tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
TGFβ1 genotype in correlation to TGFβ1 induced sputum (IS) and serum in cystic fibrosis (CF)
Authors: Sabina Schmitt-Grohé, Felix Schreiner, Louisa van den Boom, Doris N'Gampolo, Olaf Eickmeier, Ralf Schubert, Ilse Broeckart, Stefan Zielen, Michael Lentze
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background: Previous studies have shown that high-producer TGFβ1 genotypes are associated with severe lung disease in CF, but data on TGFβ1 levels and its impact on CF lung disease are scarce. Our aim was to assess the relationship between TGFβ1 genotypes, TGFβ1 (in induced sputum and serum) and lung disease.

Methods: 23 patients delta F 508 homozygous (median age 24 y, m/f 13/10, BMI 20,96 kg/m2, Shwachman score 75, FEV1 (%) 84) were examined. TGFβ1 was assessed in serum and IS by ELISA. Genotyping was performed for the TGFβ1 C-509T and T+869C genotype.

Results: TGFβ1 mutants (C-509T mutant/wildtype n=9/14; T+869C mutant/wildtype (7/16) had no influence on levels of TGFβ1 in IS (C-509T mutant/wildtype median 80.2/71.8 pg/ml, n.s; T+869C mutant/wildtype median 80.2/71.75 pg/ml, n.s) and serum (C-509T mutant/wildtype median 35.8/34.9 pg/ml, n.s; T+869C mutant/wildtype median 35.8/34.9 pg/ml, n.s) nor on leukocytes in IS (C-509T mutant/wildtype median 651/495/μl, n.s; T+869C mutant/wildtype median 651.25/495/μl, n.s) and in EDTA blood (C-509T mutant/wildtype median 6325/6990 pg/ml, n.s; T+869C mutant/wildtype median 6325/6990/μl, n.s), lung function resp FEV1 (%) (C-509T mutant/wildtype median 68.6/86.7%, n.s; T+869C mutant/wildtype median 60.3/86.66%, n.s) or BMI (C-509T mutant/wildtype median 21.9/19.2 pg/ml, n.s; T+869C mutant/wildtype median 22.41/19.52, n.s).

Conclusion: Genotype had no difference on TGFβ1 in IS and serum as well as for lung function or BMI. An explanation is that TGF β is activated by different pathways e.g. ανβ6-mediated activation appears to be absolutely dependent on direct cell-cell contact and does not release any diffusible free TGF β (Munger et al 1999).
Immune response from STRIDE, a randomized, Phase II, open-label study of sipuleucel-T (sip-T) with concurrent vs sequential enzalutamide (enz) administration in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC)
Authors: Charles G Drake, David Quinn, Robert Dreicer, Emmanuel Antonarakis, Neal Shore, John Corman, Raoul Concepcion, Christopher Pieczonka, Dwayne Campogan, Li-Qun Fan, Nancy Chang, Nadeem Sheikh, Daniel Petrylak
Journal: Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer (2015)

Meeting abstracts P12-2 (STRIDE; [NCT01981122][1]) is an ongoing, randomized, Phase II, open-label study evaluating concurrent vs sequential administration of the androgen receptor inhibitor, enz, with the autologous cellular immunotherapy, sip-T. The primary aim of this study is to determine if
Comparison of inhaled budesonide with oral prednisolone at two dose-levels commonly used for the treatment of moderate asthma
Authors: P Namsirikul, S Chaisupamongkollarp, N Chantadisai, P Bamberg
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1989)

The purpose of the study was to compare the anti-asthmatic efficacy of two doses of inhaled budesonide with two doses of oral prednisolone commonly used in clinical practice. The patients studied had not been taking regular inhaled glucocorticosteroids and so there was minimal interference from previous medication. The study was conducted as two double-blind crossovers with a washout period between them - firstly, comparing 400 micrograms budesonide with 5 mg prednisolone per day and secondly, 800 micrograms budesonide with 10 mg prednisolone per day. Lung function and symptoms were improved significantly from run-in by all treatments and improvement on both drugs was dose-dependent. When low-dose treatments were compared, mean morning peak expiratory flow rate was higher during budesonide treatment and, as a result, diurnal variation was significantly less than that during prednisolone treatment. At the higher doses, differences between the drugs were not observed, but this may have been due to the fact that a "ceiling effect" had been reached.
Unexpected findings of study of selegiline have not been treated with caution its authors advised
Authors: Mark T Silva, Anthony H V Schapira, Peter Jenner
Journal: BMJ (1997)

Editor—In 1995 the BMJ published the results of a study by the Parkinson's Disease Research Group of the United Kingdom comparing the use of levodopa and a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor either with or without selegiline.1 An unexpected finding was an increase in mortality in the group receiving selegiline. The authors stated at that time that “the difference in mortality should be treated with caution.” An editorial in the same issue also suggested that the findings provided “strong evidence against selegiline having a neuroprotective …
RNA Storage: Silica Microcapsules for Long‐Term, Robust, and Reliable Room Temperature RNA Preservation (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 9/2015)
Authors: Michela Puddu, Wendelin J. Stark, Robert N. Grass
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2015)

While RNA is currently revolutionizing biology, progress in this field is in a constant race against ribonucleases, which are omnipresent and rapidly destroy RNA. On page 1332 M. Puddu, W. J. Stark, and R. N. Grass demonstrate that RNA can be easily encapsulated within silica, and can then evade the enzymatic action. This allows reliable room temperature storing and shipping of RNA samples.
Unfractionated Heparin Dosing in the FRIC Study
Authors: Sarah A. Spinler
Journal: Circulation (1998)

In the recent FRIC study, 1 the subheading on page 65 states "Anti-Factor Xa Activity and aPTT Values in the Acute Phase," but no activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) values were provided.Because one of the measures of performance of unfractionated heparin (UFH) dosing is the aPTT achieved, the reader cannot interpret the degree of anticoagulation achieved with UFH if no aPTT values are provided.Because aPTT measurement was mandated per protocol at 6 and 12 hours as well as daily through 48 hours, these median aPTT values should be reported as well as the percentages of patients below and above the target of aPTT of 1.5 times the control value.If dalteparin at a dose of 120 IU/kg twice daily is as good as poorly dosed UFH with no safety advantages, why would one use the more expensive dalteparin?A separate issue relating to all multicenter studies of anticoagulants that use one mandated range for aPTT measurement (such as 1.5 times control) relates to the lack of standardization of the aPTT ranges to target UFH concentrations as well as variability among reagents used for aPTT measurement at individual centers when the target range is only expressed in seconds (eg, 60 to 85 seconds).Both inconsistencies with aPTT measurement could lead to uninterpretable results with UFH.If all new, more expensive anticoagulants are to be compared with UFH, closer scrutiny of dosing is warranted.
Predictors of Sexual Health in Women After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Authors: Patricia A. Ganz, Katherine A. Desmond, Thomas R. Belin, Beth E. Meyerowitz, Julia H. Rowland
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

PURPOSE: To identify variables that might be predictive of sexual health (interest, dysfunction, and satisfaction) in a large sample of breast cancer survivors, with a validation conducted in a second, independent sample. PATIENTS AND METHODS: On the basis of a conceptual framework of sexual health in breast cancer survivors, we performed multivariable regression analyses to estimate sexual interest, dysfunction, and satisfaction in both samples. Additional analyses were performed using stepwise regression and recursive partitioning to explore in each sample the relative contributions of the independent variables toward predicting the outcome measures. RESULTS: The models for sexual interest accounted for at least 33% of the variance, and the significant predictors common to the two samples were having a new partner since the diagnosis of breast cancer, mental health score, and body image score. For sexual dysfunction, the models in the two samples explained at least 33% of the variance, and the common significant predictors were vaginal dryness, past chemotherapy use, and having a new partner since diagnosis. The sexual satisfaction models explained at least 27% of the variance, with the common significant predictors being the quality of the partnered relationship and sexual problems in the partner. CONCLUSION: Among the predictors of sexual health, several are mutable (vaginal dryness, emotional well-being, body image, the quality of the partnered relationship, and sexual problems in the partner), and these should be considered for future interventions to address the sexual health and well-being of breast cancer survivors.
Manic-Depressive Illness and Acute Schizophrenia: A Clinical, Family History, and Treatment-Response Study
Authors: MICHAEL ALAN TAYLOR, PEDRO GAZTANAGA, RICHARD ABRAMS
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1974)

The authors examined 26 consecutive patients who had a diagnosis of acute schizophrenia upon admission to an inpatient psychiatric unit of a municipal hospital. Only one patient satisfied research criteria for schizophrenia, whereas half of the patients received a research diagnosis of mania. The group with a research diagnosis of mania was compared with a group of schizophrenics and manic patients for whom admission and research diagnoses concurred; no differences from the research manics but marked differences from the research schizophrenics were found in this group in regard to clinical, genetic, and treatment-response variables. The authors conclude that many patients receiving the diagnosis of acute schizophrenia actually suffer from an affective illness and rarely satisfy rigorous criteria for schizophrenia.
Back to the Future: Multiagent Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer Revisited
Authors: Stephen A. Cannistra
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1999)

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.1999.17.3.741 Journal of Clinical Oncology - published online before print September 21, 2016 PMID: 10071260 Back to the Future: Multiagent Chemotherapy in Ovarian Cancer Revisited Stephen A. CannistraxStephen A. CannistraSearch for articles by this author Show More Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA https://doi.org/10.1200/JCO.1999.17.3.741 First Page Full Text PDF Figures and Tables © 1999 by American Society of Clinical Oncology
Is pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) beneficial for the elderly? An analysis of quality of life (QoL) outcomes for older patients
Authors: Natalie Doughty, Linda Sharples, Gillian Hardman, Joanna Pepke-Zaba, David Jenkins
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

PEA carries significant perioperative mortality & morbidity risk. There is less scope for improved survival in older patients. Does improvement to QoL justify the risk of surgery?  Method: A single centre study of patients aged >70 with Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension who underwent PEA between January 2006 - March 2011. Outcome measure was the CAMPHOR. Records of PEA patients aged 70> were examined. Complete data (i.e pre-op, 3months and 1 yr post-op) available for 42 patients. CAMPHOR scores are negatively weighted therefore a reduction in score represents an improvement.   Results:42  measurements vailable for all 3 time points.There is a large decrease (improvement) in median symptom, activity and QoL scores from pre-op to 3 months post and a further small decrease between 3-12 months post. Overall there is a significant difference between time periods.   Conclusion: Patients aged >70yrs who undergo PEA show improvement in their symptoms, physical functioning and QoL at 3 months post op, this is maintained at 1 yr post-op.
Reliability and comparison of different methods to assess nasal nitric oxide during tidal breathing in children
Authors: Nicole Beydon, Arnaud Chambellan, Alberti Corinne, Muriel Lebourgeois
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background  Tidal breathing (VT) technique to measure nasal nitric oxide (nNO) is used to screen children for primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), but new portable devices allow measurement over a period of time without any possible control of the breathing pattern   Objectives  1) to compare different methods of VT nNO measurements, the recommended mean of 5 peaks and 10s of regular breathing, and the mean of last 30s of a 45s tidal breathing period 2) to check inter-nostrils repeatability of VT measures   Methods  Multicentre online nNO measurements study (chemiluminiscence, Seres, France, Aerocrine, Sweden) in children with suspected PCD. Measures were recorded using a nasal olive during apnea (AP), expiration against resistance (ExRe), and VT with a 0.3L.min -1  sample flow.   Results  We studied 139 children (66 girls, median [range] age 9.1 [2.9-17.9] y). Comparisons between techniques are in table. VT measure was impossible to record in one nostril in 18 children. nNO values from 2 nostrils were highly correlated for all techniques (p   Conclusion  VT nNO values obtained using different methods are not interchangeable. Discrepancy between the nostrils is more likely to occur with VT technique, which implies to systematically measure the 2 nostrils with this technique.
Measuring concern about pollution in questionnaire-based environmental surveys
Authors: Alessandro Marcon, Giang Nguyen, Marco Braggion, Marta Rava, Maria Elisabetta Zanolin
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Understanding attitudes towards pollution in the population might help to prevent bias in questionnaire-based environmental studies, because subjects living closer to emission sources may be more concerned than those who live farther away, thus tending to over-report adverse health outcomes.  Using data from a survey on parents of 3697 school-age children (response rate 99%) in an industrial area in northern Italy (Viadana), we devised a score on environmental concerns (EC), evaluated its psychometric properties and its association with several determinants.  Six questions surveyed respondents9 concerns about electromagnetic fields (EMFs), traffic, lack of public parks, air pollution, indoor cigarette smoke and chemicals in food. Answers were coded as 0 (don9t know/not at all), 1 (a little), 2 (quite a lot), 3 (a lot). Explanatory factor analysis (EFA) and homogeneity analysis were performed. A summed score was computed (range 0-18). The association between a 1-unit increase in the score and potential determinants was estimated by relative risks (RRs), obtained by negative binomial regression.  EFA identified one unique factor, explaining 61% of the variance. The homogeneity analysis revealed its good internal reliability (Cronbach9s α = 0.85) and confirmed the equidistance of the item options response. Item mean scores ranged from 2.0±1.0 (EMFs) to 2.8±0.7 (air pollution). Fathers, indoor-smokers, low educated and non-Italian parents reported less concerns (RRs=0.59, 0.68, 0.38, and 0.82, respectively) with respect to referral groups (p  Respondents9 characteristics influence their level of EC. The devised score may be useful in future research to control for EC-related confounding.
Potential Mediator of Inflammation
Authors: Harvey Carp, Aaron Janoff
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1980)

Human polymorphonuclear leukocytes, monocytes, or pulmonary alveolar macrophages, stimulated in vitro by phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), released reactive oxygen species able to suppress the elastase inhibitory capacity (EIC) of human serum. Immunoelectrophoresis using antibodies against α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-Pi) and elastase showed that inactivation of α1-Pi was responsible for the decreased serum EIC. Treatment of phagocyte-inactivated serum with a reducing agent (dithiothreitol) resulted in significant recovery of EIC, suggesting that α1-Pi had been oxidatively inactivated. Serum EIC was partially protected by superoxide dismutase or catalase. Hydrogen peroxide alone had no effect on serum EIC. Thus, neither H2O2 nor O2− alone, but a product of the two, may have oxidatively inactivated α1-Pi. In support of the foregoing, neutrophils or monocytes from a patient with chronic granulomatous disease failed to produce detectable levels of O2− after incubation with PMA. These cells also failed to suppress serum EIC. In the case of PMA-stimulated polymorphonuclear leukocytes or monocytes, extracellular myeloperoxidase may have also played a role in α1-Pi inactivation since serum EIC was partly protected by azide, cyanide, or the depletion of extracellular chloride. Indeed, in a cell-free system consisting of purified myeloperoxidase, a glucose oxidase-H2O2-generating system, and Cl−, the EIC of human serum or purified α1-Pi could also be suppressed. Omission of any single reactant prevented this effect, as did NaN3 or catalase, suggesting that enzymatically active myeloperoxidase and H2O2 were necessary. Immunoelectrophoresis of myeloperoxidase-inactivated serum showed that, as before, inactivation of α1-Pi was responsible for the decreased EIC. Treating myeloperoxidase-inactivated serum with dithiothreitol led to significant recovery of EIC, again suggesting that oxidative inactivation of α1-Pi had occurred. Oxidative inactivation of α1-Pi in the microenvironment of inflammatory cells, at sites of acute or chronic inflammation, may allow proteases released from these cells to damage adjacent connective tissue components more readily.
Factors Predicting the Use of Breast-Conserving Therapy in Stage I and II Breast Carcinoma
Authors: Monica Morrow, Julia White, Jennifer Moughan, Jean Owen, Thomas Pajack, JoAnne Sylvester, J. Frank Wilson, David Winchester
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: To define patterns of care for the local therapy of stage I and II breast cancer and to identify factors used to select patients for breast-conserving therapy (BCT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A convenience sample of 16,643 patients with stage I and II breast cancer treated in 1994 was obtained from hospital-based tumor registries. Histologic variables were determined from original pathology reports. RESULTS: BCT was performed in 42.6% of patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that living in the Northeast United States (odds ratio [OR], 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.16 to 2.84), having a clinical T1 tumor (OR, 2.51; 95% CI, 2.27 to 2.78), and having a tumor without an extensive intraductal component (OR, 2.07; 95% CI, 1.81 to 2.37) were the strongest predictors of breast-conserving surgery. Radiation therapy was given to 86% of patients who had breast-conserving surgery. Age less than 70 years was the most significant predictor of receiving radiation (OR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.77 to 2.25). Tumor variables did not correlate with the use of radiation, but favorable tumor characteristics were associated with the use of breast-conserving surgery. CONCLUSION: Despite strong evidence supporting the use of BCT, the majority of women continue to be treated with mastectomy. Predictors of the use of BCT do not correspond to those suggested in guidelines.
Pentostatin induces durable remissions in hairy cell leukemia.
Authors: P A Cassileth, B Cheuvart, A S Spiers, D P Harrington, F J Cummings, R S Neiman, J M Bennett, M J O'Connell
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1991)

Fifty patients with hairy cell leukemia were treated with pentostatin (2'-deoxycoformycin; dCF) for a median of 3 months; 32 (64%) patients achieved complete remission (CR), and 10 (20%) patients achieved partial remission (PR), for an overall response rate of 84%. After reaching maximal response, no maintenance therapy was administered. The median duration of follow-up is now 39 months, and only four of 32 patients in CR and two of 10 patients in PR have relapsed. dCF therapy produces durable long-term, disease-free survival in patients with hairy cell leukemia.
Tetracycline sclerosis in the management of malignant pericardial effusion.
Authors: F A Shepherd, J S Ginsberg, W K Evans, J G Scott, F Oleksiuk
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1985)

Twenty-two patients with malignant pericardial effusion were seen at the Toronto General Hospital between 1979 and 1984. Under ECG monitoring, an indwelling Kifa catheter was inserted into the pericardial sac and then connected to a Hemovac system and allowed to drain for 12 to 24 hours. Xylocaine hydrochloride, 100 mg, was first instilled intrapericardially, followed by tetracycline hydrochloride, 500 to 1,000 mg, dissolved in 20 mL normal saline. The catheter was clamped for one to two hours and then allowed to drain into the Hemovac. This procedure was repeated every 24 to 48 hours until the net drainage was less than 25 mL/24 hours. Nine men and 13 women were treated (median age, 55 years). The primary malignancy included lung in 15 patients, breast in two patients, and carcinoma of the stomach, ovary, pleural mesothelioma, chronic granulocytic leukemia, and adenocarcinoma of unknown primary in one patient each. Twenty patients received one to five instillations of tetracycline. In one patient the catheter could not be inserted into the pericardial sac, and in one patient the catheter clotted before tetracycline instillation. Minor complications included transient arrhythmia in two patients, postinjection pain in four patients, and self-limited temperature elevation greater than 38.5 degrees C in two patients. fifteen patients had good control of their malignant pericardial effusion for more than 30 days (median survival, 160 days; range, 38 to 275 days). Three patients died before 30 days without evidence of effusion, and no patient surviving longer than 30 days developed recurrent effusion or pericardial constriction. Intrapericardial tetracycline instillation is a safe and efficacious treatment for malignant pericardial effusion and should be considered the first treatment modality in this situation.