tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
What women want - quantifying the perception of hair amount: an analysis of hair diameter and density changes with age in caucasian women
Authors: C. Robbins, P. Mirmirani, A.G. Messenger, M.P. Birch, R.S. Youngquist, M. Tamura, T. Filloon, F. Luo, T.L. Dawson
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2012)

It has long been known that women lose satisfaction with their hair with ageing. Our data show that caucasian women perceive a decrease in hair amount in their mid 40s with a further decrease in the mid to late 50s, which leads to this dissatisfaction. Neither loss of density (hairs per cm(2) ) nor shaft diameter alone can fully account for this perception. A new metric, 'hair amount', is proposed as a quantitative metric combining the impact of both density and diameter on the perception of hair loss.Creation of a single parameter combining the contribution of diameter and density to perception of female age-related hair loss.In total, 1099 caucasian women (ages 18-66 years) with self-perceived hair loss and 315 caucasian women (ages 17-86 years) with no complaint of hair loss were evaluated. Scalp hair diameter was measured using optical fibre diameter and image analysis. Scalp hair density was measured by phototrichogram with manual or automated counting.Parietal scalp hair diameter increased from ages 20 to 40-45 years, then decreased. Hair density was highest in the youngest group, age 20-30 years, and decreased thereafter with increasing rate. In women self-perceiving hair loss, the rate of decrease in density was significantly faster than for women with no self-perception of hair loss. The combined metric 'hair amount' was relatively constant at younger ages, increasing very slightly to age 35 years, then decreasing significantly.Increasing hair shaft diameter offsets decreasing hair density through the mid 30s. After that, a lower rate of diameter increase combined with the decrease in density begins to significantly impact the perception of hair amount so that thinning becomes increasingly more noticeable in the mid 40s to the mid to late 50s. Quantitative determination of hair amount is a useful tool to combine the contributions of hair density and diameter to women's perception of age-related hair loss.
Relationships among patients’ ability to identify their cancer stage, knowledge of care options, and management of transitions.
Authors: Jenna Hinchey, Jessica Goldberg, Sarah Linsky, Rebecca Linsky, Sangchoon Jeon, Dena Schulman-Green
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2014)

224 Background: Discrepancies may exist between what oncologists communicate and what patients understand about their cancer stage. We explored women’s ability to correctly identify their stage of breast cancer among a sample of women recently diagnosed with nonmetastatic (Stage I-III) disease. Methods: As part of a cancer self-management study, we asked women with non-metastatic breast cancer to identify their stage of disease. Participants’ responses were compared to their electronic medical record (EMR) for validation. We calculated descriptive statistics and used logistic regression to examine relationships between knowledge of stage, demographic and clinical variables, and study outcomes (Control Preferences Scale- CPS, Knowledge of Care Options Test- KOCO, Measurement of Transitions Scale- MOT, Medical Communication Competence Scale- MCCS, Chronic Disease Self-Efficacy Scale- CDSE, Uncertainty in Illness Scale- MUIS-C, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale- HADS). Results: Participants (n= 100) had a mean age of 52.3 years (range 27-72). Per the EMR, 19 participants (19%) had Stage I breast cancer, 57 (57%) had Stage II, and 24 (24%) had Stage III. Twenty-nine participants (29%) were unable to correctly identify their stage of cancer. Of this group, 11 (39.3%) provided vague responses, 11 (39.3%) reported an incorrect stage, and 7 (25%) did not know/want to know their stage. Younger age (p=.0412) and earlier cancer stage (p=.0136) were predictive of correctly identifying cancer stage. Participants who at baseline had a greater knowledge of care options were more likely to correctly identify their cancer stage (KOCO, p=.0482). Those who correctly identified their cancer stage were better able to manage transitions over time (MOT, p=.0564) than those unable to identify their stage. Conclusions: Women who cannot correctly identify their cancer stage may neither understand its implications nor effectively participate in cancer self-management. Conversations about cancer stage should be revisited to ensure patients’ understanding. Future research should include women with Stage IV breast cancer to more completely investigate ability to identify cancer stage.
Cardiovascular Mortality Associated With 5 Leading Risk Factors: National and State Preventable Fractions Estimated From Survey Data
Authors: Shivani A. Patel, Munir Winkel, Mohammed K. Ali, K.M. Venkat Narayan, Neil K. Mehta
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2015)

Impressive decreases in cardiovascular mortality have been achieved through risk factor reduction and clinical intervention, yet cardiovascular disease remains a leading cause of death nationally.To estimate up-to-date preventable fractions of cardiovascular mortality associated with elimination and reduction of 5 leading risk factors nationally and by state in the United States.Cross-sectional and cohort studies.Nationally representative and state-representative samples of the U.S. population.Adults aged 45 to 79 years.Self-reported risk factor status in the BRFSS (Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) 2009-2010 was corrected to approximate clinical definitions. The relative hazards of cardiovascular death (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, codes I00 to I99) associated with risk factors were estimated using data from NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) (1988-1994 and 1999-2004, followed through 2006).The preventable fraction of cardiovascular mortality associated with complete elimination of elevated cholesterol levels, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and smoking was 54.0% for men and 49.6% for women in 2009 to 2010. When the more feasible target of reducing risk factors to the best achieved levels in the states was considered, diabetes (1.7% and 4.1%), hypertension (3.8% and 7.3%), and smoking (5.1% and 4.4%) were independently associated with the largest preventable fractions among men and women, respectively. With both targets, southern states had the largest preventable fractions, and western states had the smallest.Self-reported state data; mortality hazards relied on baseline risk factor status.Major modifiable cardiovascular risk factors collectively accounted for half of cardiovascular deaths in U.S. adults aged 45 to 79 years in 2009 to 2010. Fewer than 10% of cardiovascular deaths nationally could be prevented if all states were to achieve risk factor levels observed in the best-performing states.Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-response trial of oral clodronate in patients with bone metastases.
Authors: N O'Rourke, E McCloskey, F Houghton, H Huss, J A Kanis
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

PURPOSE Despite evidence that clodronate inhibits tumor-induced osteolysis, no studies have directly assessed the optimal dose for long-term treatment. The aim of this double-blind, placebo-controlled study was to determine the safety and efficacy of different doses of clodronate in affected patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-four patients with tumor-induced osteolysis were randomized to receive treatment with placebo, or 400 mg, 1,600 mg, or 3,200 mg of clodronate, daily for 4 weeks. Patients were reviewed weekly during treatment. Fasting urinary calcium excretion was the primary variable used to assess response. Visual analog pain scores and adverse events were documented. RESULTS In the clodronate-treated groups, there was a dose-dependent reduction in fasting calcium excretion with a highly significant difference between placebo and 1,600 mg clodronate (P = .0002) and placebo and 3,200 mg clodronate (P = .0001), but no significant difference between 1,600 mg and 3,200 mg clodronate. There was no discernible change in pain scores or analgesic requirements. Bone-derived isoenzyme alkaline phosphatase values increased in all groups, with a significant difference between baseline and final values in the 1,600-mg and 3,200-mg groups (P &lt; .01 and P = .03, respectively). Adverse events were distributed evenly across the four treatment groups. Compliance was greater than 99% in all treatment groups. CONCLUSION Oral clodronate at a dose of 1,600 mg or 3,200 mg will inhibit bone resorption. Since there was no significant difference between these two doses in terms of efficacy at 4 weeks, 1,600 mg/d can be recommended for long-term treatment. This dose is well tolerated and may promote bone repair, as judged by increases in bone alkaline phosphatase levels.
THE PARTICULATE HYDROLASES OF MACROPHAGES
Authors: Zanvil A. Cohn, Edith Wiener
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1963)

The influence of phagocytosis on the morphological and biochemical properties of macrophage hydrolase-containing granules has been studied in vitro. Following the uptake of large numbers of heat-killed bacteria, an intracellular rearrangement of hydrolytic enzymes occurred. This was associated with the solubilization of 50 to 60 per cent of the total cell content of acid phosphatase, cathepsin, lysozyme, beta glucuronidase, acid ribonuclease, and acid desoxyribonuclease and with a corresponding decrease in granule-bound enzyme. With more prolonged incubation the majority of the soluble intracellular pool of acid ribonuclease and lysozyme was lost to the extracellular medium. No change in the total content of any of the hydrolases was noted during 180 minutes of incubation in vitro. The morphological fate of the granules was studied by a histochemical method for acid phosphatase. After the phagocytosis of yeast cell walls there was a disappearance of acid phosphatase-positive granules and an accumulation of reaction product about the ingested particle. Experiments employing macrophages which were supravitally stained with neutral red also demonstrated the loss of neutral red-positive granules and the accumulation of the dye about the yeast cell walls. These results strongly suggest that lysis of macrophage granules occurs following phagocytosis and that a portion of the granule contents are then resegregated within the newly formed phagocytic vacuole.
Pre-operative immunotherapy with tumor cryoablation (cryo) plus ipilimumab (ipi) induces potentially favorable systemic and intratumoral immune effects in early stage breast cancer (ESBC) patients
Authors: David B Page, Adi Diab, Jianda Yuan, Zhiwan Dong, Stephen B Soloman, Sujata Patil, Clifford A Hudis, Jedd D Wolchok, Larry Norton, Heather L McArthur
Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2015)

Meeting abstracts In mice, cryo plus checkpoint blockade facilitates tumor antigen release, T-cell priming, and improved survival [[1][1]]. Here, we assess immune response in ESBC patients using biomarkers that have been attributed to clinical benefit following checkpoint blockade [[2][2]–[5][3
The comparative analysis of treatment effectiveness in children and adolescents with MDR TB with anti-TB drugs of the first and second lines
Authors: Tleuchan Abildaev, Gulbadan Bekembaeva, Larisa Kastykpaeva
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Target: To study outcomes of treatment with anti-TB drugs of the first and second lines and follow-up results in children and adolescents with TB.

Materials and methods: Comparative retrospective cohort study was conducted among 160 children and adolescents. Group I constituted from 80 patients treated with anti-TB of the second line and Group II from 80 patients treated with anti-TB drugs of the first line.

Results: Family contact with patients with MDRTB played the great role in 71.0% of patients in the Group I, while among patients of the Group II in 47.5%. Primary TB forms occurred more frequently among patients of the Group II (61.8%), secondary TB forms did among patients of the Group I (81.4%). Frequency of complications was also higher among patients of the Group I. So, bronchial TB was diagnosed in 63.0% and 11.2%, TB pleurisy in 35.0% and 11.2% relatively, hemoptysis, lung tissue destruction and atelectasis were observed in 26.0%, 2.0% and 9% of patients of the Group II. Processes with destruction were in 81.2% of patients of the Group I, and those of the Group II did in 28.2% only. Patients with positive smear were by 2 times more (62.3%) in the Group I than in the Group II (30.0%). MDR: in 100% of both groups culturally only. Thus, analysis of outcomes and follow-up control showed that among patients with MDR TB treated with drugs of the first line 5 (6.2%) patients of the Group II died, while among patients treated with DSL one adolescent only died. Relapse emerged in 12.5% of children and adolescents of the Group II. This fact proves the necessity to administrate the therapy with DSL to the children and adolescents with MDR TB.
Abstract 17162: Prevalence and Long-Term Prognosis of Fragmented Qrs in Standard 12-Lead Electrocardiogram in Middle-Aged Subjects
Authors: Henri K Terho, Jani Tikkanen, Juhani Junttila, Olli Anttonen, Harri Rissanen, Antti Reunanen, Heikki Huikuri
Journal: Circulation (2012)
Response of Circulating Tumor Cells to Systemic Therapy in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer: Comparison of Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction and Immunocytochemical Techniques
Authors: Brendan M. Smith, Martin J. Slade, Jacqueline English, Helen Graham, Margreet Lüchtenborg, H. Dudley Sinnett, Nicholas C. P. Cross, R. Charles Coombes
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2000)

PURPOSE: We previously developed a quantitative system for the detection of cytokeratin 19 (CK-19) transcripts using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect breast carcinoma cells in blood and bone marrow. The aim of this study was to determine the value of this system in monitoring patients with metastatic disease and to compare it with an established immunocytochemical method. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with progressive, locally advanced, and metastatic breast cancer (all stage IV) who were due to start systemic treatment were recruited. Blood samples were analyzed for CK-19 transcripts using quantitative PCR (QPCR) and immunocytochemistry (ICC) throughout their course of treatment. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five blood samples were obtained from 22 patients over 13 months. Seventy-two (49.6%) of these samples were positive by QPCR, and 56 (42%) of 133 were positive by ICC. Of the 133 specimens analyzed by both techniques, 95 (71.4%) had the same results for each, and of the 71 samples that were positive, 40 (56%) were positive by both methods. The relationship between the number of cells detected and the QPCR values was statistically significant (P &lt; .0001). Of the 25 courses of assessable treatment, 17 (68%) of 25 treatment outcomes (either response or disease progression) were reflected by QPCR measurements, and 12 (57%) of 21 were reflected by ICC. During the course of the study, five patients showed a response, and of these, ICC was in agreement in four cases (80%) and QPCR in three cases (60%). Eighteen courses of treatment resulted in progression of the disease; however, only 15 of these were assessable by ICC. ICC was in agreement in eight (53%) of 15 of these cases, and QPCR in 15 (83%) of 18 cases. CONCLUSION: Circulating carcinoma cells are frequently found in patients with metastatic breast cancer. In the majority of patients, cancer cell numbers as evaluated by QPCR or ICC reflected the outcome of systemic treatment.
Changes of levels IL-4 and interferon-γ during allergen specific immunotherapy pollen trees in children with respiratory allergy
Authors: Juliya Emelina, Irina Vachlova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

We have studied interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-γ (IFNγ) levels in sera in children with manifestations of respiratory allergy to tree pollens. Changes in cytokine levels were examined at baseline, during flowering on the background of the first course of allergen-specific immunotherapy (IT) and 6 months after flowering of the plants. Children were divided into 3 groups, received IT with different allergens: Fostal and Staloral, and third group received water-salt extract. The control group included children who also had manifestations of hay fever caused by pollen from trees, who received pharmacotherapy as a combination of mometasone furoate and cetirizine to prevent seasonal exacerbation, but who did not receive IT. Initially, all children had an increase levels of IL- 4 and IFNγ in sera. Dynamic evaluation level of cytokine serum during allergen specific IT showed that probability normalization IL-4 increased by 3 times (OR = 3, 95 % CI = 1, 0 ÷ 10,1), and IFNγ level normalization probability increased 6,5 times (OR = 6,5; CI 95 % = 1,6 ÷ 24,7) compared with the control group. In groups of children receiving allergen-specific IT IL-4/IFNγ-index reduced by 4,5 times (OR=4,5; AN 95% = 1,3÷15,5) by the end of 1 year of observation, whereas the control group showed a significant increase of this indicator, which reveals an increase of pre-existing mediator violations with the growing imbalance of Th2/Th1 in children who did not receive treatment with allergovaccine.
Mefloquine to prevent malaria
Authors: R. H Behrens, S. Erny, H. Maradit, S. Houston, J. S Keystone, K. C Kain, A. Croft, P. Garner
Journal: BMJ (1998)

Racial discrimination in distinction awards Discrimination is probably indirectEditor-Esmail et al attribute disparity between white and non-white award holders to discrimination. 1 Existence of direct discrimination in some spheres of the NHS does not imply it also affects distinction awards.The regional and central advisory committees on distinction awards are beyond reproach.Rubin's suggestion that several other factors may explain the skewed distributions is more plausible. 2Disparity between groups of consultants is inevitable because of differences in abilities, training, and opportunities.The Commission for Racial Equality held that the criteria laid down for distinction awards could, however, result in indirect discrimination, not necessarily with discriminatory intent.For example, the weight given to work of national and international significance may make the awards less accessible to those in smaller district general hospitals or specialties, where ethnic minority consultants may be concentrated.The Department of Health has therefore issued criteria placing less emphasis on national and international recognition and making A awards available to consultants delivering "outstanding and sustained service to the NHS in an exceptionally hard pressed post" provided it is not the sole ground for an award.Introduced for the 1998 awards round, the criteria are fairer and more widely applicable, but will they change attitudes?Consultants work under varied conditions.However, the criteria do not seem to allow for this.The uniform expectations across the board lead to a skewed distribution of awards with a bias towards academics, consultants in teaching hospitals and larger district general hospitals, and those in the high profile specialties.Esmail et al quite rightly highlight the disparity.Their campaign should, however, be directed towards rectifying the situation which places not only ethnic minority consultants but also many other consultants at a significant disadvantage.Eliminating prejudice in the system, if it exists, is more difficult than establishing a fairer assessment of achievements based on individual circumstances.
Why we shouldn’t normalise the use of e-cigarettes
Authors: Michael Craig Watson, Mark Forshaw
Journal: BMJ (2015)

We welcome Gornall’s article because we think it will promote much needed debate about an important public health concern.1 However, many of the issues covered are not new. More than 30 years ago, Taylor published a seminal book that provided a comprehensive insight into the world of public health politics.2 The Smoke Ring discusses the political and …
Kaposi's Sarcoma and HTLV-III: A Study in Nigerian Adult Males
Authors: A A Otu
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1986)

Sera from 37 adult Nigerian men with Kaposi's sarcoma (KS), 30 contemporaneous controls bearing primary cell carcinoma of the liver (PCL), and 150 healthy non-tumour-bearing negative controls were tested for antibody to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III/lymphadenopathy associated virus (HTLV-III/LAV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Certain immunocellular functions were also measured: the chemotactic locomotion of peripheral blood monocytes towards casein, delayed-type cutaneous hypersensitivity reaction to tuberculoprotein and opportunistic infection with the fungus Candida albicans. Sera from all these groups were also tested for markers of previous infections with the viruses cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis A (HAV). All serum samples tested were reproducibly and consistently negative for anti-HTLV-III/LAV. Peripheral blood monocytes from both KS and PCL patients showed profound depression of chemotaxis; similarly all tumour patients gave markedly depressed cutaneous reactivity to tuberculoprotein and uniformly exhibited seropositivity to CMV, EBV, HBV and HAV. A great majority showed evidence of infection with Candida albicans. It is concluded that tropical African KS is not associated with HTLV-III/LAV infection.Sera from 37 Nigerian men with Kaposi's sarcoma were examined for evidence of infection with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type III (HTLV-III), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), and Candida albicans. For comparison purposes, sera from 30 patients with primary cell liver carcinoma and 150 health young adults were also assessed. The Kaposi's sarcoma patients were in poor general condition, with severe anemia and gross sepsis. In each case, cutaneous disease affected only the limbs-- a finding that is in contrast with the visceral organ involvement seen in most black African victims. The serologic testing provided clear evidence that tropical African Kaposi's sarcoma is not associated with HTLV-III infection; non of the 217 serum samples analyzed from the 3 study groups showed antibodies to this virus. A widespread pattern among the Kaposi's sarcoma and liver carcinoma patients was depression of peripheral blood monocyte chemotaxis and a diminished, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction to tuberculin. All patients in these 2 groups demonstrated circulating antibodies to CMV, EBV, HBV, AND HAV. Candida albicans was isolated from 30 of the 37 Kaposi's sarcoma patients and all 30 liver carcinoma patients compared with none of the health controls. These findings suggest that endemic tropical African Kaposi's sarcoma is a different disease than the epidemic AIDS-linked Kaposi's sarcoma reported from the US, and it is probable that different etiologic agents are involved in each case.