tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Higher indoor PM2.5 concentration of cadmium (Cd) and thallium (Tl) is related to domestic smoking
Authors: Silvia Ruggieri, Gaspare Drago, Cinzia Perrino, Silvia Canepari, Martin Balzan, Giuseppina Cuttitta, Giuseppe Piva, Remo Minardi, Valeria Longo, Stefania La Grutta, Giovanni Viegi, Fabio Cibella
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Indoor air pollution is estimated to be greater in indoor than in outdoor environment. Tobacco smoke may significantly contribute to indoor air pollution and domestic smoking is correlated to indoor airborne particulates with aerodynamic diameter  RESPIRA Project was funded by Operational Cross-border Program Italy-Malta 2007-13 code A1.2.3-72.
Synchronization of Radiograph Film Exposure with the Inspiratory Pause
Authors: PAUL B. LANGEVIN, VASHTI HELLEIN, SUSAN M. HARMS, WILLIAM K. THARP, C. CHEUNG-SEEKIT, S. LAMPOTANG
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1999)

The appearance of portable chest radiographs (CXRs) may be affected by changes in ventilation, particularly when patients are mechanically ventilated. Synchronization of the CXR with the ventilatory cycle should limit the influence of respiratory variation on the appearance of the CXR. This study evaluates the effect of synchronizing the CXR film exposure with ventilation on the appearance of the radiograph. Twenty-five patients who remained intubated postoperatively, were mechanically ventilated, and required a CXR were enrolled in this triple-blind, randomized prospective study. Each patient received one radiograph using conventional techniques and another using the interface. The sequence of the two films was randomized, and the two films were taken on the same patient within a few minutes of each other. Hence, each patient served as his own control and the position of the patient, source-film distance, intensity (Kvp), and duration of the exposure (mAs) were identical for the two films. Five board-certified radiologists were then asked to compare paired films for clarity of lines and tubes, definition of the pulmonary vasculature, visibility of the mediastinum, definition of the diaphragm, and degree of lung inflation. Radiologists were also asked to choose which films they preferred. A majority of board certified radiologists preferred CXRs taken with the interface in 21 of 25 patients (p < 0.0001). Furthermore, four of the five criteria evaluated were improved (p < 0.05) on synchronized CXRs. Synchronization of the bedside CXR with the end of inspiration ensures that they are always obtained at maximal inflation, which improves the appearance of a majority of radiographs by at least one of five criteria. Langevin PB, Hellein V, Harms SM, Tharp WK, Cheung-Seekit C, Lampotang S. Synchronization of radiograph film exposure with the inspiratory pause: effect on the appearance of bedside chest radiographs in mechanically ventilated patients.
Non-invasive estimation of pulmonary artery pressure and resistance with CMR imaging: Derivation and prospective validation cohort study
Authors: Andrew Swift, Smitha Rajaram, Dave Capener, Tom Sproson, Allison Morton, Charlie Elliot, Robin Condliffe, Jim Wild
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background   The aim of this study was to develop a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging model for non-invasive estimation of mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and total pulmonary resistance (TPR).   Methods   A derivation cohort of 64 consecutive patients with known or suspected pulmonary hypertension underwent right heart catheterization (RHC) and CMR within 12hours. Cardiac volumes and function and pulmonary arterial (PA) flow were quantified. The strongest statistical model to predict mPAP from the derivation cohort was identified. Total pulmonary resistance (TPR) was estimated utilising the physiological model: TPR= pressure (CMR-derived mPAP) divided by blood flow (CMR-derived PA flow).  An independent prospective validation cohort of (n= 40) tested the accuracy of the model.   Results   The multivariate regression CMR model gave the following equation: mPAP = 33.4 + [right ventricular end-diastolic mass index (g/cm 2 ) x 1.21] – [PA average velocity (cm/s) x 0.99). In the prospective validation cohort, predicted and invasively measured mPAP were strongly correlated (R 2 =0.74; p 2 =0.75; p  5WU with a high degree of accuracy, the area under the receiver operator curve (ROC) was 0.96 (p   Conclusions   A CMR Imaging derived model can accurately estimate mPAP and vascular resistance in patients with PH.
Effect of long-term exposure to traffic-related air pollution on lung function: The ESCAPE project
Authors: Martin Adam, Tamara Schikowski, Anne Elie Carsin, Cai Yutong, Margaux Sanchez, Bénédicte Jacquemin, Andrea Vierkötter, Dirk Keidel, Alessandro Marcon, Schindler Christian, Jordi Sunyer Deu, Francine Kauffmann, Ursula Krämer, Anna Hansell, Nino Künzli, Nicole Probst-Hensch
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background. Acute air pollution effects on lung function are well established, while the chronic impact of ambient air pollutants on lung function in adults remains poorly understood. Aims. In the ESCAPE study, we investigated the association of residential traffic-related air pollution with level and decline of lung function in the context of five European cohorts of adults (ECRHS, EGEA, NSHD, SALIA, SAPALDIA). Methods. Residential exposure to nitrogen oxides (NO2, NOx) and particulate matter (PM) was obtained from standardized measurement protocols and land use regression models. Traffic load at the road nearest to participants’ home and on major roads within a 100 meter buffer was assessed. Level and annual decline in the spirometric parameters FEV1, FVC, and FEV1/FVC were considered as outcomes. Study-specific analyses were performed with random effects linear regression adjusting for gender, age, height, BMI, education, smoking status. Cohort-specific results were combined using random-effects meta-analysis. Results. Based on lung function data from 7,613 subjects undergoing spirometry twice over 11 years on average, we observed that a 10 µg/m3 increase in NO2 exposure was associated with lower levels of FEV1 (-13.8 mL (95%CI:-25.82,-2.14)) and FVC (-14.93 mL (-28.73,-1.13)). A higher traffic load at the home address also went along with lower levels of FEV1 and FEV1/FVC. The observed associations were particularly observed in women and generally stronger in participants reporting use of respiratory medication. Conclusions. In this analysis of adults mostly living in urban environments, we observed a lung function decline with increased nitrogen oxide or traffic load exposure.
Clinical analysis of pulmonary Mycobacterium avium complex disease in Japan
Authors: Masaki Ikeda, Yoshihiro Kobashi, Keiji Mouri, Yasushi Obase, Mikio Oka
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Objective: To analyze the clinical characterisitcs of patients who diagnosed pulmonary Mycobacterium complex (MAC) disease recently in the affiliated several hospitals.

Patients and methods: The subjects consisted of 150 patients who satisfied the diagnostic criteris of ATS between 2003 and 2010. We evaluated the backgrounds, diagnostic methods, microbiological findings, radiological findings, treatments, and prognosis.

Results: The average age of 150 patients with pulmonary MAC disease was 65.0 years old. The detection method was most frequently recognized by bronchoscopy (50%). The microbiological findings was smear positive for acid-fast bacilli in 98 patients (65%) and the sensitivity of isolated MAC for antituberculous drugs and otherantibiotics was comparatively good for clarithromycin (CAM) and rifampicin (RFP). The clinical disease type of pulmonary MAC disease consisited of nodular/ bronchiectatic type in 101 patients (67%), fibrocavitary type in 43 (29%) and solitary nodular type in 6 (4%), respectively. Concerning the treatment for pulmonary MAC disease, the combined chemotherapy including CAM was performed for 76 patients (51%). Sputum conversion rate was 76%, the sputum relapse rate was 31% and the clinical improvement including radiological findings and/or clinical symptoms was ontained in 49%.

Conclusions: We positively perform the bronchoscopic examination to obtain the diagnosis of pulmonary MAC disease. The diagnosticrate of pulmonary MAC disease has recently increased with the revise of diagnostic criteria reported in 2007 and we could obtain comparatively good clinical effect by the positive performence of combination chemotherapy including the increase dose of CAM.
Tumor Growth in Allogeneic Mice Bearing a Lucite Cylinder&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="FN1"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Fortuna Saal, M. E. M. Colmerauer, R. C. Braylan, Christiane Dosne Pasqualini
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1972)

The subcutaneous implantation of Lucite cylinders, partially enclosing allogeneic AKR lymphoma cells, into BALB/c mice, caused “lymphoma P” which killed 53% of the mice in 40 days. Tumor incidence decreased to 13% when the donor cells were transplanted away from the cylinder, on the contralateral side. Tumors were never seen in control experiments in which empty plastic cylinders were used. Donor lymphoma cells alone induced tumor in only 1 of 80 mice. Lymphoma P could be transplanted into both donor and host strains; the cell lines in AKR became permanently established, whereas those in BALB/c mice were lost from passages 1–11. With anti-G serum, the direct cytotoxic test gave positive results with cells from lymphoma P and with those from the tumor lines in both strains, whereas it gave negative results with controls with syngeneic BALB/c tumors, suggesting an AKR origin with atypical transplantability. Since previous work demonstrated that the subcutaneous implantation of a plastic cylinder lowered the resistance of the host, allogeneic neoplastic cells inoculated in such a privileged site could bring about an immunological imbalance which would favor tumor growth. As such, the presence of serum-blocking factors is supported by the fact that lymphoma P occurred at a higher incidence after the addition of “progressor” serum from tumorbearing animals, whereas tumor development was inhibited by “regressor” serum from non-tumor-bearing animals.
Comparative effectiveness of paediatric asthma step-up options: Increasing ICS dose vs adding separate LABA
Authors: Clare S. Murray, Stephen Turner, Mike Thomas, Kathryn Richardson, Annie Burden, Daniel West, David Price
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Aim: In children who remain symptomatic despite maintenance inhaled corticosteroid therapy (ICS), step-up options include addition of a long-acting beta-agonist (LABA) or increasing existing ICS dose (INC). We compared the effectiveness of adding a separate LABA (+LABA) vs INC in a real-life paediatric population.

Method: Clinical records were selected from 2 UK databases for patients aged 5–12yrs with an asthma diagnosis who stepped up therapy as +LABA or INC, had 1 year of baseline data prior to, and 1 year of outcome data after, step up. Patients were matched on baseline age, step-up year, ICS dose, reliever usage & exacerbations (EXBs). Outcomes over the following year included EXBs : oral steroid courses with evidence of respiratory review, asthma-related hospital admission or emergency room attendance, and asthma control (AC), defined as absence of: exacerbations, asthma-related out patient appointments, and antibiotic prescription following respiratory review. Conditional logistic/negative binomial regression was used to adjust for residual confounders.

Results: +LABA and INC patients were matched 1:1 (n=3129). 59% were boys, mean(standard deviation[SD]) age was 9(2)yrs. Mean(SD) exacerbations were 0.09(0.37) and 0.07(0.31) for +LABA and INC patients, respectively.

View this table:

Outcome summary: adjusted odds/rate ratio (AOR/ARR)





Conclusion: Compared with addition of separate LABA therapy, increasing ICS dose achieved significantly lower exacerbation rates and similar attainment of AC. Further work will compare INC vs addition of LABA as part of a fixed dose combination.
Use of physical performance measures to predict future disability and mortality in older cancer patients: The Health Aging and Body Composition Study (Health ABC)
Authors: H. D. Klepin, A. M. Geiger, J. Tooze, A. M. Newman, L. H. Colbert, D. C. Bauer, S. Satterfield, J. M. Pavon, S. Kritchevsky
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008)

9553 Background: Optimal treatment for older cancer patients remains unclear due to a poor understanding of which clinical characteristics predict toxicity and survival. Our objective was to examine baseline physical performance measures as predictors of future disability or death in older adults with incident cancer diagnoses. Methods: Among 3,075 individuals aged ≥70 years participating in the Health ABC observational study, 431 had a confirmed cancer diagnosis in the first 6 years of follow-up. Measures of physical performance included usual gait speed over 20 meters, 400 meter long distance corridor walk, and grip strength. We assessed the relationship between measures of physical performance most closely preceding cancer diagnosis and progression to major disability or death at 2 years after diagnosis. Major disability is defined by any of the following: requiring cane or walker for ambulation, inability to walk a quarter mile and/or climb 10 steps, or requiring assistance with activities of daily living. 404 subjects had complete data for analysis. Logistic regression models were fit for each performance measure, adjusting for demographics, health habits, comorbidity, metastatic disease, and cancer type. Results: The mean age was 77.1±3.3 years; 35.6% were female; and 44.7% were black. Progression to disability or death at 2 years after diagnosis occurred in 45.7%. Mean gait speed was 1.2±0.2 meters/second (m/s) and mean grip strength was 33.7±11.9 kilograms. A 0.1 m/s faster usual gait speed on the 20 meter course was associated with a 15% decrease in risk of subsequent disability or death (OR=0.85, 0.74- 0.96). Individuals who completed the long distance corridor walk had a 66% decrease in risk of subsequent disability or death compared to those who were unable to complete the test (OR=0.34, 0.19–0.60). There was no association between grip strength and progression to disability or death (OR=0.98, 0.96–1.02). Conclusions: In our study of cancer patients aged ≥70years, pre-diagnosis physical performance is independently associated with progression to disability or death. These results suggest that simple performance tests may provide useful information in pre-treatment evaluations of older adults with cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Hyperreactivity and 45Ca movements in sensitized guinea-pig tracheal muscle
Authors: M Perpina, J Cortijo, E Fornas, M Palau, JL Ortiz, E Morcillo
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1991)

Responses to KCl and histamine and 45Ca movements were studied in trachea from normal and actively sensitized guinea-pigs. Sensitized tracheas were hyperresponsive and hypersensitive to KCl and histamine. 45Ca uptake experiments show that sensitized tracheal muscle behaves as normal except that the uptake of 45Ca in low concentration (0.03 mM) Ca2+ solution was higher and the number of binding sites for the high affinity component of 45Ca uptake (as estimated by Scatchard-coordinate plot) was augmented. Additionally, in sensitized tracheal muscle, incubation in low (0.03 mM) Ca2+ solution followed by La3+ wash-out resulted in a greater amount of residual 45Ca than in normal tissues. KCl, but not histamine, increased the La3+ resistant 45Ca content. This increase was greater in sensitized than in normal trachea. This demonstrates the existence of hyperreactivity and altered 45Ca movements in sensitized trachealis muscle.
Lung Cell Oxidant Injury
Authors: Norbert Suttorp, Lawrence M. Simon
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1982)

The oxidant damage of lung tissue during in vivo hyperoxic exposure appears to be amplified by neutrophils that release toxic amounts of oxygen metabolites. In our studies cloned lung epithelial cells (L2 cells), lung fibroblasts, and pulmonary artery endothelial cells were cultured under either ambient (Po(2) approximately 140 torr) or hyperoxic (Po(2) approximately 630 torr) conditions for 48 h (24 h for endothelial cells). After cultivation, phorbol myristate acetate- or opsonized zymosan-stimulated neutrophils were added to the cultivated monolayers for 4 h, and lung cell damage was quantitated using (51)Cr release as an index. The data show that stimulated neutrophils are able to injure the three lung cell lines tested, with endothelial cells being highly susceptible to this injury and L2 cells being slightly more susceptible than lung fibroblasts. The studies also demonstrate that all three lung cell lines exposed to sustained hyperoxia are more susceptible to neutrophil-mediated cytotoxicity than their time-matched air controls. Hydrogen peroxide was the main toxic oxygen metabolite because catalase (2,500 U/ml) completely protected the target cells. Equivalent quantities of hydrogen peroxide generated by glucose oxidase instead of by neutrophils gave a similar degree of target cell injury. Superoxide dismutase at high concentrations (250 mug/ml) provided some protection. Other systems that detoxify oxygen metabolites were without protective effect. These findings indicate that the increase in susceptibility of lung cells to neutrophil-mediated oxidant damage is a toxic effect of hyperoxia on lung cells. This specific manifestation of oxygen damage provides insight into the integration between primary mechanisms (oxygen exposure) and secondary mechanisms (release of oxygen metabolites by neutrophils) with respect to the cellular basis for pulmonary oxygen toxicity.
Cardiac β<sub>1</sub>-adrenoceptor autoantibodies in human heart disease: rationale and design of the<u>E</u>tiology,<u>Ti</u>tre-<u>C</u>ourse, and<u>S</u>urvival (ETiCS) Study
Authors: Nikolas Deubner, Dominik Berliner, Angela Schlipp, Götz Gelbrich, Alida L.P. Caforio, Stephan B. Felix, Michael Fu, Hugo Katus, Christiane E. Angermann, Martin J. Lohse, Georg Ertl, Stefan Störk, Roland Jahns
Journal: European Journal of Heart Failure (2010)
Clinical characteristics of scleroderma patients with and without pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Afroditi Boutou, Georgia Pitsiou, Nikolaos Chavouzis, Asimina Paspala, Evdokia Sourla, Paraskevi Argyropoulou, Ioannis Stanopoulos
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Scleroderma is a connective tissue disorder which is often complicated with pulmonary hypertension (PH).

Aim: To investigate potential differences in the clinical characteristics of scleroderma patients with and without PH, estimated by resting Doppler echocardiography.

Material-methods: A consecutive population of 82 scleroderma patients (11.9% male; 49.8 years old and 88.1% female; 54.9 years old), who were evaluated at the respiratory physiology laboratory of the Respiratory Failure Unit, constituted the study population. Patients underwent spirometry, diffusion capacity measurement and maximum cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a cycle ergometer. Data on anthropometric measurements, thorax computed tomography (CT) imaging and blood serology were also recorded.

Results: Twenty eight patients (34.15%) presented with PH (systolic pulmonary arterial pressure >35 mmHg). Patients with PH had also lower FEV1 %predicted (p=0.001), FVC %predicted (p=0.002), IC %predicted (p=0.01), TLC %predicted (p=0.03), FRC %predicted (p=0.001), and DLCO %predicted (p<0.001) and exhibited more often pulmonary fibrosis in CT scan, versus those without PH (p=0.03). As expected, those with PH had lower maximum oxygen uptake %predicted compared to the ones without PH (p=0.02), while no difference was noted in the autoantibodies subtype (antisclero-70 or anti-centromere) between the two groups.

Conclusion: In the current study most patients with PH also presented with respiratory restriction. It seems that pulmonary fibrosis plays an important role in the presentation of PH in scleroderma patients.
Characteristics and prognosis in patients with prosthetic vascular graft infection: a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: L. Legout, B. Sarraz-Bournet, P.V. D'Elia, P. Devos, A. Pasquet, M. Caillaux, F. Wallet, Y. Yazdanpanah, E. Senneville, S. Haulon, O. Leroy
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2011)
Levels of cytokines, sCD31 and expression of CD38 in patients with bronchial asthma of various severity out of a disease exacerbation
Authors: Angelina Kraposhina, Elena Sobko, Irina Soloveva, Svetlana Chubarova, Alla Salmina, Irina Demko
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Research objective: to study the levels of TNF-α, Il-4, sCD31/sPECAM-1 in plasma, expression of CD38 on lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in patients with bronchial asthma of various severity out of a disease exacerbation. 189 people, among them 149 patients with bronchial asthma and 40 almost healthy persons have been examined. 4 groups have been identified based on asthma severity: the 1st group – mild bronchial asthma - 25 people; the 2nd group –60 patients with moderate asthma, the 3rd group –36 persons with severe bronchial asthma; the 4th group – 28 patients with steroid-dependent bronchial asthma. Study of external respiration function was done with whole-body plethysmography (Erich Eger, Germany). Measurements of TNF-α, Il-4, sCD31/PECAM-1 levels in the peripheral blood were performed with ELISA (eBioscience, USA). Detection of CD38+ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood was done with immunofluorescence. We found elevated levels of TNF-α in patients of 2nd, 3d and 4th groups, associated with increased expression of CD38 on peripheral blood lymphocytes. The levels of Il-4 in the peripheral blood were increased in all the groups. The levels of sCD31/PECAM-1 exceeded values of control in all the groups and higher values were registered in patients with mild asthma. Thus, there is a system inflammatory response associated with endothelial damage in patients with bronchial asthma even out of a disease exacerbation.