tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
OVX1 radioimmunoassay complements CA-125 for predicting the presence of residual ovarian carcinoma at second-look surgical surveillance procedures.
Authors: F J Xu, Y H Yu, L Daly, K DeSombre, L Anselmino, G M Hass, A Berchuck, J T Soper, D L Clarke-Pearson, C Boyer
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1993)

PURPOSE At second-look surgical surveillance procedures, normal CA-125 levels can be associated with persistent disease in 50% to 60% of patients. A novel radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been evaluated for the ability to identify patients with persistent disease who have normal levels of CA-125. MATERIALS AND METHODS The OVX1 double-determinant assay used a murine monoclonal antibody to detect an epitope on a high-molecular weight mucin-like glycoprotein. RESULTS Apparently healthy individuals had serum OVX1 levels of 2.23 +/- 2.48 U/mL (mean +/- SD). Elevated serum OVX1 levels (&gt; 7.2 U/mL) were found in 5% of 184 normal individuals and in 70% of 93 epithelial ovarian cancer patients with clinically evident disease. Among sera from these ovarian cancer patients, OVX1 was elevated in 68% of 76 samples with CA-125 levels more than 35 U/mL and in 76% of 17 samples with CA-125 levels less than 35 U/mL. In serum samples obtained at the time of positive second-look laparotomy, 59% of 41 patients with CA-125 levels less than 35 U/mL had elevated OVX1 antigen levels, whereas 41% of 22 patients with CA-125 levels more than 35 U/mL had elevated serum OVX1 levels. In patients with negative second-look laparotomies, false-positive results were eliminated by increasing the threshold of OVX1 to 10.5 U/mL. At this level, 32% of 41 patients with positive second-look operations had an elevated OVX1 level, despite a normal CA-125 level. When used in combination, CA-125 (&gt; 35 U/mL) and OVX1 (&gt; 10.5 U/mL) detected persistent disease in 56% of 63 patients with positive surveillance procedures, compared with 35% when CA-125 was used alone (P &lt; .05). CONCLUSION An elevated OVX1 level can alert oncologists to the possibility that ovarian cancer has persisted, despite the return of CA-125 to a normal range.
Prevention of skin cancer and reduction of keratotic skin lesions during acitretin therapy in renal transplant recipients: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Authors: J N Bavinck, L M Tieben, F J Van der Woude, A M Tegzess, J Hermans, J ter Schegget, B J Vermeer
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of acitretin on the development of keratotic skin lesions, and on squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas in a group of renal transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-four renal transplant recipients with more than 10 keratotic skin lesions on the hands and forearms were enrolled onto a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to test the possible skin cancer-preventing effect of a 6-month treatment with acitretin 30 mg/d. RESULTS No deterioration in renal function occurred in any of the 38 assessable patients treated. During the 6-month treatment period, two of 19 patients (11%) in the acitretin group reported a total of two new squamous cell carcinomas, compared with nine of 19 patients (47%) in the placebo group who developed a total of 18 new carcinomas (chi 2 = 6.27, P = .01). The relative decrease in the number of keratotic skin lesions in the acitretin group was 13.4%, as compared with a relative increase in the placebo group of 28.2% (difference, 41.6%; 95% confidence interval, 11.5 to 71.7). Most patients treated with acitretin had mild mucocutaneous side effects, but these were easily manageable. Some patients experienced mild hair loss. With the exception of three patients, no increase in serum cholesterol or triglyceride above pretreatment levels was observed, and liver function remained unchanged in all patients. CONCLUSION Acitretin 30 mg/d over 6 months had significantly more effect than placebo in the prevention of squamous cell carcinomas and reduced the occurrence of keratotic skin lesions in a group of renal transplant recipients with severe lesions. This effect was most pronounced in patients with a history of squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas.
Abstract 13448: The Cardiac Sodium Nav1.5 Channelsome and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Authors: David Van Norstrand, David J Tester, Argelia Medeiros-Domingo, Jianding Cheng, Bi-Hua Tan, Carmen R Valdivia, Clio Rubinos, Miduturu Srinivas, Angeliki Asimaki, Jeffrey E Saffitz, Jonathan C Makielski, Michael J Ackerman
Journal: Circulation (2010)

Introduction: Nearly 3000 infants die from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in the United States each year and 10% of SIDS may stem from potentially lethal cardiac channelopathies such as long Q...
Asthma with and without sinusitis, results from the Swedish GA2LEN study
Authors: Roelinde Middelveld, Alexandra Ek, Bertil Forsberg, Bo Lundbäck, Sven-Erik Dahlén, Christer Janson
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction: In order to study the consequences of having both asthma and sinusitis compared to having asthma only, four Swedish centres studied cohorts of asthma patients (A), and asthma+sinusitis patients (AS). The study was part of the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) survey and follow-up.

Methods: Participants in the survey were invited for a clinical follow-up visit for interviews, and measurements of lung function, fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and quality of life. Group allocations were based on the interviews. A was defined as self-reported diagnosis of asthma and presence of at least one asthma symptom or use of asthma medication. AS was defined as having asthma as well as at least two sinusitis symptoms, providing that nasal blockage or nasal discharge were reported.

Results: A consisted of 470 subjects (mean age 44, BMI 27, 60% females) and AS of 130 subjects (mean age 45, BMI 27, 57% females). AS had lower FEV1%pred, FVC%pred and quality of life (mini Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire-AQLQ), compared to A. There were no differences in FeNO, FEV1/FVC1 and reported nasal allergies.

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Conclusion: We conclude that having both asthma and sinusitis results in lower lung function and lower quality of life compared to having asthma only.
Cavitary bacterial lung infections – Predictive factors and outcomes
Authors: Margarida Dias, Daniel Coutinho, Daniel Vaz, Maria João Oliveira, Teresa Shiang, Maria Céu Brito, Ana Antunes
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:  Lung infection is the world´s leading infectious cause of death. Bacterial parenchymal infection may cause lung cavities, which might impact treatment and prognosis.   Aim : To evaluate predictive factors for the existence of cavities in bacterial lung infections and their outcomes.   Methods:  We included the last 27 patients admitted in a pulmonology ward due to cavitary bacterial lung infection, until December 2013. We also included the last 27 patients admitted due to bacterial parenchymal infection without cavities. Tuberculosis, HIV patients and nosocomial infections were excluded. Demographic, clinical and microbiological data, hospital stay length and mortality were compared between groups.   Results:  Patients with lung cavities were slightly younger (60 vs 65years, p=0.215). Men predominate in each group (p>0.05). Hospitalization in the previous 90 days was the only predictive factor for cavitary lung disease (OR=5.263, p=0.036).  We identified bacteria in 30% of patients with lung cavities. The most frequent were  P. aeruginosa  (3),  K. pneumonia  (2) and  E. coli  (2). Only in 19% of patients without cavities was identified a bacteria.  Hospital stay length was longer in patients with lung cavities (19 vs 12days, p=0.025). Mortality was also higher but not statistically different (15% vs 4%, p=0.159).   Conclusions:  Cavitary bacterial lung infections are associated to a longer hospital stay and to a higher mortality. In a pulmonology ward, the risk factors for cavitary infections described in literature (diabetes, age, neurologic or periodontal disease…) seem to be less relevant. Interestingly, a hospitalization in the previous 90 days was the only risk factor for a cavitary lung infection in these patients.
Heredity versus Environment in Tuberculosis in Twins
Authors: Ellen A. van der Eijk, Esther van de Vosse, Jan P. Vandenbroucke, Jaap T. van Dissel
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2007)

In his 1978 article on tuberculosis (TB) in twins, Comstock concluded that the 2.5-fold higher concordance rate for TB among monozygotic versus dizygotic twins in the Prophit survey of the 1950s implicated inherited susceptibility as a major risk factor for TB in humans. His analysis did not take into account strong imbalance of variables within subgroups, underestimating possible confounding effects of environmental factors.To reconsider the role of environmental versus hereditary factors in determining the concordance rate of TB among twin pairs.Reanalysis of the Prophit Survey.A known Mycobacterium tuberculosis-positive or M. tuberculosis-negative sputum in the index TB case markedly influenced the odds ratio (OR) of concordance in the twin pairs. In 87 pairs with co-twins exposed to a sputum-negative index case, monozygotic and dizygotic twins did not differ in concordance for TB (OR, 1.1; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.4-2.8). A higher concordance rate for TB among monozygotic versus dizygotic twins was confined to 106 pairs with the co-twins exposed to a sputum-positive index case (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.6-7.2), and was highest in adolescent twins living together. ORs of TB concordance were proportional to intensity of exposure (sputum smear positivity, physical proximity between twin pairs, contagiousness of disease, and living together) rather than to zygosity.In the Prophit survey of susceptibility to TB among twins, environmental factors (i.e., intensity of exposure to tubercle bacilli) outweigh the importance of hereditary factors. Environmental factors and the context of transmission should be given more emphasis when studying interindividual and population differences in susceptibility to infectious diseases such as TB.
Risk Factors for the Assessment of Patients with Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: John Fanikos, Samuel Z. Goldhaber
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2006)

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs frequently among cancer patients, with a spectrum ranging from small, clinically insignificant thrombi to life-threatening massive PE. It is fatal in as many as 14% of cancer patients, primarily by producing right ventricular heart failure and cardiogenic shock. PE diagnosis is difficult because the signs and symptoms imitate other commonly occurring diseases. Clinicians must be able to integrate a wide array of diagnostic imaging tools and laboratory tests to ensure rapid assessment and diagnosis. Risk stratification with the use of cardiac biomarkers and imaging tests to evaluate right ventricular function will identify treatment options. Hemodynamically stable patients can be treated effectively with anticoagulation alone, whereas those with right ventricular dysfunction require an aggressive strategy with thrombolysis, surgical embolectomy, or a catheter-based intervention. When anti-coagulation is contraindicated, a vena caval filter may be deployed. PE treatment must be customized to the individual and consider the existing thrombus burden, presence of underlying cardiopulmonary disease and right side heart dysfunction, and cancer status of the patient. Clinicians should focus on providing adequate thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized cancer patients to avoid PE treatment.
Belarus Ukraine Poland Asthma Study (BUPAS) - Prevalence of asthma, respiratory symptoms and allergic diseases in children
Authors: Grzegorz Brozek, Jan Zejda, Olgha Fedortsiv, Andrei Shpakou, Leonid Hryshchuk, Andrei Strizhak, Joshua Lawson, Donna Rennie
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background  Prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases in children living in Belarus is unknown. The problem is better described in Ukraine and Poland, but more evidence is needed.  Aims  The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of asthma, respiratory symptoms and allergic diseases in children in Belarus, Ukraine and in Poland.  Method  The study was performed as a multicenter cross-sectional study. The study population were children aged 6-14 years randomly selected from Belarus (Grodno), Ukraine (Ternopil) and Poland (Silesia Region). Physician-diagnosed respiratory diseases and symptoms as well as allergic diseases were ascertained using the ISAAC questionnaire completed by the parents.  Results  A total of 13 371 children aged 6-14 years participated in the study. The response rate was 76.7%. Groups were similar in terms of gender and age (p>0.05). Between-country differences were statistically significant (p  Conclusions  The findings show a large between-country differences and low prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases in children of Western Belarus and Ukraine.
The investigation of stable nitric oxide (NO) metabolites correlation in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in Chernobyl clean-up workers (CCUW) with COPD
Authors: Igor Klimanov, Svetlana Soodaeva, Alexander Lisitsa, Tatyana Marchenko
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

The aim of the study was to investigate the correlation between stable NO metabolites in EBC in CCUW with COPD during the course of antioxidant inhalation.   Materials and methods:  58 males outpatients were enrolled in the study. Group1 contains 21 patients CCUW with COPD stage I; group2 contains 19 patients CCUW with COPD stage II. The control group consisted of 18 healthy volunteers. The EBC was collected in all patients, as well as the TNN concentration in EBC was measured before and after the course of therapy. The nebulized ambroxol inhalation (15 mg BID) was carried during 7 days in addition to traditional COPD therapy. The TNN concentration as well as NO3-/NO2- concentrations were measured by spectrophotometric method using the Griess reaction. The correlation between NO3-/NO2-concentration in EBC during the course of antioxidant inhalation was also investigated.   Results:  The results obtained demonstrate the statistically significant increase of NO3- concentration and NO2- concentration in EBC in both groups compared with control. The strong positive correlation between observed parameters (r=0.98; p=0.001) as well as linear coefficient k=2.13 (k={NO3-}/{NO2-}) were determined only in control group. There was a statistically significant correlation between NO3- and NO2- levels in EBC in group1 after the course of ambroxol admission (r=0.89, p=0.003 with k=2.7).   Conclusion:  The correlation revealed indicates positive changes in NO metabolism. Thereby, the investigation of NO3-/NO2- correlation in EBC in patients with COPD can be used as a marker of the efficacy of the therapy admitted.
Abstract 5011: The Contribution of COX-1 and COX-2 to Platelet Activation in Essential Thrombocythemia: A Clinical Paradigm of Aspirin-resistant Thromboxane Biosynthesis
Authors: Bianca Rocca, Alfredo Dragani, Silvia Pascale, Antonio Recchiuti, Domenico Mattoscio, Stefano Lattanzio, Giovanna Petrucci, Luciana Mucci, Elisabetta Ferrante, Aida Habib, Franco Oreste Ranelletti, Giovanni Davì, Carlo Patrono
Journal: Circulation (2009)

Low dose aspirin-resistant thromboxane (TX) A2 biosynthesis has been reported in different clinical settings, including acute coronary syndromes, myeloproliferative disorders and diabetes mellitus. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression in newly formed platelets and/or unacetylated COX-1, because of accelerated platelet regeneration, might explain this phenomenon. We tested this hypothesis in patients with essential thrombocythemia (ET), an extreme pathophysiological paradigm of accelerated thrombopoiesis. The study was approved by local Ethical Committee. Forty-one ET patients (21M, 20F, mean age 52±14 yr) on chronic aspirin therapy (100 mg/day) were studied on repeated occasions. COX-2 expression was detectable by immunocytochemistry in a significantly (p&lt;0.001) higher percentage of circulating platelets from ET patients than healthy subjects: 19 [16–19] % vs. 6 [4–7] % (median [IQR]), respectively. Furthermore, COX-2 expression in platelets was significantly and positively correlated with the fraction of the youngest, RNA-expressing circulating platelets in ET patients (r=0.62, p&lt;0.01). Urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 (TXM) excretion, a non-invasive marker of platelet activation, was significantly higher in ET patients than in 48 aspirin-treated controls: 349 [257–484] pg/mg creatinine vs. 137 [105–187] pg/mg creatinine (p&lt;0.01) (median [IQR]). ET patients were randomized to continuing low-dose aspirin alone or adding etoricoxib (90 mg/day), a highly selective COX-2 inhibitor, for 7 days. Etoricoxib significantly reduced TXM excretion by 25% (p=0.04), while TXM excretion was unaffected in the aspirin-alone arm. Whole blood TXB2 was similarly and significantly reduced following etoricoxib ex vivo or in response to NS-398 (a selective, in vitro COX-2 inhibitor), added to whole blood samples in vitro (by 22 and 30%, respectively, p&lt;0.001). The addition of aspirin (50 microM) to ET platelets in vitro completely suppressed whole blood TXB2 production. We conclude that a variable fraction of both unacetylated COX-1 and COX-2 contribute to TXA2 biosynthesis that is resistant to a conventional once daily regimen of low-dose aspirin, in a clinical setting characterized by accelerated thrombopoiesis and increased thrombotic risk.
Biological Significance of Factors Influencing the Incidence of Mammary Cancer in Mice2
Authors: William S. Murray
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1965)

Extensive data on the life histories of the breeding and nonbreeding females of 4 inbred mouse stocks and 5 experimental mouse populations are used to illustrate the concept that the nonmammary cancerous animals in such populations die with an unfulfilled tendency to develop breast tumors. Analysis of the cancerous segments of these populations, on the ground that they are representative of the normal tendencies of the stocks when reared under more controlled conditions, further illustrates that mammary tumor incidence in each of them is the result of a complex syndrome involving varying degrees of physiological receptivity to numerous combinations of viral and hormonal stimuli. An attempt is made to separate and measure the contribution each of the three variables makes to the behavior patterns characteristic of the 4 inbred stocks.
Which one is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease? Small muscle mass or large fat mass
Authors: Sun‐wook Kim, Hee‐won Jung
Journal: Hepatology (2014)

Potential conflict of interest: Nothing to report. To the Editor: We read the article by Hong et al.1 with great interest because the concept of sarcopenia has been emerging as a major issue in many fields. In the study by Hong et al., sarcopenia was defined by a state of decreased percent muscle mass as skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) of 1 SD below the sex‐specific mean value. They reported that participants in the sarcopenia group had greater body mass index (BMI) as well as high body fat mass (percent), and sarcopenia was associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease even after adjusting for insulin resistance. However, in contrast to a large difference of total body fat mass between the normal and sarcopenia group (15.2 versus 20.0 kg), the difference of total body muscle mass was relatively small (43.3 versus 41.3 kg). Moreover, contrary to the normal group, the sarcopenia group had more women, who have a smaller muscle mass than men. Recently, there have been many studies about this problem,2 and the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health project group defined sarcopenia as progressive loss of skeletal muscle mass and low muscle function with aging.3 Therefore, decreased percent muscle mass in the study should be termed sarcopenic obesity or increased percent fat mass, rather than sarcopenia. Hong et al. verified the relationship between sarcopenia and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease with multiple logistic regression analyses adjusting age, sex, smoking status, physical activity, homeostasis model of insulin resistance, C‐reactive protein, and 25[OH] vitamin D level. As we addressed, adjusting BMI or fat mass should be offered to evaluate the effect of muscle mass, because defining sarcopenia by only SMI can mistake sarcopenic obesity for sarcopenia. On the other hand, there is firm evidence that obesity is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD).4 Therefore, without considering the effect of higher fat mass, interpreting a harmful effect of decreased percent muscle mass on NAFLD as a result of decreased muscle mass seems to be inadequate. In conclusion, to explore the association of sarcopenia and NAFLD the effect of obesity or fat mass should be excluded. Furthermore, sarcopenia should be cautiously defined with decreased muscle mass and/or decreased muscle strength or performance, rather than solely with decreased percent muscle mass.
Renal Hemodynamics in AKI
Authors: Martin Matejovic, Can Ince, Lakhmir S. Chawla, Roland Blantz, Bruce A. Molitoris, Mitchell H. Rosner, Mark D. Okusa, John A. Kellum, Claudio Ronco
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2015)

Novel therapeutic interventions are required to prevent or treat AKI. To expedite progress in this regard, a consensus conference held by the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative was convened in April of 2014 to develop recommendations for research priorities and future directions. Here, we highlight the concepts related to renal hemodynamics in AKI that are likely to reveal new treatment targets on investigation. Overall, we must better understand the interactions between systemic, total renal, and glomerular hemodynamics, including the role of tubuloglomerular feedback. Furthermore, the net consequences of therapeutic maneuvers aimed at restoring glomerular filtration need to be examined in relation to the nature, magnitude, and duration of the insult. Additionally, microvascular blood flow heterogeneity in AKI is now recognized as a common occurrence; timely interventions to preserve the renal microcirculatory flow may interrupt the downward spiral of injury toward progressive kidney failure and should, therefore, be investigated. Finally, development of techniques that permit an integrative physiologic approach, including direct visualization of renal microvasculature and measurement of oxygen kinetics and mitochondrial function in intact tissue in all nephron segments, may provide new insights into how the kidney responds to various injurious stimuli and allow evaluation of new therapeutic strategies.