tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Surveillance and Long-term Outcomes After Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Among Medicare Beneficiaries
Authors: Trit Garg, Laurence C. Baker, Matthew W. Mell
Journal: JAMA Surgery (2015)

The Society for Vascular Surgery recommends annual surveillance with computed tomography (CT) or ultrasonography after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) for abdominal aortic aneurysms. However, such lifelong surveillance may be unnecessary for most patients, thereby contributing to overuse of imaging services.To investigate whether nonadherence to Society for Vascular Surgery-recommended surveillance guidelines worsens long-term outcomes after EVAR among Medicare beneficiaries.We collected data from Medicare claims from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2011. A total of 9503 patients covered by fee-for-service Medicare who underwent EVAR from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2005, were categorized as receiving complete or incomplete surveillance. We performed logistic regressions controlling for patient demographic and hospital characteristics. Patients were then matched by propensity score with adjusting for all demographic variables, including age, sex, race, Medicaid eligibility, residential status, hospital volume, ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms, and all preexisting comorbidities. We then calculated differences in long-term outcomes after EVAR between adjusted groups. Data analysis was performed from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2011.Post-EVAR imaging modality, aneurysm-related mortality, late rupture, and complications.Median follow-up duration was 6.1 years. Incomplete surveillance was observed in 5526 of 9695 patients (57.0%) who survived the initial hospital stay at a mean (SD) of 5.2 (2.9) years after EVAR. After propensity matching, our cohort consisted of 7888 patients, among whom 3944 (50.0%) had incomplete surveillance. For those in the matched cohort, patients with incomplete surveillance had a lower incidence of late ruptures (26 of 3944 [0.7%] vs 57 of 3944 [1.4%]; P = .001) and major or minor reinterventions (46 of 3944 [1.2%] vs 246 of 3944 [6.2%]; P < .001) in unadjusted analysis. Aneurysm-related mortality was not statistically different between groups (13 of 3944 [0.3%] vs 24 of 3944 [0.6%]; P = .07). In adjusted analysis of postoperative outcomes controlling for all patient and hospital factors by the tenth postoperative year, patients in the incomplete surveillance group experienced lower rates of total complications (2.1% vs 14.0%; P < .001), late rupture (1.1% vs 5.3%; P < .001), major or minor reinterventions (1.4% vs 10.0%; P < .001), aneurysm-related mortality (0.4% vs 1.3%; P < .001), and all-cause mortality (30.9% vs 68.8%, P < .001).Nonadherence to the Society for Vascular Surgery guidelines for post-EVAR imaging was not associated with poor outcomes, suggesting that, in many patients, less frequent surveillance is not associated with worse outcomes. Improved criteria for defining optimal surveillance will achieve higher value in aneurysm care.
Serological testing for Bartonella henselae infections in The Netherlands: clinical evaluation of immunofluorescence assay and ELISA
Authors: M.J. Vermeulen, M. Herremans, H. Verbakel, A.M.C. Bergmans, J.J. Roord, P.J. van Dijken, M.F. Peeters
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2007)
Risk for Clinically Relevant Adverse Cardiac Events in Patients With Chest Pain at Hospital Admission
Authors: Michael B. Weinstock, Scott Weingart, Frank Orth, Douglas VanFossen, Colin Kaide, Judy Anderson, David H. Newman
Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine (2015)

Patients with potentially ischemic chest pain are commonly admitted to the hospital or observed after a negative evaluation in the emergency department (ED) owing to concern about adverse events.Previous studies have looked at 30-day mortality, but no current large studies have examined the most important information regarding ED disposition: the short-term risk for a clinically relevant adverse cardiac event (including inpatient ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, life-threatening arrhythmia, cardiac or respiratory arrest, or death).OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of clinically relevant adverse cardiac events in patients hospitalized for chest pain with 2 troponin-negative findings, nonconcerning initial ED vital signs, and nonischemic, interpretable electrocardiographic findings. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTSWe conducted a blinded data review of 45 416 encounters obtained from a prospectively collected database enrolling adult patients admitted or observed with the following inclusion criteria: (1) primary presenting symptom of chest pain, chest tightness, chest burning, or chest pressure and (2) negative findings for serial biomarkers.Data were collected and analyzed from July 1, 2008, through June 30, 2013, from the EDs of 3 community teaching institutions with an aggregate census of more than 1 million visits.We analyzed data extracted by hypothesis-blinded abstractors. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURESThe primary outcome was a composite of life-threatening arrhythmia, inpatient ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, cardiac or respiratory arrest, or death during hospitalization. RESULTSOf the 45 416 encounters, 11 230 met criteria for inclusion.Mean patient age was 58.0 years.Of the 11 230 encounters, 44.83% of patients arrived by ambulance and 55.00% of patients were women.Relevant history included hypertension in 46.00%, diabetes mellitus in 19.72%, and myocardial infarction in 13.16%.The primary end point occurred in 20 of the 11 230 patients (0.18% [95% CI, 0.11%-0.27%]).After excluding patients with abnormal vital signs, electrocardiographic ischemia, left bundle branch block, or a pacemaker rhythm, we identified a primary end point event in 4 of 7266 patients (0.06% [95% CI, 0.02%-0.14%]).Of these events, 2 were noncardiac and 2 were possibly iatrogenic. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCEIn adult patients with chest pain admitted with 2 negative findings for serial biomarkers, nonconcerning vital signs, and nonischemic electrocardiographic findings, short-term clinically relevant adverse cardiac events were rare and commonly iatrogenic, suggesting that routine inpatient admission may not be a beneficial strategy for this group.
Diagnostic contribution of positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose for invasive fungal infections
Authors: A. Hot, C. Maunoury, S. Poiree, F. Lanternier, J.P. Viard, P. Loulergue, H. Coignard, M.E. Bougnoux, F. Suarez, M.T. Rubio, N. Mahlaoui, B. Dupont, M. Lecuit, M. Faraggi, O. Lortholary
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2010)
Biofilm formation is a risk factor for mortality in patients with Candida albicans bloodstream infection—Scotland, 2012–2013
Authors: R. Rajendran, L. Sherry, C.J. Nile, A. Sherriff, E.M. Johnson, M.F. Hanson, C. Williams, C.A. Munro, B.J. Jones, G. Ramage
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2015)

Bloodstream infections caused by Candida species remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. Biofilm formation by Candida species is an important virulence factor for disease pathogenesis. A prospective analysis of patients with Candida bloodstream infection (n = 217) in Scotland (2012–2013) was performed to assess the risk factors associated with patient mortality, in particular the impact of biofilm formation. Candida bloodstream isolates (n = 280) and clinical records for 157 patients were collected through 11 different health boards across Scotland. Biofilm formation by clinical isolates was assessed in vitro with standard biomass assays. The role of biofilm phenotype on treatment efficacy was also evaluated in vitro by treating preformed biofilms with fixed concentrations of different classes of antifungal. Available mortality data for 134 patients showed that the 30-day candidaemia case mortality rate was 41%, with predisposing factors including patient age and catheter removal. Multivariate Cox regression survival analysis for 42 patients showed a significantly higher mortality rate for Candida albicans infection than for Candida glabrata infection. Biofilm-forming ability was significantly associated with C. albicans mortality (34 patients). Finally, in vitro antifungal sensitivity testing showed that low biofilm formers and high biofilm formers were differentially affected by azoles and echinocandins, but not by polyenes. This study provides further evidence that the biofilm phenotype represents a significant clinical entity, and that isolates with this phenotype differentially respond to antifungal therapy in vitro. Collectively, these findings show that greater clinical understanding is required with respect to Candida biofilm infections, and the implications of isolate heterogeneity.
Pneumotox - An updated time-saving web resource
Authors: Philippe Camus, Philippe Bonniaud, Clio Camus, Pascal Foucher, Lucile Jacquet
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Pneumotox was designed in 1997 to provide health professionals with a free, quick-access, regularly updated and maintained database on any respiratory disease. These features were thought to be essential, as some drug-induced respiratory diseases can progress quickly and can be immediatedly life-threatening. Hence, instant information at the point of care is needed. Therefore, Pneumotox is now accessible from any PC, Ipad, Android tablet and smartphone for free.  Methods: Pneumotox was fed with a backup list now amounting to of 17.700 references. All languages were considered. Papers received adequate keywording using internationally recognized classifications and wording of diseases. Accretion of articles from PubMed started in 1978. Relevant articles (n=5327) were included in the web-user side of Pneumotox. Search on Pneumotox was compared with search on Pubmed in selected situations.  Resultts: Crude number of reports were (Pneumotox vs. Pubmed) 9drug-induced pulmonary disease (5521/2451), drug-induced pleural effusion (628/92), methotrexate lung 529/481), drug-induced histopathology (2403/588), amiodarone pulmonary toxixity (744/574), drug-induced angioedema (261/99). Time spent to build a list of drugs causing a potentially fatal adverse reaction (acute interstitial lung disease, pulmonary edema/hemorrhage, acute airway obstruction, anaphylaxis), acute pulmonary hypertension, respiratory muscle paralysis, methemoglobinemia) was unquestionably shorter using Pneumotox compared to PubMed by several orders of magnitude.  Conclusion: The web resource Pneumotox presents extensive information on drug-induced respiratory disorders. This information is obtained in shorter times, compared to conventional sources.
Home visits for improving asthma follow-up consultation attendance
Authors: Javiera Corbalán, María Teresa Soto
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

BACKGROUND: Our Child Asthma Program provides care for around 500 patients. Every 6 months the population under control is reviewed. Since December 2010 non-attendance (missing appointments for more than 3 months) was recorded, 37.2% were non-attenders. Regular review is a marker of quality care and relates to better asthma control. Non-attendance is a frequent and concerning problem.  AIM: Improve attendance to asthma follow-up consultations and learn about the causes of non-attendance.  METHODS: We implemented a home visit strategy. Every month the non-attenders were identified and a home visit was planned. Completed visits considered a survey, asthma control assessment and a medical appointment. We measured at 6 and 12 months the non-attenders and if the home visit lead to attendance or not.  RESULTS: 147 home visits were done. 67 were completed, with a 65.7% of success (patient attends to appointment). 80 home visits failed and only 16.3% of those patients had spontaneous appointments. At 6 months 17% of patients were non-attenders, and 24% at 12 months. In one year the nonattendance rate was reduced in 35.5%.  CONCLUSIONS: Improving attendance is feasible. Looking for non-attenders is an important issue for managing asthmatic children. Causes of non-attendance are diverse and had to be explored deeper. Feeling well despite of uncontrolled asthma and difficult to access appointments are worrisome causes. Home visits also provide the opportunity to reinforce prescriptions in patient9s natural environment.
CTX-M-15-producing multidrug-resistant enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in the United Arab Emirates
Authors: Á. Sonnevend, K. Al Dhaheri, T. Mag, M. Herpay, J. Kolodziejek, N. Nowotny, A. Usmani, F.A. Sheikh, T. Pál
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2006)
The relationship between systemic inflammation and vitamin D levels in COPD
Authors: Ali Kocabas, Gulsah Derinkuyu, Mujde Cigerli Ocak, Gulsah Seydaoglu, Ezgi Ozyilmaz
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction: A number of reports showed that vitamin-D levels effect systemic inflamation in chronic diseases.However, the relationship between systemic inflamation and vitamin-D levels in COPD has not been elucidated yet.The aim of this study is to evaluate the link between serum vitamin-D levels and systemic inflammation markers in patients with COPD.   Methods: Fifty stable COPD patients who were admitted to Cukurova University Faculty of Medicine Department of Pulmonary Disease outpatient clinic and fifty-one healthy control subjects were recruited for the prospective study. After obtaining clinical and demographical information, respiratory function tests, 6-minute walking tests were performed. BODE index, physical activity level and mMRC dyspne scores were measured. Peripheral venous blood samples were taken for measurement of serum 25-OH vitamin-D3 levels and systemic inflammatory markers including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-Alpha, CRP and fibrinojen.   Results: Serum mean vitamin-D levels were lower in COPD patients then control subjects (19.8±6.2 vs 28.4±8.1ng/ml,p   Conclusion: This study showed that vitamin D defiency is frequent in COPD however no correlation was detected between serum vitamin D and systemic inflammation biomarkers. Further clinical trials about systemic inflammation-vitamin-D relationship are needed on stable and exacerbated COPD patients.
Oligonucleotide Therapeutics: A Step Forward
Authors: Alan M. Gewirtz
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2000)

Article Tools EDITORIAL Article Tools OPTIONS & TOOLS Export Citation Track Citation Add To Favorites Rights & Permissions COMPANION ARTICLES No companion articles ARTICLE CITATION DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2000.18.9.1809 Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print September 21, 2016 PMID: 10784620 Oligonucleotide Therapeutics: A Step Forward Alan M. Gewirtz, MDxAlan M. GewirtzSearch for articles by this author Show More University of Pennsylvania, School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.2000.18.9.1809 First Page Full Text PDF Figures and Tables © 2000 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Genetic Control of Immune Responses to Moloney Leukemia Virus in Rats 2
Authors: Joe M. Jones, Fred Jensen, Joseph D. Feldman
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1978)

When BN and LEW rats were immunized with untreated or with inactivated Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV), BN rats produced high antibody responses to the p15, p30, and gp70 antigens of the virus, whereas LEW rats were low responders to these antigens. BN rats also exhibited a high response and LEW rats a low response when the two strains were immunized with purified p30. Studies of (LEW × BN)F1 and backcross rats suggested that factors associated with AgB exerted major influences on responses to antigens of M-MuLV and that other factors were also important. When other rat strains representing 5 AgB alleles were tested, some were high and some were low responders to M-MuLV, and responses to p15, p30, and gp70 were not always parallel. Since M-MuLV replicatlon was greater in cells of BN rats than in cells of LEW rats, replication of M-MuLV may have influenced the levels of responses to some viral antigens. Control of virus replication appeared to be due to cell mechanisms rather than to the environment of the host.
LSC 2012 abstract - Lung tissue engineering: generation and characterization of decellularized lung scaffolds for stem cell differentiation
Authors: Sharareh Shojaie, Martin Post
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

The interaction of stem cells with the surrounding matrix environment is crucial for cell fate. The development of biomatrices that recapitulate the in vivo environment is a key component to driving differentiation of pluripotent cells into lung endoderm precursors. We investigate whether decellularized lungs with intact matrix composition can promote the differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC) into distal lung epithelial cells. Rat cadaveric lungs were decellularized by sequential tracheal lavages and retrograde pulmonary arterial perfusion using a range of physical, chemical, and enzymatic treatments. Histological staining, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, and tensile testing have confirmed decellularization and preservation of matrix proteins. Murine ESC (Foxa2/CD4; Bry/GFP cells) were seeded onto scaffolds following endoderm induction using activin, and analysed for lung lineage marker expression. Seeded ES cells maintained FoxA2 expression and adopted an epithelial-like tubular organization. This demonstrates the ability of acellular lung scaffolds to support the adherence, proliferation, and potential differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells. Current studies are analysing their potential as viable scaffolds for the unidirectional differentiation of human endoderm-induced ESC (Hes2 cell line) into distal lung epithelial cells.
Bone marrows of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients with a bcl-2 translocation can be purged of polymerase chain reaction-detectable lymphoma cells using monoclonal antibodies and immunomagnetic bead depletion
Authors: JG Gribben, L Saporito, M Barber, KW Blake, RM Edwards, JD Griffin, AS Freedman, LM Nadler
Journal: Blood (1992)
Neural respiratory drive is preserved during high intensity exercise
Authors: B.T. He, H.H. Gong, N.S. Zhong, M.I. Polkey, Y.M. Luo
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

It is unknown whether neural inhibition of respiratory drive occurs during exhaustive exercise. We hypothesised that neural inhibition did occur; to test the hypothesis we measured diaphragm EMG from a maximal inspiratory capacity maneuver (EMGdi-IC) at rest and during exercise. EMGdi-IC was measured before and after the plateau phase of the diaphragm EMG in eleven healthy adults undertaking exercise at 60% and 80% of maximal workload achieved from incremental exercise. The mean EMGdi-IC at rest was 65%±16% of the maximum that could be obtained from a battery of inspiratory tasks. Before and after the plateau phase of diaphragm EMG, EMG-IC was 68%±13% and 72%±12% (p>0.05) during 60% of the maximum workload, and was 70%±13% and 78%±13% (p>0.05) during 80% of the maximum workload achieved on an incremental test. Our data show that exercise condition does not reduce the magnitude of EMGdi-IC. This argues against neural inhibition as feature of exercise in healthy adults.
Lung function in preschool children with recurrent wheezing
Authors: Marta Mumany, Olaia Sardon, Ines Mir, Javier Korta, Alba Torrent, Paula Corcuera, Silvia Gartner, Eduardo G. Pérez Yarza, Antonio Moreno
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction:  Measurement of specific resistance could be more sensible than spirometry to quantify early functional changes in airway of preschool children.   Objective : To assess lung function abnormalities among preschool children with recurrent wheezing using spirometry and specific resistance (sRaw).   Methods:  Observational prospective study.Children aged 3 to 6 years with a history of recurrent wheezing and healthy children were recruited. Children were classified according to wheeze phenotype (ERS Task Force 2008).sRaw was measured using sReff by a single step procedure.Z-scores were calculated from the equations from Asthma UK initiative (Eur Respir J 2010) and GLI (Quanjer,Eur Respir J 2012).Bronchodilator response was assessed as the increase in FEV 0.75  or decrease in Reff.   Results:  Twenty-five healthy controls,mean age 4.98 (SD 1.06) years and 92 wheezers 5.06 (1.02) years were tested. 37 patients showed a multiple-trigger wheeze phenotype.Sixty wheezing children and 19 healthy performed technically acceptable spirometry manoeuvres and 77 wheezing and 20 healthy satisfactory sRaw measurements.^  There was no difference in bronchodilator response between groups neither using FEV 0.75  increase: healthy versus wheezing, nor Reff decrease.No difference was found among spirometric and resistance index between multiple-trigger and episodic wheeze.   Conclusions : Spirometric indices are more sensible than specific resistance measurement to detect abnormalities in lung function in wheezing preschool children.
Impact of Quantiferon TB Gold intensity response in active over latent tuberculosis
Authors: Faheem Khan, Orla Cotter, Jim Clair, David Curran, T. O'Connor
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

We sought to determine whether the intensity of response in patients with a positive Quantiferon-TB Gold assay (QTF) was predictive of active over latent tuberculosis, and whether other factors determined the intensity of response.  We analyzed positive Quantiferon assays (Cellestis, Carnegie, Australia) performed between July 2009 and April 2011 in the Mercy University Hospital, Cork. The group consisted of 94 patients with latent tuberculosis and 35 patients with active tuberculosis.  There was no difference in the intensity of response between patients with latent and active tuberculosis (p=0.1589). In patients with latent tuberculosis, there were no correlations between age (p=0.353), sex (p=0.476), smoking status (p=0.323), contact history (p=0.612), Mantoux response (p=0.055), Irish nationality (p=0.768), previous BCG vaccination (p=0.504), WCC (p=0.187), peripheral lymphocyte count (p=0.786), neutrophil count (p=0.157) and the intensity of QTF response. Similarly in active TB group there is no correlation found between mentioned variables and QTF response.  The intensity of QTF response does not help to differentiate active from latent tuberculosis. In adults with tuberculosis, the intensity of QTF response is not influenced by age, sex, smoking, remoteness of contact history, Mantoux response, nationality, CXR abnormalities, BCG vaccination and peripheral lymphocyte count.