tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Diagnosis of pathological changes in bronchial tree using focal fluorescence spectroscopy
Authors: Nina Poliakova, Olga Cheremisina, Natalia Bulgakova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Early diagnosis of recurrence of central lung cancer is a major problem in oncology.

Objectives: Evaluate possibilities of employing Focal Fluorescence Spectroscopy (FFS) method in a diagnosis of pathological changes in bronchial tree.

Methods: The study includes the follow-up results of 68 patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have received a combination therapy.

During the follow-up period there has been provided a traditional bronchoscopy, which was supplemented by FFS of bronchial mucosa with a measurement of autofluorescence (AF). AF spectra were measured in the mucosa of a bronchus resection stump and intact bronchus in the symmetrical site of the contralateral lung.

There has been analyzed two spectral features: the intensity at the maximum range of the AF and magnitude of spectral fluorescence diagnostic parameter Df. After measuring the AF, there has been taken biopsy specimens of bronchial mucosa for a morphological study.

Results: Laser-excited autofluorescence in the green region of the spectrum of normal bronchial epithelium intensely fluoresces with a maximum wavelength near 580 nm. In the case of an acute inflammation of mucosa there has been a significant decline of the maximum intensity and increase in the parameter Df. In the areas of malignancy, there has been a rapid decline (up to 10-fold) of the autofluorescence intensity along with rising of the spectral diagnostic parameter Df.

Conclusions: Analysis of the spectra of laser-induced autofluorescence and an estimate of the spectral diagnostic parameter Df has revealed significant differences in the spectra of normal bronchial epithelium versus acute inflammation or malignant lesions.
Anandamide, a Natural Ligand for the Peripheral Cannabinoid Receptor Is a Novel Synergistic Growth Factor for Hematopoietic Cells
Authors: Peter Valk, Sandra Verbakel, Yolanda Vankan, Samantha Hol, Shanta Mancham, Rob Ploemacher, Angelique Mayen, Bob Löwenberg, Ruud Delwel
Journal: Blood (1997)
Evaluation of real time polymerase chain reaction in tubercular mediastinal lymphadenopathy
Authors: Balakrishnan Menon, Charanjeet Kaur
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction:    Mediastinal lymphadenopathy is a common manifestation of tuberculosis. Several other conditions such as Sarcoidosis and lung cancers also cause mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Radiology alone does not provide a diagnosis of TB in such cases. Conventional methods such as culture on LJ medium give results after several weeks while ZN stain for AFB has low sensitivity. We studied the sensitivity of Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) on samples obtained by Trans Bronchial Needle Aspiration (TBNA) through fibreoptic bronchoscopy.    Aims and Objectives:    To evaluate the sensitivity of RT-PCR in cases of mediastinal lymphadenopathy due to tuberculosis.    Methods:    RT-PCR was performed in 39 consecutive patients of mediastinal lymphadenopathy who underwent fibreoptic bronchoscopy and TBNA of the mediastinal nodes. Final diagnosis of all patients was based on Histopathology, ZN staining and BACTEC culture for AFB.  RT-PCR was performed by detecting amplification reaction for the insert element IS6110 of the  Mycobacterium tuberculosis  complex (Biotub-QT, Biotools Labs, Spain) using a real-time centrifugal amplifcation system (Rotor-Gene 3000, Corbett Research, Australia).    Results:    Of the 39 cases of mediastinal lymphadenopathy, 21 were due to tuberculosis. In 11 cases the cause was Sarcoidosis and 7 cases were due to malignancy.  RT-PCR was positive in 19 of the 21 cases of tuberculosis (Sensitivity 90.48%). There was 1 false positive RT-PCR in a case of lung malignancy. The Specificity of RT-PCR in tuberculosis was 94.74%.    Conclusion:    Real time PCR is valuable in the diagnosis of mediastinal lymphadenopathy due to tuberculosis with a sensitivity of 90.48% and specificity of 94.74%.
New England Journal of Medicine reconsiders relationship with industry
Authors: M. McCarthy
Journal: BMJ (2015)

In an editorial introducing a series of articles looking at the relationship between industry and academia, the New England Journal of Medicine ’s editor, Jeffrey M Drazen, asks whether medical journals have made it too hard for researchers to write review articles and editorials.1

In 1996, for example, the New England Journal of Medicine ’s editors, concerned that authors’ commercial relationships might influence their opinions, made it journal policy that authors of reviews …
Bowel Distress and Emotional Conflict
Authors: A Brook
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1991)

A psychodynamic assessment of 60 women with functional bowel disorder seen at St Mark's, a specialist hospital for disorders of the colon and rectum, has shown that most were trapped in severe emotional conflicts with which they were unable to cope. In many the bodily illnesses appeared to be an expression of these conflicts as well as a defence against experiencing them. The illnesses were then partly, or entirely, emotional conflicts that had become medicalized-emotional conflicts in illnesses clothing. The illnesses, usually precipitated by significant life events, often had their roots in emotional conflicts in infancy or childhood at which time a high proportion of the women had experienced a severe life trauma. The study also indicated that the conflicts that appeared to contribute to the illnesses were associated with emotional difficulties in fulfilling themselves as women.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and bovine spongiform encephalopathy
Authors: T. Featherstone
Journal: BMJ (1996)

Magnetic resonance imaging may have a role in diagnosing Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease EDITOR,-Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease' is still rarely diagnosed in Britain, and neuropathological examination is required to confirm the diagnosis.Research in the United States, however, has shown the presence of bilaterally symmetric hyperintense abnormalities in the basal ganglia in T2 weighted magnetic resonance images in patients with pathologically proved Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.2This abnormality on magnetic resonance imaging was first reported in 1988.3A colleague and I have reported Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, with signal abnormalities in the basal ganglia on magnetic resonance imaging, in a 58 year old man with no occupational exposure to animals who presented with progressive dementia.4The prevalence of hyperintense abnormalities in the basal ganglia in T2 weighted images in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease has not been studied and remains unknown.Such hyperintense abnormalities in the basal ganglia can be seen in several disorders, but a combination of clinical features, laboratory findings, and imaging characteristics can be used to distinguish the other conditions from Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.Although the absence of bilateral symmetric hyperintense lesions in the basal ganglia does not exclude Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, it is reasonable to assume that their presence in patients with rapidly progressive dementia is a specific sign of the disease.It would be useful to know of other documented cases in which magnetic resonance imaging was carried out before death.Surely it would be worth while pursuing further research in this field and collating data from several centres with an interest in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease to evaluate the role of magnetic resonance imaging in this condition.
Parameters affecting the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients with severe human immunodeficiency virus infection receiving antiretroviral therapy.
Authors: J M Pluda, D J Venzon, G Tosato, J Lietzau, K Wyvill, D L Nelson, E S Jaffe, J E Karp, S Broder, R Yarchoan
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1993)

To investigate the occurrence of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy and factors associated with the development of these lymphomas.The charts of 55 patients with advanced HIV infection receiving zidovudine (formerly known as azidothymidine [AZT])-based therapy and 61 patients receiving dideoxyinosine (ddI) were examined for the occurrence of NHL. Stored samples from the AZT-based treatment cohort were examined retrospectively for parameters predictive of the subsequent development of lymphoma.Eight of 55 patients receiving AZT-based therapy developed NHL, yielding an estimated probability of 12% (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.7% to 27.1%) after 24 months, and 29.2% (95% CI, 15.2% to 48.7%) after 36 months. Four of 61 patients receiving ddI developed NHL, yielding a 6.2% (95% CI, 2.1% to 17%) estimated probability after 24 months, and 9.5% (95% CI, 3.6% to 22.8%) after 36 months. The difference between these cohorts was not significant (two-tailed P [P2] = .13). Patients with less than 50 CD4 cells/microL developed NHL at a significantly higher rate (P2 = .0085). This was particularly true for patients who presented with primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). For patients receiving AZT-based therapy, pretreatment serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were somewhat higher in those who subsequently developed NHL than in those who did not (P2 = .048).HIV-infected patients with profound immunodeficiency, especially those with less than 50 CD4 cells/microL, are at substantial risk of developing NHL and particularly PCNSL. Additional studies are needed to define the role of other factors such as IL-6 in the pathogenesis of these opportunistic tumors.
A novel score of respiratory health predicts hospitalizations in children
Authors: Giancarlo Pesce, Lucia Calciano, Pierpaolo Marchetti, Simone Accordini, Alessandro Marcon, Roberto de Marco
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

BACKGROUND: Continuous scores have greater power and better predictive value than categorical scores in epidemiological studies.  OBJECTIVES: (i) To generate a continuous score that summarize the respiratory health of children, (ii) to evaluate its predictive ability against the risk of hospitalization for respiratory diseases  METHODS: 3,854 children (3-14 years) were surveyed in 2006 through a parental questionnaire, containing questions about the children9s respiratory symptoms and potential risk factors, and hospital discharge records were obtained for the years 2007-9. Children respiratory conditions and symptoms in the previous 12 months were synthetized in a continuous score using a factor analysis with tetrachoric correlation matrix. A Cox regression model was used to evaluate the ability of the score to predict hospital admissions for diseases of respiratory system (ICD-9-CM: 465-519) in children.  RESULTS: We identified one factor that explains 93% of common variance of respiratory symptoms and conditions. The children9s respiratory health was synthesized in a one-dimensional, continuous score (mean:0.35; range: 0-3) with a quasi-gamma distribution. A unitary increase in the score was associated with 116% greater risk of being hospitalized for respiratory diseases (HR: 2.16, 95%CI:1.66-2.82).  CONCLUSIONS: The children9s respiratory health score has good ability to predict future respiratory hospitalizations, and might be a promising tool in population studies.
Phase 3 study of atamestane + toremifene vs. letrozole in advanced breast cancer
Authors: P. E. Goss, I. N. Bondarenko, G. N. Manikhas, K. B. Pendergrass, W. H. Miller, D. Blanchett, W. Lang, P. Langecker
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

LBA525 Background: This study addresses the principle of “complete estrogen blockade” by combining atamestane, an investigational steroidal aromatase inhibitor (AI) with toremifene, an approved first line therapy. The primary objective was to assess whether atamestane + toremifene could improve on the time to disease progression achieved with letrozole alone. Methods: This was a multinational randomized, double blind, double dummy phase 3 clinical trial. Eligible women were postmenopausal with advanced breast cancer (ABC), estrogen and/or progesterone receptor positive. Prior adjuvant hormonal therapy was permitted only if completed &gt;12 months prior to enrollment. Subjects received either atamestane 500 mg per day with toremifene 60 mg per day (A+T), or letrozole 2.5 mg per day (L). The primary endpoint was time to progression (TTP), log-rank test comparison on all randomized patients. Secondary objectives included objective response (OR), overall survival, and time to treatment failure (TTF). The study had 80% power to detect a 25% increase in TTP assuming a TTP of 9.4 months in the L population. Results: 865 patients with locally advanced (9%) or metastatic disease (91%) were randomized: 434 to A+T and 431 to L. Baseline characteristics were: mean age 64 years (S.D. = 9); ECOG Status 0 = 30%, 1 = 60%, 2 = 10%; prior adjuvant hormonal therapy 13%; prior adjuvant chemotherapy 20%. Sites of metastases and number of sites were well balanced between arms. The median TTP was identical in the two arms: 11.2 months (p &lt; .92, log-rank chi square). The hazard ratio (L/A+T) for TTP was 1.00 (0.92–1.08, Cox proportional hazards 95% CI); for TTF was 0.99 (0.92–1.06) and for overall survival was 0.98 (0.87–1.11). OR occurred in 30% of patients on A+T and 36% of patients on L (p &lt; 0.1, likelihood ratio chi square). Most frequent AEs (A+T vs L) were asthenia (11% vs 12%), increased weight (12% vs 10%), and hot flushes (10% vs 11%). Serious AEs were 10% vs 11%. Conclusions: While our study did not demonstrate increased TTP for A+T compared with L, this is the first endocrine therapy to be equally effective as letrozole as first line therapy in ABC. Both treatments were equally well tolerated. Unlike the ATAC trial, addition of an anti-estrogen did not decrease the efficacy of the AI. Further study of combination AI + SERM is warranted. [Table: see text]
Guidelines should be based on systematic reviews of the evidence
Authors: I. Roberts, P. Alderson, K. Rowan
Journal: BMJ (1996)

EDITOR,—After surveying 39 intensive care units D R Jeevaratnam and D K Menon conclude that many use treatments that are “at odds with an emerging consensus about the management of patients with severe head injury.”1 Use of steroids despite “increasing evidence of their lack of efficacy” is given as an example of this. The authors call for clinical guidelines.

Although guidelines may reduce variations in practice, we believe that a more important obstacle to …
Abstract 17595: Comparison of Absolute Stress Perfusion and Perfusion Reserve for Detection of Significant Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Esa Joutsiniemi, Antti Saraste, Sami Kajander, Heikki Ukkonen, Mikko Pietila, Maija Maki, Juhani Airaksinen, Juhani Knuuti
Journal: Circulation (2010)
Cancer genomics and the TCGA project
Authors: David Haussler
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2010)

Abstract Large-scale cancer genomics projects such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the International Cancer Genomics Consortium (ICGC) will sequence tens of thousands of tumors in the new few years, along with matched normal blood samples and other normal tissues. TCGA alone plans to analyze 500 clinically characterized samples from each of 20 different cancer types, detecting frequently mutated genes, common copy number variants, altered gene expression and methylation changes. These data will provide an exceptional resource for identifying new diagnostic targets and predictors of response. Building on technology developed for the UCSC genome browser, we have developed a cancer genome analysis pipeline and a cancer genomics browser to interpret cancer genomics data that will aid in the identification of new targets. We use a new approach called PARADIGM, based on factor graphs, to map multiple data types into a single coherent pathway model for higher level interpretation. PARADIGM currently employs models for many hundreds of pathways from pathway libraries such as NCI pathways, Wikipathways, KEGG, etc. By transforming raw genomic data to pathway activity levels, PARADIGM provides a comprehensible window into the data that can be coupled to predictors of response to improve accuracy. We discuss the early results of this approach to the TCGA data.
Breathing pattern and thorocoabdominal motion during breathing exercises in healthy subjects
Authors: Danielle Vieira, Liliane Mendes, Nathalia Elmiro, Marcelo Velloso, Raquel Britto, Veronica Parreira
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Breathing exercises have been commonly used by physical therapists. However, it has not been fully elucidated the mechanisms underlying these exercises. Aims: To evaluate the impact of breathing exercises (diaphragmatic breathing-DB, inspiratory sighs, sustained maximal inspiration and intercostal exercise) on breathing pattern and thorocoabdominal motion in healthy subjects. Methods: 15 subjects of both sexes, aged 23±1.5 years old and with normal pulmonary function were studied. Subjects were evaluated by optoeletronic pletysmography in supine position with a trunk inclination of 45° during quite breathing(5 min.) and breathing exercises(5 min. each), in a random order. Statistical analysis was performed by Friedman test and one-way ANOVA for repeated measures(p
Environmental exposure to asbestos-related radiological and/or functional interference in patients with clinical findings, and computed tomography findings of the quality of life
Authors: Güven Çosgun, Fatma Evyapan, Nevzat Karabulut
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Natural asbestos deposits found in some countries such as Turkey are main sources of environmental asbestos exposure (EAE) which may constitute a major health problem. The aim of our study was to furher evaluate the asbestos related standard radiological findings in a population with EAE with low dose computed tomography(CT). Also pulmonary function tests, diffusing capacity, exercise capacty (6 m walking test,6MWT) and quality of life (SF-36) were assessed. People from Cal Suller region of Denizli with Standard chest X ray findings consistent with asbestos exposure were enrolled in this study. Pleural plaque (PP) and lung volumes (LV) volumes were calculated by measuring the three axes . PP ratio was calculated by dividing PP to LV.Total 75 with mean age 70,4 with radiographic abnormalities were enrolled to the study.66 cases PP were on thorax CT. Remaining 9 patients cacific granuloma (2 cases) and calcific sequela (7 cases) were misinterpreted as calcific PP. Aditionally asbestosis in 12 cases. There was no statistically significant correlation between diffusing capacity, 6MWT with PP volume as well as PP index. Quality of life indexes were lower than the established norm values of Turkish people.However the diffusing capacity, 6MWT and quality of life values were statistically lower in asbestosis patients.Our study is the first to demonstrate that EAE may affect quality of life.Early asbestosis may have an impact on respiratory functions and exercise capacity of affected people. As previously shown asbestos related PP have no effect of respiratory function tests and exercise test.
Stem Cell Factor in Combination With Filgrastim After Chemotherapy Improves Peripheral Blood Progenitor Cell Yield and Reduces Apheresis Requirements in Multiple Myeloma Patients: A Randomized, Controlled Trial
Authors: Thierry Facon, Jean-Luc Harousseau, Frédéric Maloisel, Michel Attal, Jesus Odriozola, Adrian Alegre, Wilfried Schroyens, Cyrille Hulin, Rik Schots, Pedro Marin, François Guilhot, Albert Granena, Marc De Waele, Arnaud Pigneux, Valérie Méresse, Peter Clark, Josy Reiffers
Journal: Blood (1999)
A 24-week randomized clinical trial investigating the efficacy and safety of two doses of etanercept in nail psoriasis
Authors: J.P. Ortonne, C. Paul, E. Berardesca, V. Marino, G. Gallo, Y. Brault, J.M. Germain
Journal: British Journal of Dermatology (2012)

Background Nail psoriasis is common in patients with psoriasis and can seriously affect their quality of life. Current treatments are limited and there is no standard course of therapy. Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of etanercept (ETN) on nail psoriasis in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis. Methods Patients with moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis, who had previously failed at least one form of systemic therapy for nail psoriasis, were randomized to receive open‐label ETN 50 mg twice weekly (BIW) for 12 weeks followed by once weekly (QW) for 12 weeks (BIW/QW group) or ETN 50 mg QW for 24 weeks (QW/QW group). The primary endpoint was the mean improvement in the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI; score range 0–8) over 24 weeks in the target fingernail with the most severe abnormalities. Results Seventy‐two patients received one or more doses of ETN (38 BIW/QW; 34 QW/QW) and 69 patients were included in the modified intent‐to‐treat population. At baseline, mean (standard error) target fingernail NAPSI score was 6·0 (0·3) in the BIW/QW group and 5·8 (0·3) in the QW/QW group. At week 24, mean target fingernail NAPSI score had decreased significantly by −4·3 [95% confidence interval (CI) −4·9 to −3·7; P < 0·0001] in the BIW/QW group and by −4·4 (95% CI −5·0 to −3·7; P < 0·0001) in the QW/QW group. Improvement in NAPSI showed significant correlation with Psoriasis Area and Severity Index improvement. ETN was well tolerated with no unexpected safety findings. Conclusions Both ETN regimens were effective at treating nail psoriasis in this patient population.
CARD9 mediates necrotic smooth muscle cell-induced inflammation in macrophages contributing to neointima formation of vein grafts
Authors: Yan Liu, Ying Wang, Hongtao Shi, Lixin Jia, Jizhong Cheng, Wei Cui, Huihua Li, Ping Li, Jie Du
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2015)

Inflammation plays an important role in the neointima formation of grafted veins. However, the initiation of inflammation in grafted veins is still unclear. Here, we investigated the role and underlying mechanism of an innate immunity signalling protein, caspase-associated recruitment domain 9 (CARD9) in vein grafts in mice. In early murine vein grafts, we observed robust death of smooth muscle cells (SMCs), which was accompanied by infiltration of macrophages and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, SMC necrosis was associated with the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in macrophages in vitro. To explore the mediators of necrotic SMC-induced inflammation in grafted veins from mice, we examined the expression of CARD family proteins and found CARD9 highly expressed in infiltrated macrophages of grafted veins. CARD9-knockout (KO) inhibited necrotic SMC-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and NF-κB activation. Furthermore, CARD9-KO suppressed necrotic SMC-induced expression of VEGF in macrophages. Finally, CARD9-KO decreased neointima formation of grafted veins in mice. The innate immune protein CARD9 in macrophages may mediate necrotic SMC-induced inflammation by activating NF-κB and contributed to neointima formation in the vein grafts.
Rise in user fees in Greece could reduce access to healthcare, charity warns
Authors: John Zarocostas
Journal: BMJ (2011)

Concern is growing in Greece that the rise in user fees announced by the minister of health last week could reduce access of many cash strapped and vulnerable groups to public hospitals and primary care clinics.

“Measures like this are no way to facilitate access to health,” said Rebecca Papadopoulos, head of Medecins Sans Frontieres in Greece. “The population is already in crisis because of the tough austerity measures.”

On 4 January Andreas Loverdos, the minister of health and social solidarity, announced that the charge for morning visits to outpatient …