of sarcoidosis
Authors: Elena Bargagli, David Bennett, Claudia Maggiorelli, Maria Grazia Pieroni, Rosa Metella Refini, Maria Grazia Perari, Paola Rottoli
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Chitotriosidase is a member of family of glycosylhydrolases, enzymes involved in the degradation of chitin and chitin-like substrate, identified in a wide variety of organisms. Increased concentrations of chitotriosidase have been reported in several lysosomal storage diseases and more recently also in sarcoidosis.  In this study chitotriosidase concentrations were evaluated in a population of 233 sarcoidosis patients and 70 controls in order to verify enzyme specificity and sensibility and to evaluate chitotriosidase prognostic meaning.  Chitotriosidase has been found significantly increased in serum of patients with sarcoidosis than in controls (p  In conclusion as a new potential biomarker of sarcoidosis severity, chitotriosidase resulted sensitive, reproducible and easily detectable in serum.
Minimal important difference of quadriceps femoris muscle strength after high-intensity exercise training in patients with COPD: Preliminary results
Authors: Alana Quessada, Aline G. Nellessen, Gianna W. Bisca, Jhaton V. Silva, Taina Longo, Antenor Rodrigues, Leila Donaria, Karina C. Furlanetto, Thais Sant'Anna, Nidia A. Hernandes, Fabio Pitta
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

BACKGROUND: Skeletal muscle dysfunction is an important systemic comorbidity in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Its etiology is often multifactorial and can be linked to many factors, such as hypercapnia and/or hypoxia, nutritional depletion, use of corticosteroids, oxidative stress and deconditioning. High-intensity exercise training (including strength training) has clearly contributed to improvement in muscle function in these patients. However, the Minimal Important Difference (MID) of quadriceps femoris muscle strength after training is unknown. AIM: To determine the MID of quadriceps femoris muscle strength after a high-intensity exercise training program in patients with COPD. METHODS: Twelve patients (9 women, 66+7 years; BMI 27+5Kg.m-2; FEV1 40+18%pred) taking part in a 6-month high-intensity endurance+strength training program (3x/week) were assessed pre and post-intervention regarding their lung function and quadriceps femoris strength (1 Repetition Maximum and peak force measured by a dynamometer [MicroFet 2®, Hoggan Health, United States of America]). In order to calculate anchor-based estimates of MID, a global rating of change score (Likert Scale) was used; whereas to calculate the distribution-based estimates the Effect Size was used. RESULTS: Mean (95% CI) change in quadriceps femoris strength was 32 (-8 to 72) N.m for patients who reported improvement in the Likert Scale. The Effect Size calculation identified a MID of 33 N.m. CONCLUSION: These preliminary results indicate a MID around 33 N.m for quadriceps femoris strength improvement after exercise training in patients with COPD.
LSC 2013 abstract - Cr(VI)stimulated fibroblasts and epithelial mesenchymal transition induction in epithelial cells
Authors: Lina Carvalho, M.M. Val, Isabel Carreira, Ana Filipa Ladeirinha, Carlos Rodrigues, Carmen Alpoim
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

EMT permits epithelial cells (EC) to reprogram and acquire mesenchymal motile phenotype;happens during embryonic development, in physiological response to injury and in cancer progression metastasis formation.Normal human bronchial fibroblasts were first rendered senescent following exposure to Cr(VI).A normal bronchial fibroblasts culture(E2A,established from normal redundant tissue was exposed to either 0.25/0.5µM Cr(VI)for 4 weeks.To evaluate how normal and senescent fibroblasts and EC co-evolved together, normal/senescent bronchial fibroblasts were then co-cultured with epithelial BEAS-2B cells in transwells in the absence/presence of 0.25/0.5µM Cr(VI).BEAS-2B cells exposed to 0.5µM Cr(VI) co-cultured with non-senescent fibroblasts showed cuboidal regular morphology and expressed vimentin/ MNF-116/CK7.Non-treated epithelial cells co-cultured with senescent fibroblasts exposed to 0.25µM Cr(VI),revealed mesenchymal-like phenotype positivity for LP34/vimentin and weak expression of CK7.The fibroblasts, in both conditions, showed a crisscross organization and stellate morphology predominated. Fusiform vimentin-positive and α-SMA-positive cells were detected as myofibroblasts.Simultaneous expression of vimentin/MNF-116/CK7 and cuboidal morphology shown by epithelial cells exposed to Cr(VI) is consistent with acquisition of pleomorphic-like carcinoma phenotype.On the other, the positivity for LP34/vimentin, revealed by non-treated BEAS-2B cells in the presence of senescent fibroblasts is characteristic of basal cell epidermoid carcinoma phenotype. These results suggest that the exposure to Cr(VI) and the presence of senescent fibroblasts induce malignat features in epithelial cells.
Abundance of smoking cessation reasons in participants of smoking cessation clinic
Authors: Zahra Hessami, Mahshid Aryanpur, Gholamreza Heydari, MohamamadReza Masjedi, Shabnam Eslampanah
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction:  Cigarette smoking is an important cause of respiratory and other health problems around the world. Stop Smoking at any age could be decreasing these problems. Smokers finally think about smoking cessation. Having Strong reasons to quit is important factor for atempte to quit.   Objectives:  We aimed to investigate what their motivations to quit are?   Method:  This cross-sectional study was done on the volunteers of smoking cessation clinic of tobacco prevention and control research center. Data from (345) subjects who fulfilled these criteria were collected with the use of questionnaire, the question were related to demographic information, smoking status and reasons to quit.   Results:  The most important reason for quitting smoking was general health concern. (89.6%), another main reason was about their children9s health for (72.6%).51.6% of them were worry about lung cancer and 31.1% were worry about chronic bronchitis.   Conclusion:  These results indicate that smokers should be better encouraged to quit before health problem occur. Furthermore efforts should be undertaken to give them professional aid in smoking cessation. Concern about lung cancer is one of the major reasons to their quit. So lung specialists are the most effective groups to create motivation for quit in their patients.
Effects of acute and two week intake of salbutamol on anaerobic power and capacity during repeated bouts of exercise in elite cyclists
Authors: Morten Hostrup, Anders Kalsen, Jens Bangsbo, Vibeke Backer
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Rationale: Salbutamol, was of 2010 relieved from WADA9s prohibited list needing a strict diagnosis of asthma, and can now be used more freely among athletes. Some studies have showed enhancing effects of oral salbutamol on anaerobic power in recreational men and women. However, no studies have investigated this in elite athletes. The aim of this study was to examine whether oral salbutamol, taken acutely and over a period of two weeks, increases anaerobic power during repeated Wingate tests in elite cyclists.  Method: We enrolled 20 non-asthmatic elite cyclists (M), aged 25.8±4.4yrs, VO2 max  68.6±5.8 ml/min/kg, and a training volume of 14.4±3.6 h/wk. The cyclists were randomized into either oral salbutamol 8 mg (SAL) or placebo (PLA) in a double-blinded parallel study. The protocol consisted of three 30-s Wingate tests separated by two minutes of recovery. The intervention consisted of study visits at baseline, after acute ingestion and after two week ingestion taken two-three hours prior to the cyclists9 regular training.  Results: Two week ingestion of salbutamol significantly increased peak power in the first (p  Conclusions: Two week daily intake of salbutamol taken prior to training improves anaerobic power in elite cyclists.