tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Destroyed lung secondary to tuberculosis - Surgical options
Authors: Nicolae Galie, Cornel Savu, Radu Posea, Vasile Grigorie, Cornel Petreanu
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

After pneumonectomy, mortality and morbidity rates are very high comparative to other lung resections. Supurative pathology increase more this rates, forcing the surgical team to find the best solution for each patient.  The authors present a group of 12 patients with destroyed lung secondary to TB. Left pneumonectomy was performed in 10 cases and right pneumonectomy in 2 cases. Mean age of the patients was 42,4 years, and sex ratio was 66.66% male and 33.33% female. Extrapleural pneumonectomy was performed in 10 cases. Several techniques were used to prevent broncho-pleural fistula (covering the bronchus stump with mediastinal fat, muscular flap, azygos vein; performing Azorin9s technique prior to pneumonectomy). Mean hospitalisation was 9 days.  We recorded 1 postoperative death secondary to myocardial infarct. One patient had tardive broncho-pleural fistula at 6 months, requiring Elloesser procedure and secondary thoracomioplasty. Eight patients received anti-TB drugs for 6 month post-operative. Social reinsertion was good for all patients.  Using apropiate surgical approach for each patient, the postoperative results were very good, the mortality and morbidity rates being comparable with other pathology.
A Comparison of the Effects of Carvedilol and Metoprolol on Well-Being, Morbidity, and Mortality (the “Patient Journey”) in Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: John G.F. Cleland, Andrew Charlesworth, Jacobus Lubsen, Karl Swedberg, Willem J. Remme, Leif Erhardt, Andrea Di Lenarda, Michel Komajda, Marco Metra, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Philip A. Poole-Wilson
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2006)
Double-blind crossover study of the antiemetic efficacy of high-dose dexamethasone versus high-dose metoclopramide.
Authors: M S Aapro, P M Plezia, D S Alberts, V Graham, S E Jones, E A Surwit, T E Moon
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1984)

Nausea and vomiting remain common and debilitating side effects of therapy with many anticancer drugs. Recent reports have shown that both metoclopramide and dexamethasone are effective drugs for the treatment of severe nausea and vomiting caused by cis-platinum. A double-blind crossover study comparing the antiemetic properties of high-dose oral and intravenous regimens of metoclopramide and dexamethasone in outpatients was carried out. Standardized patient questionnaires and interviews were used to evaluate response. Dexamethasone and metoclopramide protected against more than five episodes of emesis in 48% and 40% of patients, respectively. Nausea persisted for less than six hours in 45% of patients on dexamethasone and in 37% on metoclopramide. The antiemetic efficacy of both regimens was retained through repeated courses of chemotherapy. Side effects were minimal with dexamethasone; however, 33% of patients experienced unacceptable extrapyramidal side effects to metoclopramide. Patient preference was significantly in favor of dexamethasone: 70% of patients chose to continue dexamethasone compared to 22% who preferred metoclopramide and 8% who chose other antiemetics. Dexamethasone was the preferred antiemetic in this patient population due to minimal side effects.
ProSP-B as a possible biomarker in idiopathic interstitial pneumonias (ILD)
Authors: Michael Kreuter, Anne-Kathrin Rossler, Nicolas Kahn, Katrin Hornemann, Thomas Muley, Felix Herth
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction: Surfactant proteins (SP) can be elevated in plasma of pulmonary diseases patients. However, for SP-B only limited data are available. Aim of this feasibility study was to assess whether proSP-B and C-fragment pro SP-B (C-proSP-B) might serve as a biomarker in pulmonary diseases.  Methods: In 280 patients serum samples were obtained. In a 1st study at days 1, 7, 21 (n=120) and at 1 timepoint (n=160) in a 2nd. Measurement was based on electrochemiluminescence immunoassay with mouse monoclonal anti-proSP-B antibodies. Levels were correlated to lung function, clinical and laboratory parameters.  Results: ProSP-B and C-proSP-B levels yielded similar results with higher values for C-proSP-B. Highest C-proSP-B levels (mean, ng/ml) were found in ILD (1542, n=24) compared to infection (878 and 583, n=22 and n=31), thoracic tumors (447, n=22) and pulmonary hypertension (533 and 369, n= 21 and n=30). Low values were found in Asthma (210, n=19) and COPD (369, n=26). Levels did not differ between patients with non-invasive versus invasive ventilation (204, n=49 versus 243, n=51) and were higher for smokers, higher BMI and females. A correlation between treatment and values was not found during monitoring. No significant correlations were found between SP-B levels and lung function, right ventricular-function (PH), disease stage or to most subtypes of pulmonary disease entities. However, in ILD highest levels were found for IPF patients.  Conclusions: Plasma pro and C-proSP-B might serve as a biomarker in pulmonary diseases with alveolar or interstitial damage like ILDs, especially in IPF and pneumonias. Its role in long term monitoring of such diseases and in obstructive disease has to be clarified further.
Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting
Authors: Sally Yowell Barbour
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2012)

Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) is one of the most feared side effects of cancer treatment, despite the advances over the past decades. Corticosteroids have been shown to be effective in the management of CINV. These agents are usually used in combination with serotonin antagonists and neurokinin-1 antagonists for highly or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy or as monotherapy for low-emetogenic chemotherapy. Consensus guidelines provide guidance regarding the scenarios in which corticosteroids are recommended. This article reviews the mechanism of action, role, and safety of corticosteroids in the management of CINV.
Stress-Doppler-Echocardiography for early detection of systemic sclerosis associated pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Mona Lichtblau, Nicola Ehlken, Benjamin Egenlauf, Philipp Henn, Christian Nagel, Christoph Fiehn, Norbert Blank, Ekkehard Grünig
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:  Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in systemic sclerosis (SSc) leads to substantial morbidity and mortality despite modern targeted therapy. Therefore early detection is essential and a reliable non-invasive screening method is needed.   Methods:  76 consecutive SSc patients were assessed in this cohort study by lung function tests, electrocardiogram at rest, lab tests and biomarkers, echocardiography at rest, stress Doppler echocardiography (SDE) and by right heart catheter at rest and during exercise by two different experienced investigators.  Transthoracic echocardiography at rest and SDE were compared with hemodynamic measurement to assess the value and reliability of SDE in the noninvasive detection of PAH in SSc.   Results:  22 of the 76 SSc patients had a manifest pulmonary hypertension, 4 had elevated pulmonary arterial wedge pressures g15mmHg, therefore 24% had an associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (aPAH SSc). 28% of patients had an exercise induced pulmonary hypertension, 43% of patients had normal PA-pressures at rest and during exercise. The sensitivity of echo at rest in diagnosing PAH was 75% with a specificity of 82%. This was improved by using SDE with a sPAP cut-off value of 40mmHg under exercise. SDE could improve sensitivity from 75 to 90% by worsening specificity from 82 to 69%.   Conclusion: Stress Doppler echocardiography is a safe and reliable procedure and might be a useful non-invasive tool for the screening for manifest aPAH in SSc patients. SDE could improve the sensitivity by a slight worsening of specificity, mostly due to concomitant left heart diseases with elevated downstream pressures under exercise.
The involucrin genes of pig and dog: comparison of their segments of repeats with those of prosimians and higher primates.
Authors: H Tseng, H Green
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1990)

The involucrin genes of the dog and the pig have been cloned and sequenced. Like the corresponding genes of the prosimians, each contains a homologous segment of short tandem repeats at the same position in the coding region. However, the codon sequence of the repeats in the prosimians differs significantly from that of the nonprimate mammals. This evolution has been brought about by a combination of genetic modifications (selective deletions, mutations, and gene conversions). In the anthropoids, this segment of repeats was replaced by a modern one differing in location, sequence, and repeat length. In several of its properties the modern segment has continued the prosimian trend away from the nonprimates. The overall direction of the evolution of this segment has therefore been maintained even though there have been sudden changes in the evolutionary processes acting on the gene.
Results of Intensive Chemotherapy Followed by Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Rescue in 22 Patients With Refractory or Recurrent Primary CNS Lymphoma or Intraocular Lymphoma
Authors: Carole Soussain, Florence Suzan, Khê Hoang-Xuan, Nathalie Cassoux, Vincent Levy, Nabih Azar, Coralie Belanger, Eddine Achour, Vincent Ribrag, Sophie Gerber, Jean-Yves Delattre, and Véronique Leblond
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of intensive chemotherapy with hematopoietic stem-cell rescue (IC + HCR) in patients with refractory or recurrent primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) or intraocular lymphoma (IOL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: IC consisted of thiotepa 250 mg/m 2 /d days −9 through −7, busulfan 10 mg/kg (total dose) days −6 through −4, and cyclophosphamide 60 mg/kg/d days −3 and −2. Intravenous clonazepam 2 mg/d was given prophylactically from the day before initiation of busulfan therapy to the day after completion of busulfan therapy. Patients with refractory or recurrent PCNSL underwent IC + HCR only if they were chemosensitive to two cycles of salvage treatment with cytarabine (2 g/m 2 /d days 2 through 5 and 50 mg/m 2 /d days 1 through 5 in a 12-hour infusion) and etoposide (VP-16; 200 mg/m 2 /d days 2 through 5) (CYVE). Patients with IOL refractory to high-dose methotrexate (MTX) and cytarabine entered the IC + HCR program directly. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (10 with relapses, 12 with refractory disease) were enrolled. Twenty patients entered the IC + HCR program: twelve entered after CYVE treatment, seven entered directly, and one had previously been retreated with high-dose MTX. Before IC, eight patients were in complete remission (CR), four were in partial remission (PR), one had stable disease, and seven had refractory disease. After IC + HCR, 16 patients entered CR, two remained in PR, one had stable disease, and one had disease progression. Fourteen patients remained alive (median follow-up time, 41.5 months). The overall probability of survival at 3 years was 63.7%. After IC, that probability was 60% and the 3-year probability of event-free survival was 53%. Seven patients had neurologic adverse events during the entire procedure. CONCLUSION: IC + HCR proved feasible and effective in patients with refractory or recurrent PCNSL or IOL. The entire procedure seemed to be most toxic in patients ≥ 60 years. A prospective multicenter study is ongoing.
Slow recovering of altered autonomic cardiac control in patients with community acquired pneumonia
Authors: Rustem Zulkarneev, Shamil Zagidullin, Naufal Zagidullin, Veronika Bakirova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Altered autonomic cardiac control is associated with severe arrhythmia, heart insufficiency and sudden death.   Aim:  To evaluate recovering of autonomic cardiac control in patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP).  73 patients with nonsevere CAP (nCAP) and 14 patients with severe CAP (sCAP) were studied at the day of hospital admission and in follow-up periods of 3 and 14-16 days after admission. Controls (CG) included 48 healthy subjects. Autonomic cardiac control was estimated via analysis of fluctuations of consecutive RR intervals at 10 min.ECG record. Heart rate variability (HRV) indexes included standard deviation SDNN, coefficient of variation CVNN, 0.04-0.15 Hz and 0.15-0.4 Hz bands spectral power.  At admission HRV indexes were significantly lower in both CAP groups than in CG. All patients showed clinical and functional recovery. nCAP HRV indexes reached CG values on the 15th day after admission. sCAP HRV indexes remained lower than in nCAP and CG.   Conclusions:  Autonomic cardiac control is significantly altered in patients with CAP. Predicted recovery period may take up to 6 months in patients with severe CAP and extreme physical workload should be limited due to increased cardiovascular risk.
Recurrent Painful Abdominal Rash
Authors: Julia G. Ridgeway-Diaz, Julie C. Philp, Jeffrey P. North
Journal: JAMA (2015)

An 80-year-old woman with diabetes, hypertension, and TIAs presented with a painful rash on her flank. She had no fever, systemic symptoms, joint pain, or skin thickening; a punch biopsy showed a vacuolar interface dermatitis pattern. What would you do next?
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Dynamics Influences Response to Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Targeted Agents
Authors: Antonio Jimeno, Belen Rubio-Viqueira, Maria L. Amador, Darin Oppenheimer, Nadia Bouraoud, Peter Kulesza, Valeria Sebastiani, Anirban Maitra, Manuel Hidalgo
Journal: Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract Analysis of gene expression of cancer cell lines exposed to erlotinib, a small molecule inhibitor of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), showed a marked increase in EGFR mRNA in resistant cell lines but not in susceptible ones. Because cetuximab induces EGFR down-regulation, we explored the hypothesis that treatment with cetuximab would interfere with erlotinib-induced EGFR up-regulation and result in antitumor effects. Exposure of the resistant biliary tract cancer cell line HuCCT1 but not the susceptible A431 epidermoid cell line to erlotinib induced EGFR mRNA and protein expression. Combined treatment with cetuximab blunted the erlotinib-induced EGFR up-regulation and resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation and apoptosis in the HuCCT1 cells. Blockage of erlotinib-induced EGFR synthesis in HuCCT1 cells by small interfering RNA resulted in identical antitumor effects as cetuximab, providing mechanistic specificity. In mice xenografted with A431, HuCCT1, and the pancreatic cancer cell line Panc430, maximal growth arrest and decrease in Ki67 proliferation index were documented with combined therapy, and EGFR down-regulation was observed in cetuximab-treated tumors. These results may indicate that resistance to EGFR kinase inhibition may be, at least in part, mediated by a highly dynamic feedback loop consisting of up-regulation of the EGFR upon exposure to EGFR kinase inhibitors. Abrogation of this response by small interfering RNA-mediated EGFR mRNA down-regulation and/or by cetuximab-mediated protein clearance induced tumor arrest across several cancer models with different EGFR expression levels, suggesting that resistance and sensitivity are dynamic events where proportional decrease in the target rather than absolute content dictates outcome.
Abstract 18298: Trafficking-Deficient hERG K+ Channels Linked to Long QT Syndrome are Regulated by a Quality Control Compartment in the ER
Authors: Jennifer L Smith, Allison R Reloj, Parvathi Nataraj, Corey L Anderson, Craig T January, Brian P Delisle
Journal: Circulation (2011)

The human Ether-a-go-go Related Gene (hERG) encodes the pore-forming voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv) α-subunit that underlies the rapidly-activating delayed-rectifier current in cardiomyocytes. hERG is synthesized in the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) as “immature” 135 kDa asparagine-linked (N-linked) glycoprotein &amp; is terminally glycosylated in the Golgi apparatus (Golgi) to form a “mature” 155 kDa glycoprotein. Most hERG missense mutations linked to Long QT syndrome Type 2 (LQT2) reduce terminal glycosylation &amp; functional expression. E-4031 is a class III anti-arrhythmic that binds to hERG &amp; blocks current (IhERG), &amp; can increase terminal glycosylation &amp; functional expression for many “trafficking-deficient” LQT2 mutations (pharmacological correction). Treating HEK293 cells expressing the trafficking-deficient LQT2 mutation G601S-hERG in 10 uM E-4031 (E4) for 6 or 12 hours showed a time-dependent increase in maximal IhERG after drug washout, Western blot analyses showed similar increase in the fractional density (FD) of terminally glycosylated G601S-hERG. Treating cells in 0.2mg/ml cycloheximide (cyclo), that inhibits protein translation, did not alter the E4 induced increase in terminally glycosylated G601S-hERG, suggesting pharmacological correction occurs post-translationally. Immunocytochemistry &amp; colocalization analyses showed that in control conditions G601S-hERG primarily colocalized w/ BAP31, an itinerant ER protein that moves between the peripheral ER and perinuclear ER. G601S-hERG weakly colocalized w/ other ER proteins, like lecithin chaperone calnexin, ERAD complex protein Derlin, or transitional ER marker Sec31. Treating cells in E4 decreased G601S-hERG and BAP31 colocalization after 6 hrs &amp; 12 hr. Treatment with microtubular depolymerizing agent nocodazole (10 uM) for 2 hrs increased G601S-hERG colocalization with BAP31 &amp; caused them to accumulate into peripheral ER compartments. We conclude that in control conditions, G601S-hERG is an itinerant ER protein that moves between the peripheral and perinuclear ER via a microtubule-dependent mechanism, &amp; pharmacological correction with E-4031 prevents this by allowing transport to the Golgi &amp; cell surface membrane.
Ethical considerations in oncology: balancing the interests of patients, oncologists, and society.
Authors: T J Smith, J N Bodurtha
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

BACKGROUND Oncologists face ethical dilemmas every day in deciding about choice of treatment, continuation of treatments, events near the end of life, conflicts of interest, and risk management. Yet, many oncologists have limited training in ethics. METHODS Review of existing studies and definitions of useful terms. Case studies analyzed according to ethical principles. RESULTS Individual oncology cases can be analyzed according to ethical principles with benefit to the patient, physician, and possibly society. Ethics cannot resolve many of the thorny questions about allocation of resources, justice, or possible conflict of interest. CONCLUSION Oncology decision-making fits into formal ethical frameworks, and understanding both can help doctors and patients make difficult choices. Understanding of ethical principles can help daily practice, but does not solve current dilemmas of allocation of resources, unrealistic demands, etc. More formal collaboration between hospital ethics committees or personnel and clinical oncologists is recommended for the day-to-day decision-making process.
"The school of health", a multi-area approach for smoking prevention at school. II. Preliminary results
Authors: Roberto Boffi, Chiara Marabelli, Elena Munarini, Micaela Lina, Cinzia De Marco, Roberto Mazza, Ario Ruprecht, Eleonora Bruno, Ivan Pozzati, Giovanni Invernizzi
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background.  To date no consensus has been reached about to which kind of educational interventions are effective to curb smoking uptake in adolescents.    Aims.  To carry out a pilot educational intervention with multimodal integrated strategies to reduce smoking habit in adolescents.    Methods.  A 6-month intervention was carried out in 3 high schools. Students attended repeated meetings devoted to information on tobacco risks, development of refusal skills, scientific laboratories with real time measurement of particle deposition in the lung and of the composition of passive smoking. A theoretical/practical course on food and beverage healthy choices was carried out. A website devoted to students’ activities during the program was actively participated by peers. At the end of the program participants were asked to present the skills they experienced in a press release. Pre and post tests on smoking items and habits were carried out.  Results. A total of 277 (M=89, F=188) adolescents aged 13-15 (90.3 %) and 16-17 (9.7 %) were enrolled in the study. Baseline reported smoking was more frequent among girls (20%) as compared to boys (13%), with a mean ex-CO test of 1.03 ppm in girls and 0.56 in boys (p     Conclusions.  A comprehensive approach on tobacco use and healthier style of life showed encouraging results on curbing smoking habit.
Reply to Véronique Phé, Morgan Rouprêt, and Emmanuel Chartier-Kastler's Letter to the Editor re: Xavier Biardeau, Jérôme Rizk, François Marcelli, Vincent Flamand. Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Approach for Artificial Urinary Sphincter Implantation in 11 Women with Urinary Stress Incontinence: Surgical Technique and Initial Experience. Eur Urol 2015;67:937–42
Authors: Xavier Biardeau, Jérôme Rizk, François Marcelli, Vincent Flamand
Journal: European Urology (2015)
Measuring asthma‐specific quality of life: structured review
Authors: C. J. Apfelbacher, M. Hankins, P. Stenner, A. J. Frew, H. E. Smith
Journal: Allergy (2010)

To cite this article: Apfelbacher CJ, Hankins M, Stenner P, Frew AJ, Smith HE. Measuring asthma‐specific quality of life: structured review. Allergy 2011; 66 : 439–457. Abstract Measuring quality of life (QoL) has become an increasingly important dimension of assessing patient well‐being and drug efficacy. As there are now several asthma QoL questionnaires to choose from, it is important to appreciate their strengths and weaknesses. To assist in this choice, we have reviewed the existing questionnaires in a structured way. Information relating to the conceptual and measurement model, reliability, validity, interpretability, burden, administration format and translations was extracted from the published literature. The instruments differ in almost all criteria considered, and therefore it cannot be assumed that they measure the same thing. We recommend the selection of questionnaires that are designed only for asthma and that do not assess symptoms as part of QoL. Only two of the questionnaires reviewed fulfill these requirements: the Sydney Asthma QoL Questionnaire (AQLQ‐S) and the Living with Asthma Questionnaire (LWAQ). However, for multinational studies, it may be convenient or practical to use questionnaires that have been linguistically validated in many languages (AQLQ‐J, SGRQ). It remains unclear which of these questionnaires best reflects patient perceptions of QoL. Our review did not involve patients, so for the time being choosing from existing questionnaires requires a compromise based on the rigor of the development process and the target patient group.