tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Is there a straightforward relationship between hepatitis C virus infection and diabetes?
Authors: Pan Zhao, Zhenman Wei, Wanshu Liu
Journal: Hepatology (2014)

Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report. To the Editor: With great interest we read the recent publication in Hepatology by Ruhl et al.,1 who concluded that elevated liver enzyme activities were associated with both diabetes and insulin resistance but no association of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with diabetes or with insulin resistance was observed. This national epidemiological large‐sample study had wide implications in the field of hepatology and endocrinology. However, in our opinion, the study raises certain questions. As demonstrated by many studies,2 liver function or disease progression played an important role in the development of diabetes in HCV‐infected patients; in other words, these patients with hepatic decompensation or cirrhosis seemed liable to develop diabetes. We conducted a similar study in our hospital which enrolled a total of 467 patients with chronic HCV infection from January 2011 to December 2013 and found that a statistical significance (92/211 versus 55/256, P < 0.01) existed in the distribution of diabetes in patients with and without hepatic decompensation (Fig. 1). Additionally, the authors only selected liver enzymes as the independent factors in the analysis and did not include other common important indicators, such as bilirubin, lipid, and albumin, which might impact the outcomes of the logistic regression. A previous study by Liu et al.5 demonstrated that whether the relationship between HCV and type 2 diabetes existed or not was influenced by the inclusion of the lipid level in the analysis.Figure 1: Distribution of diabetes in patients with and without hepatic decompensationIn summary, liver function was a vital confounding factor in the analysis of association of HCV infection with diabetes. We suggest that the authors add the indicators which proved to be closely associated with liver function into the logistic regression analysis or divide the participants into different groups according to liver function or disease progression.
Lung Tumors Induced at High Altitude by Urethan (Ethyl Carbamate) in Strain A Mice&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn1"&gt;2&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Pablo Mori-Chavez
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1962)

The development of pulmonary tumors induced by urethan was studied in 287 strain A mice in the Peruvian Andes at 14,900 feet above sea level in Morococha, and in 292 mice at sea level in Lima. The mice were divided into three groups, and the animals in each group were given, respectively, a single injection of 0.25 mg, 0.5 mg, or 1 mg of urethan per gram of body weight. The results clearly indicated that high altitude, or factors related to altitude, enhanced the carcinogenic effect of urethan. At all three dose levels a significantly greater number of tumors developed at high altitude than at sea level. The average diameter of the tumors was greater at high altitude than at sea level. The number of mice with large tumors 4 mm in diameter and above, and the percentage of large tumors were greater at high altitude than at sea level. Anaplastic changes were observed in 23 of 287 mice at high altitude, and in 5 of 292 mice at sea level. Six tumors at high altitude and one at sea level infiltrated the adjacent structures.
Vital capacity after lung transplantation
Authors: Maartje Horstman, Citta Zaat, Ton Provily, H.C. Hoogsteden
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction: The size of the Vital Capacity (VC) is determined by powers between thorax and lung. After lung transplantation it will take some time before an equilibrium is settled between thorax mobility and lung compliance. VC therefore increases over time until a maximum is reached (VCmax).

Aims: The aim of our study was to investigate how long it takes to reach VCmax. Also we wanted to find out if age at transplantation, pre transplantation value of FEV1/VC, single or double lung transplantation and gender influenced the duration to reach VCmax.

Methods: We analysed data of 29 patients who underwent a lung transplant in the Erasmus Medical Center Rotterdam and had at least 2.5 years of lung function data after transplantation. We determined the number of days necessary to reach 95% of the highest post transplant VC (TimeVC).

Results: 15 males and 14 females, with ages at transplantation ranging from 31 to 63 years were studied. 19 underwent a bi- and 10 a unilateral lung transplantation. 22 were transplanted because of obstructive lung disease and 7 because of other reasons. Patients were obstructive if FEV1/VC < -1.64SD of the predicted values.

Average TimeVC was 537 days (SD=281 days). In the obstructive group TimeVC was on average 470 days and in the non-obstructive group 750 days.

We only found a significant regression coefficient (R=0.46, p=0.012) between TimeVC and pre transplantation FEV1/VC in SD of predicted.

Conclusion: In our study we found that a more severe obstruction before transplantation leads to an earlier reach of maximum VC after transplantation. An explanation might be that the pre transplant thorax in obstructive patients had been in a hyperinflated state, enabling the transplanted lungs to expand sooner.
A longitudinal study of baseline FEV1 and bronchial responsiveness in patients with asthma
Authors: LK Josephs, I Gregg, MA Mullee, MJ Campbell, ST Holgate
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1992)

The effect of initial airway calibre on the response to bronchial provocation is unclear. Theoretically, geometric relationships within the airways might influence the measurement of responsiveness, particularly since a given change in calibre will produce a disproportionately greater reduction in flow in airways which are already narrowed. We have examined the relationship between serial measurements of prechallenge forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and responsiveness to methacholine (PD20) in 8 children and 12 adults with asthma. Measurements were made every 2-3 wks for 12-18 months and all patients kept a daily record of symptoms and twice daily measurements of peak expiratory flow (PEF). Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (rho) for the relationship PD20 versus pre-challenge FEV1 was derived for each patient and varied widely within the group (range -0.22 to 0.73, mean 0.31); the strength of this correlation was not related to a patient's mean FEV1 % predicted, but was related to the degree to which PD20 and pre-challenge FEV1 themselves reflected concurrent asthma severity (mean morning PEF and mean symptom scores for the three days around each test). This suggests that the observed relationship between pre-challenge FEV1 and PD20 may be due less to the influence of airway geometric factors, which might be expected to be present in all patients, but rather that pre-challenge FEV1 is reflecting the severity of the underlying disease. Larger studies will be needed to test this hypothesis further.
Patients diagnosed of TB in the Ourense area in the last decade: A descriptive study
Authors: Hugo Gómez, Abel Rodríguez, Isaura Parente, Blanco Nagore, Jose Abal, Pedro Velázquez
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Objective:  to assess the annual incidence TB and its epidemiology   Material and methods:  retrospective study on patients diagnosed of tuberculosis during the decade 1999-2009. Data collecting was possible thanks to the “ Programa Galego de Prevencion y Control de Tuberculosis  The usual descriptive study was then performed based on these data; quantitative variables were expressed as mean ± SD, whereas the qualitative ones as absolute frequencies or percentages, using the χ  2  test to assess associations among them.   Results:  the whole series included a total of 1746 cases, with a greater incidence among males and those between 24 – 35 yr. Exposure to infected persons, smoking habit, alcoholism and immunosuppression were the main risk factors.  The most common site of infection was pulmonary (67.5%), followed by pleural (14%), lymphadenopathies (7.1 %) and others (9.3 %). With regard to microbiology, the best yield could be obtained from culture (positive in 80% of cases), whereas the detection of AFB was positive only in 41% of patients.  The chest X-ray was pathologic in 93.3%, even though cavitations were only present in 27.6 % of cases.  The scheduled therapy was completed and microbiological cure was attained in 85.6 %, which fares favourably compared to other published series.  The global death rate was 10.63 %, but only 1.1 % were attributable to TB.   Conclusions:   · The incidence of pulmonary TB has clearly decreased in the preceeding years, although it still prevails in males and in the 24-35 yr.-old group.  ·The “pathological X-ray with cavitation” was observed in 28 % of cases.  ·85.6% completed the scheduled treatment.  · The global death rate was 10.63 %, but TB just accounted for 1.1%.
Hyponatraemia and Moduretic-Grand Mal Seizures: A Review
Authors: C Johnston, L Webb, J Daley, G S Spathis
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1989)

Three cases are presented which emphasize the importance of hyponatraemia as a cause of grand mal seizures. The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and amiloride appears to increase the risk of hyponatraemia. We discuss the aetiology and treatment of hyponatraemia and review the necessity for such combination therapy. We recommend caution in prescribing diuretics and preparations such as Moduretic should be used only in those few patients shown to need potassium supplementation.
Ultrasound guided transthoracic coaxial needle biopsy in chest lesions
Authors: Monika Marcincinova, Robert Slivka, Peter Kukol, Peter Janik
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Aim:  We examined diagnostic yield of ultrasound guided transthoracic coaxial needle biopsy in chest lesions.   Material and methods:  The 344 patients with ultrasonographically visible lesions of lung, mediastinum, pleura and chest wall were included in the study between August 2002 to January 2011. We performed TTNB with 18 gauge coaxial biopsy set. Five and more biopsies were performed for histologic examination. Immediately thereafter the lesion was aspirated with guide sheath connected to 20 ml syringe. Material retrieved by aspiration was proceeded to cytocentrifugation and cell block was analyzed.   Results:  A total of 344 patients were included from August 2002 to January 2011. Median age was 63.7 years (range 25-84 years), 20.7% were male. The majority of cases were lung lesions extending to the pleura (n=311, 90.4%), followed by pleural lesions (n=21, 6.1%), mediastinal lesions (n=8, 2.3%) and chest wall lesions (n=4, 1.2%). At the time of biopsy, a chest radiograph was available in all patients. Minimum lesion size was 3 cm.  Final diagnosis was established in 284 patients (82.56%), 60 patients (17.44%) were diagnosed by other means or were undiagnosed. 221 (77.82%) lesions were malignant, 63 (22.18%) were benign. The diagnostic yield TTNB was 82.56.%.  Adverse events were pneumothorax in 22 patients (6.4%) and in 8 of these, a chest drain was reguired (36.36%). Mild hemoptysis (n=18, 5.2%), post procedural pain requiring medication (n=8, 2.3%), vagovasal reaction (n=6, 1.7%) were minor events.   Conclusions:  Coaxial needle biopsy set technique is safe method with excellent diagnostic accuracy. This technique has advantage that several samples may be taken without having to repeatedly penetrate the pleura.
Use of asthma medication during pregnancy and risk of specific congenital anomalies: A European case-malformed control study
Authors: Ester Garne, Anne Vinkel Hansen, Joan Morris, Louise Zaupper, Marie-Claude Addor, Ingeborg Barisic, Miriam Gatt, Nathalie Lelong, Kari Klungsøyr, Mary O'Mahony, Vera Nelen, Amanda J. Neville, Anna Pierini, David Tucker, Hermien de Walle, Awi Wiesel, Maria Loane, Helen Dolk
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2015)

BackgroundPregnant women with asthma need to take medication during pregnancy.ObjectiveWe sought to identify whether there is an increased risk of specific congenital anomalies after exposure to antiasthma medication in the first trimester of pregnancy.MethodsWe performed a population-based case-malformed control study testing signals identified in a literature review. Odds ratios (ORs) of exposure to the main groups of asthma medication were calculated for each of the 10 signal anomalies compared with registrations with nonchromosomal, nonsignal anomalies as control registrations. In addition, exploratory analyses were done for each nonsignal anomaly. The data set included 76,249 registrations of congenital anomalies from 13 EUROmediCAT registries.ResultsCleft palate (OR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.05-2.52) and gastroschisis (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.12-3.20) had significantly increased odds of exposure to first-trimester use of inhaled β2-agonists compared with nonchromosomal control registrations. Odds of exposure to salbutamol were similar. Nonsignificant ORs of exposure to inhaled β2-agonists were found for spina bifida, cleft lip, anal atresia, severe congenital heart defects in general, or tetralogy of Fallot. None of the 4 literature signals of exposure to inhaled steroids were confirmed (cleft palate, cleft lip, anal atresia, and hypospadias). Exploratory analyses found an association between renal dysplasia and exposure to the combination of long-acting β2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids (OR, 3.95; 95% CI, 1.99-7.85).ConclusionsThe study confirmed increased odds of first-trimester exposure to inhaled β2-agonists for cleft palate and gastroschisis and found a potential new signal for renal dysplasia associated with combined long-acting β2-agonists and inhaled corticosteroids. Use of inhaled corticosteroids during the first trimester of pregnancy seems to be safe in relation to the risk for a range of specific major congenital anomalies.
Infection control measures on respiratory infections at the primary health care in Kyrgyz Republic: Current situation, prospects and impact on improvement of the health services quality
Authors: Rakhat Cholurova, Tulegen Chubakov, Nurgul Usenbaeva
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Tuberculosis control in the Kyrgyz Republic based on the WHO DOTS strategy. Currently the duties for identifying, primary diagnosis of tuberculosis and organization of controlled treatment are assigned to the primary care health professionals. Considering high prevalence of MDR-TB cases (26% among new cases, 52% among recurrent cases) the TB infection control measures should be strongly observed.  Purpose: To implement TB infection control measures in the primary health care taking into account available capacity and determination of the optimal model of this approach for its implementation at the national level.  Material and Methods: Medical workers (18 groups of family medicine practitioners) had been trained on basic TB infection control (2-day workshop), after that, they have implemented infection control plans for the period of 6 months. Two monitoring visits were conducted.  Results: In 6 months 100% of primary care organizations had developed TB IC plan and implemented a system of triage and rapid examination of patients with respiratory symptoms. Before only 44% of patient with long history of cough (> than 2 weeks) were referred to the bacterioscopic test of sputum, the index increased to 65% (p  Conclusions: In the pilot primary care organizations the TB infection control issues were neglected due to lack of skills and knowledge. Existing capacity of primary health care organizations are optimal for the implementation of all necessary measures for creation of safe environment for other patients and health care workers.
Acceptance of Allogeneic Tumor and Skin Grafts in Backcross Progeny of a Homograft-Tolerant Male
Authors: Ronald D. Guttmann, Gerald J. Vosika, J. Bradley Aust
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1964)

Breeding of a C3H male tolerant to strain A tissue with (A × C3H)F1 hybrid females produced a backcross population which almost uniformly accepted a spontaneous (A × C3H)F1 hybrid mammary adenocarcinoma. These progeny also accepted an eighteenth transplant generation strain A mammary adenocarcinoma in higher incidence than would be expected in a normal backcross population where susceptibility is determined by a set of multiple, dominant histocompatibility genes. The alteration in the normal expression of histocompatibility observed in these backcross progeny of the tolerant animal suggests a change induced by the presence of strain A cells during the maturation of C3H germ plasm. Backcross animals produced at a later date by the tolerant animal bred with the (A × C3H)F1 hybrid females showed a significant number of animals accepting (A × C3H)F1 hybrid skin grafts compared with the tolerant backcross controls given or not given injections. When the tolerant backcross progeny were regrafted with strain A skin, these allogeneic grafts were also accepted. Finally, a group of the backcross progeny tolerant to (A × C3H)F1 tissue, when regrafted with (C57BL/1 × C3H)F1 hybrid skin, showed prompt graft rejection indicating a degree of specificity in the observed change. It is suggested that the utilization of the breeding model of actively acquired tolerance with the backcross population may provide further information about the heritable effects of germ-plasm exposure to cells of a foreign genotype.
Prevalence and risk factors for posttraumatic stress disorder among chemically dependent adolescents
Authors: E Y Deykin, S L Buka
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1997)

This study ascertained the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among chemically dependent adolescents and identified factors that influence the risk of PTSD after a qualifying trauma.The study group consisted of 297 adolescents aged 15-19 years who met the DSM-III-R criteria for dependence on alcohol or other drugs and who were receiving treatment in seven publicly funded Massachusetts facilities. PTSD and other axis I diagnoses were assessed by the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Data on risk factors were collected by a specially constructed interview schedule.The lifetime prevalence of PTSD was 29.6% (24.3% for males and 45.3% for females), and the current prevalence was 19.2% (12.2% for males and 40.0% for females). These prevalences reflect a high occurrence of traumatic exposures and a high case rate among those who experienced trauma. The risk of PTSD varied with the nature of the trauma, the number of traumas experienced, psychiatric comorbidity, and familial characteristics. The higher rate of PTSD among females was due to a greater frequency of rape, which carries a high risk of PTSD development, and to a high rate of comorbid conditions.The lifetime prevalence of PTSD among these chemically dependent adolescents is five times that reported for a community sample of adolescents. This extremely high rate provides new understanding of the etiologic connection between PTSD and chemical dependence and has implications for their treatment.
Impact of Nitazoxanide on Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) in Egyptian Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Genotype 4: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: M. Kohla, H. El-Said, A. El-Fert, N. Ehsan, S. Ezzat, H. Taha
Journal: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology (2015)
Predictors for developing hypoxic respiratory failure in COPD – A 3-year follow-up
Authors: Eirunn Waatevik Saure, Tomas M.L. Eagan, Robert L. Jensen, Per S. Bakke, Marianne Voll-Aanerud, Einar Thorsen, Jon A. Hardie
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: The risk of developing respiratory failure rises with increasing severity of COPD. Still, it is unknown which clinical and pulmonary function measurements are associated with subsequent development of hypoxic respiratory failure.

Methods: 401 subjects from the Bergen COPD Cohort Study, aged 40-75 years, GOLD stage II-IV, underwent repeated clinical and pulmonary function measurements including arterial blood gases over 3 years. Sex, age, smoking, and baseline measures of FEV1, RV/TLC-ratio, PaO2, PaCO2, and Fat Free Mass Index (FFMI) were analyzed as possible predictors for developing hypoxemia. We used both bivariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses, with the time from baseline normoxemia until the first event of hypoxemia (PaO2<8kPa) as a measure of event free time. 73 (18%) of the 401 patients were hypoxemic at baseline and excluded from the analyses.

Results: Within the three years of follow-up, a total of 46 patients (14%) developed hypoxemia. In bivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses, baseline FEV1, RV/TLC, FFMI, PaO2, and PaCO2 were significantly associated with developing hypoxemia. After multivariate Cox proportional hazards analyses, the following measures remained significantly associated with developing hypoxemia:

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Conclusion: High RV/TLC-ratio, low PaO2, and low fat free mass index were predictors for developing hypoxemic respiratory failure in a 3 years follow-up of COPD patients.
Lipopolysacharide modulates glucocorticoid receptor function in nasal mucosa and polyp fibroblasts
Authors: Laura Pujols, Laura Fernández-Bertolín, Joaquim Mullol, Mireya Fuentes-Prado, Isam Alobid, Jordi Roca-Ferrer, César Picado
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

BACKGROUND:  Glucocorticoids are used in the treatment of viral and bacterial-related chronic airway disease exacerbations, such as asthma and nasal polyposis, although they do not effectively suppress them. Infections may contribute to disease deterioration by inducing glucocorticoid insensitivity/resistance.  AIM:  To elucidate whether lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduces glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function in nasal mucosa and nasal polyp fibroblasts.  METHODS:  Nasal polyp fibroblasts from asthmatic patients (n= 12) and control nasal mucosa fibroblasts (n= 10) were isolated and stimulated in vitro with LPS (10 mg/ml) for 24 h prior to dexamethasone addition for different concentrations and times. Cytokine/chemokine secretion was measured by ELISA and Cytometric Bead Array, the expression of GRα, GRβ, mitogen-activated protein-kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) and glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper (GILZ) by RT-PCR and immunoblotting, and GRα/β nuclear translocation by immunocytochemistry.  RESULTS:  LPS increased (P CONCLUSION:  Repression of GR signalling by bacterial products like LPS may contribute to the low clinical efficacy of glucocorticoids in the treatment of infectious-related inflammatory diseases.
Mutational landscape of mucinous ovarian carcinoma and its neoplastic precursors
Authors: Georgina L. Ryland, Sally M. Hunter, Maria A. Doyle, Franco Caramia, Jason Li, Simone M. Rowley, Michael Christie, Prue E. Allan, Andrew N. Stephens, David D L Bowtell, Ian G. Campbell, Kylie L. Gorringe
Journal: Genome Medicine (2015)

Mucinous ovarian tumors are an unusual group of rare neoplasms with an apparently clear progression from benign to borderline to carcinoma, yet with a controversial cell of origin in the ovarian surface epithelium. They are thought to be molecularly distinct from other ovarian tumors but there have been no exome-level sequencing studies performed to date. To understand the genetic etiology of mucinous ovarian tumors and assess the presence of novel therapeutic targets or pathways, we undertook exome sequencing of 24 tumors encompassing benign (5), borderline (8) and carcinoma (11) histologies and also assessed a validation cohort of 58 tumors for specific gene regions including exons 4–9 of TP53. The predominant mutational signature was of C>T transitions in a NpCpG context, indicative of deamination of methyl-cytosines. As well as mutations in known drivers (KRAS, BRAF and CDKN2A), we identified a high percentage of carcinomas with TP53 mutations (52 %), and recurrent mutations in RNF43, ELF3, GNAS, ERBB3 and KLF5. The diversity of mutational targets suggests multiple routes to tumorigenesis in this heterogeneous group of tumors that is generally distinct from other ovarian subtypes.