tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Influence of streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes in clinical outcomes of pneumonias
Authors: Yolanda Galea, Beatriz Borjabad, Diana Colόn, Carmina Martí, Enric Barbeta
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

In adults, the influence of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp) serotypes on pneumonia mortality remains unclear.

Aim: To describe the characteristics of adult patients with pneumonia caused by Sp isolated in invasive strains and the influence of different serotypes in clinical outcomes.

Method: A retrospective study of Sp serotypes in invasive strains isolated from patients with pneumonia, describing the clinical features and complications. Blood and pleural fluid samples were processed using the BacT-Alert1 system. All strains were sent to the Reference Laboratory for serotyping. Serotypes were divided into 3 groups [1]: High invasive disease potential (H group): 1, 5 and 7 F; Low invasive potential (L group): 3, 6A, 6B, 8, 19F and 23F, the rest were named as other serotypes (O group).

Results: Between January 2009 and December 2010 were isolated 53 Sp strains, 44 blood samples and 9 pleural fluid (3 patients had both). 18 of them were serotypes of H group, 10 were of L group, and 23 were of O group. There were a total of 50 patients (58% men). Mean age was 56y (±19). The table shows clinical outcomes.

View this table:

Clinical outcomes according to serotype





Conclusions: Contrary to what colud be expected the pneumonies caused by Sp serotypes of H group had a lower mortality ratio.1 Brueggeman AB et al. Clonal relationships between Invasive and carriage S pneumoniae and serotype- and clone-specific differences in invasive disease potential.

Reference: 

*   1. J Infect Dis. 2003 May 1; 187 (9):1424-32.
T cell and eosinophil activation in mild and moderate atopic and nonatopic children's asthma in remission
Authors: I. Pumputiene, R. Emuzyte, R. Dubakiene, R. Firantiene, V. Tamosiunas
Journal: Allergy (2005)

Inflammation in the pathogenesis of asthma is associated with products of activated T cells and eosinophils. The aim of this study was to determine whether ongoing inflammation persists in children with different phenotypes of asthma despite the disease in remission.Serum samples were collected from 68 children with atopic or nonatopic asthma in remission and from 15 healthy children. Soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-2 and IL-4 were examined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Total and specific immunoglobulin E, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were analysed by fluoroimmunoassay (Pharmacia CAP System).In patients with moderate persistent atopic asthma, sIL-2R was increased significantly when compared with mild persistent atopic asthma (P < 0.05). No changes of sIL-2R were seen in nonatopic asthmatics compared with atopics and controls. The level of IL-2 was elevated in moderate persistent atopic and nonatopic asthmatic children compared with controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.05 respectively) and compared with mild persistent atopic asthmatics and mild persistent nonatopic asthmatics (P < 0.05 in both cases). The levels of IL-4 in most patients and controls remained below the sensitivity of the assay. Eosinophil cationic protein levels in moderate persistent atopic and nonatopic asthmatics were significantly higher than in mild persistent asthma severity cases (P < 0.001 and P < 0.01 respectively) and in healthy children (P < 0.01 in both cases).Changes in the concentration of sIL-2R, IL-2 and ECP reflect increased T cell and eosinophil activity in relation to the level of severity of asthma in atopic and nonatopic children, thereby proving the presence of persistent inflammation despite the absence of disease symptoms.
Exercise training, inflammatory cytokines, and other markers of low-grade inflammation in breast cancer survivors: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Authors: Jose F Meneses-Echavez, Robinson Ramirez-Velez, Emilio Gonzalez-Jimenez, Jacqueline Schmidt Rio-Valle, Maria Jose Sanchez Perez, Esther Molina Montes
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2014)

121 Background: Low-grade inﬂammation, characterized by high cytokine activity, plays a crucial role in tumorigenesis. Further, cytokines and other inflammatory biomarkers are closely implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials estimates the effects of exercise training in the control of the serum levels of cytokines and other inflammatory markers in breast cancer survivors. Methods: PRISMA statement and the Cochrane Handbook were followed. We searched MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EMBASE, Scopus and DARE database to retrieve randomized controlled trials published between 1980- March 2014 providing effect estimates of exercise interventions in the serum levels of cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) -2, IL-6, IL-8, tumoral necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in breast cancer survivors. An Inverse of variance (IV) fixed-effects model was conducted in absence of heterogeneity (I 2 &lt;50%); otherwise a random-effects model was selected. Mean Differences (MD) were calculated to estimate differences between groups (p&lt;0.05 with 95% Confidence interval). Heterogeneity was measured with the Chi 2 test (p&lt;0.10) and I 2 statistics. Results: A total of 15 studies were included (n=1,447; mean age= 51.6 years old). Exercise interventions resulted in positive effects for CRP (MD= 0.37, 95%CI, 0.04 to 0.71; p= 0.03; I 2 =15%), IL-2 (MD= -6.04, 85%CI, -11.41 to -0.67; p=0.03; I 2 =0%), IL-10 (-22.90, 95%CI, -41.27 to -4.53; p=0.001, I 2 =0%) and waist circumference as indicator of body composition (MD= -1.12, 95%CI, -2.06 to -0.18; p=0.02; I 2 =45%). Non-significant differences were observed for IL-6 and TNF-α. There was no evidence of publication bias. Conclusions: These findings suggest that exercise training improves the systemic pro-inflammatory profile in breast cancer survivors and consequently the immunological responses and the carcinogenic processes related to tumoral environment. The effects observed for IL-10 provide a novel focus of evidence for the role of exercise as an effective anti-inflammatory intervention in cancer survivors.
Self pay patients are likely to increase in the UK as waiting lists lengthen and medical insurance prices rise:
Authors: Matthew Limb
Journal: BMJ (2015)

More patients are losing confidence in the NHS and will increasingly look to pay directly for surgery, cancer drugs, and other treatments, a report on the private health sector has found.1

It said that the market in self paying patients was heading for “double digit growth” over the next few years and that this was fuelled by longer NHS waiting lists, curbs on access to NHS treatments, and rising private medical insurance premiums. Prices were becoming more “transparent,” it said, as healthcare providers were investing in “the only part of the private healthcare sector to show sustainable growth.”

But the report found “increasing …
Radiation Concurrent With Gemcitabine for Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancer: A Phase I Trial and Intracellular Drug Incorporation Study
Authors: Avraham Eisbruch, Donna S. Shewach, Carol R. Bradford, James F. Littles, Theodore N. Teknos, Douglass B. Chepeha, Lawrence J. Marentette, Jeffrey E. Terrell, Norman D. Hogikyan, Laura A. Dawson, Susan Urba, Gregory T. Wolf, Theodore S. Lawrence
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2001)

PURPOSE: To examine the feasibility and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of once-weekly gemcitabine at doses predicted in preclinical studies to produce radiosensitization, concurrent with a standard course of radiation for locally advanced head and neck cancer. Tumor incorporation of gemcitabine triphosphate (dFdCTP) was measured to assess whether adequate concentrations were achieved at each dose level. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with unresectable head and neck cancer received a course of radiation (70 Gy over 7 weeks, 5 days weekly) concurrent with weekly infusions of low-dose gemcitabine. Tumor biopsies were performed after the first gemcitabine infusion (before radiation started), and the intracellular concentrations of dFdCTP were measured. RESULTS: Severe acute and late mucosal and pharyngeal-related DLT required de-escalation of gemcitabine dose in successive patient cohorts receiving dose levels of 300 mg/m 2 /wk, 150 mg/m 2 /wk, and 50 mg/m 2 /wk. No DLT was observed at 10 mg/m 2 /wk. The rate of endoscopy- and biopsy-assessed complete tumor response was 66% to 87% in the various cohorts. Tumor dFdCTP levels were similar in patients receiving 50 to 300 mg/m 2 (on average, 1.55 pmol/mg, SD 1.15) but were barely or not detectable at 10 mg/m 2 . CONCLUSION: A high rate of acute and late mucosa-related DLT and a high rate of complete tumor response were observed in this regimen at the dose levels of 50 to 300 mg/m 2 , which also resulted in similar, subcytotoxic intracellular dFdCTP concentrations. These results demonstrate significant tumor and normal tissue radiosensitization by low-dose gemcitabine. Different regimens of combined radiation and gemcitabine should be evaluated, based on newer preclinical data promising an improved therapeutic ratio.
Abstract 17181: Gender-related Differences in the Clinical Findings and Outcome of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Yoshitaka Kimura, Takashi Noda, Mitsuru Wada, Ikutaro Nakajima, Kohei Ishibashi, Koji Miyamoto, Hideo Okamura, Takeshi Aiba, Shiro Kamakura, Satoshi Yasuda, Hisao Ogawa, Kengo Kusano
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Backgrounds:  Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a heart muscle disease associated with lethal ventricular arrhythmias (VT/VF) and heart failure (HF). In all reported series, ARVC is prevalent in men. However, little is known regarding the impact of gender on the heterogeneous clinical profile and prognosis of ARVC.   Objectives:  The goal of this study was to assess gender-related differences in patients with ARVC.   Methods and Results:  A total of 110 patients with ARVC who fulfilled the Task Force criteria (mean 46 years, range 15 to 73) were enrolled. All patients were probands. Male patients had a 3:1 predominance (75%). At initial evaluation, age, family history, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) findings, late potentials by signal-averaged ECG, left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and right ventricular EF were comparable between men and women. In the patients underwent electrophysiological study (n = 97), inducibility of sustained ventricular tachycardia was more frequent in men than in women (75% vs. 45%, p = 0.02). During a mean follow-up period of 10.8 ± 7.8 years, VT/VF occurred in 93 patients. Hospitalization for HF was documented in 27 patients, and 17 patients died from a cardiac cause. Kaplan-Meier analysis, considering patients’ lives since birth, revealed that female patients were at decreased risk for VT/VF and increased risk for HF hospitalization compared with male patients. (VT/VF; 63% vs. 92%, HF hospitalization; 37% vs. 20%, respectively, Figure 1). Of note, subanalysis using combination of gender and age showed that the risk for HF hospitalization was the highest among female patients ≥50 years old at initial evaluation, compared with female patients    Conclusions:  Women with ARVC showed a higher risk of HF hospitalization, especially in those ≥ 50 years old, compared with men.
Colchicine versus Prednisone in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Authors: WILLIAM W. DOUGLAS, JAY H. RYU, STEPHEN J. SWENSEN, KENNETH P. OFFORD, DARRELL R. SCHROEDER, GAIL M. CARON, RICHARD A. DeREMEE
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1998)

Twenty-six symptomatic subjects with clinical evidence plus either high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT, n = 25) or open-lung biopsy (OLB, n = 1) patterns typical for idiopathic usual interstitial pneumonia (idiopathic UIP) were entered into a randomized prospective treatment trial using high-dose prednisone (n = 12) versus colchicine (n = 14). The minimum dose of prednisone used was 60 mg/d for 1 mo, tapered to 40 mg/d over the second month, tapered to 40 mg every other day during the third month, with subsequent doses adjusted as clinically indicated. The dose of colchicine was 0.6–1.2 mg/d, as tolerated. The presence of a rim of subpleural honeycomb change was present in all of the 25 subjects who had HRCT. Subjects treated with high-dose prednisone alone experienced a higher incidence of serious side effects and also exhibited a trend (not statistically significant, p = 0.391) to more rapid decline of pulmonary function and shortened survival than did those treated with colchicine alone. In most subjects with typical clinical and HRCT features of idiopathic UIP, neither prednisone nor colchicine resulted in objective improvement, and the disease continued to progress in the majority. Colchicine appears to be a safer alternative to a trial of high-dose prednisone but may be no different than no therapy.
Prevention of ischemia-reperfusion lung injury by supplementation of the preservation solution with an oxygen carrier in porcine lung transplant model
Authors: Matthieu Glorion, Pierre-Emmanuel Noly, Benoit DeCante, Fréderic Favreau, Thierry Hauet, Elie Fadel, Edouard Sage
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction: Hemo2life is a new natural oxygen carrier extracted from Arenicola marina with high oxygen affinity acting at low temperature. We assessed the effect of Hemo2life associated with a static preservation solution on primary graft dysfunction after lung transplantation.  Material and Methodes: A left lung transplant was performed in pigs after 24 h of preservation at 4°C with Perfadex (Perfadex group, n=5) or with Perfadex® associated with Hemo2life (2g/l) (Hemo2life group, n=5) and compared to a sham animals (n=5). Expression of HIF1α was quantified on iterative samples from the right lung during preservation. During 5 h of lung reperfusion, hemodynamics, oxygenation and dynamic compliance were monitored. HMG-B1, TNFα, and NO were measured in serum. After 5 hours of reperfusion, TNFα and IL-8 were assayed in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL).  Results : During cold ischemia, expression of HIF1 α and histology remained unchanged and similar to control. After 5 hours of reperfusion, Hemo2life group led to a significant reduction of graft vascular resistance (p  Conclusion : In this preliminary study, adjunction of a new oxygen carrier Hemo2life® in lung preservation solution improves early graft function after prolonged cold ischemia.
Incidence of allergic rhinitis between 1996 and 2006 in Stockholm
Authors: Jonas Eriksson, Linda Ekerljung, Britt-Marie Sundblad, Eva Rönmark, Sven-Erik Dahlén, Bo Lundbäck
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis has increased considerably over the past century. However, incidence of allergic rhinitis has only sparsely been studied. We sought to investigate the incidence and determinants for allergic rhinitis in adults.  Methods: A questionnaire on respiratory health was mailed in 1996 and 2006 to a randomly selected sample of subjects aged 20-69 years in 1996 living in Stockholm, Sweden. The response rate was 72% and 83%, respectively, and in total 4479 subjects participated in both surveys. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to assess risk factors.  Results: The cumulative incidence of allergic rhinitis was 10.9% (men 9.6%; women 12.0%, p=0.03). Subjects raised on the countryside had a higher incidence than those raised in the city (11.9% vs. 8.1%, p=0.04). However, when stratifying the analysis by age, this was only true in ages 60-69 years (9.1% vs. 1.9%, p=0.02). In subjects raised in the city, the incidence decreased markedly with increasing age (20-29 years 19.7%; 60-69 years 1.9%, p  Conclusion: We found a high incidence of allergic rhinitis. The incidence varied by age, sex and childhood environment. Our results further suggest that the onset of allergic rhinitis is delayed in subjects raised on the countryside as compared to those raised in the city.
Serial cranial computed-tomography scans in children with leukemia given two different forms of central nervous system therapy.
Authors: J J Ochs, L S Parvey, J N Whitaker, W P Bowman, L Ch'ien, M Campbell, T Coburn
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1983)

Cranial computed tomography (CT) was used to estimate the frequency and permanence of brain abnormalities in 108 consecutive children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Fifty-five patients received cranial irradiation (1,800 rad) with intrathecal methotrexate (RT group) and 53 patients received intravenous and intrathecal methotrexate without irradiation (IVIT group). Continuation treatment included sequential drug pairs for the RT group and periodic IVIT methotrexate for the other group. After 12 to 24 months of serial evaluation, five (9%) of the 55 patients in the RT group have had CT scan abnormalities, compared to 10 (19%) of 52 in the IVIT group (p = 0.171). Fourteen of the 15 patients with CT scan abnormalities had focal or diffuse white-matter hypodensity; these have reverted to normal in most cases, reflecting a dynamic process. While such CT findings are of concern and may be an early indicator of central nervous system toxicity, this remains to be proven. Therapy should not be altered on the basis of abnormal CT scans alone but in the context of the entire clinical situation.
CEOP-B alternated with VIMB in intermediate-grade and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a pilot study.
Authors: M De Lena, P Ditonno, V Lorusso, M Brandi, A Timurian, F Marzullo, V Ventrella, A Pellecchia
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1995)

PURPOSE To improve response and toxicity in treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHLs), a prospective single-arm trial was initiated using cyclophosphamide, epirubicin, vincristine, prednisone, and bleomycin (CEOP-B) alternated with etoposide (VP-16), ifosfamide, mitoxantrone, and bleomycin (VIMB). PATIENTS AND METHODS From December 1988 to April 1992, 60 consecutive previously untreated patients with intermediate- or high-grade NHL were admitted to the study and were assessable. Patient characteristics were as follows: 32% greater than 60 years of age, 63% with stage III to IV disease, 42% with a performance status (PS) of 2 or 3, 23% with high lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, and 22% with two or more extranodal disease sites. Stage I and II patients received three cycles of CEOP-B/VIMB plus radiotherapy (RT) to involved fields; stage III and IV patients received four cycles of chemotherapy alone. RESULTS The complete remission (CR) rate was 77%; actuarial 48-month overall survival (OS) and time to treatment failure (TTF) rates were 70% and 59%, respectively. With univariate analysis, CR, OS, and TTF rates were significantly influenced by serum LDH levels (P = .0485, P = .0017, and P = .0064, respectively) and performance status (P = .0005, P &lt; .00005, and P = .0001, respectively). The actuarial 48-month disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 83% and was negatively influenced only by high-grade histology (P &lt; .004). Toxicity was mild. A lower epirubicin dose-intensity (DI) was found in patients older than 60 years of age, with a borderline P value. Patients were divided into four groups according to the International Prognostic Factor Project; low-risk and low-intermediate-risk groups had similar OS and TTF rates; when considered together, they showed superior, but not statistically significant, OS and TTF rates as compared with the high-intermediate-risk group, which in turn had significantly superior OS and TTF rates when compared with the high-risk group. CONCLUSION CEOP-B/VIMB compares favorably with third-generation regimens and results in lower toxicity.
Abstract 204: HAX-1: A Novel Regulator of Energetics and Oxidative Stress in the Heart
Authors: Chi K Lam, Wen Zhao, Wenfeng Cai, Guansheng Liu, Phil Bidwell, George Gardner, George Adly, Evangelia G Kranias
Journal: Circulation Research (2014)

Sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium handling is central not only in the control of heart function during excitation-contraction coupling but also in mitochondrial energetics and apoptosis. Recent studies have identified the anti-apoptotic protein, HS-1 associated protein X-1 (HAX-1) as a novel regulator of SR calcium cycling. Although HAX-1 has been shown to localize to mitochondria in various tissues, we found out that it also localizes to SR through its interaction with phospholamban (PLN) in cardiac muscle. Acute or chronic overexpression of HAX-1 in cardiomyocytes promoted PLN inhibition on the calcium ATPase (SERCA) and decreased cardiomyocyte calcium kinetics and contractile parameters. Accordingly, ablation of HAX-1 significantly enhanced SERCA activity and calcium kinetics. Furthermore, the HAX-1/PLN interaction appeared to also regulate cardiomyocyte survival. Indeed, overexpression of HAX-1 and the associated depressed SR Ca-load attenuated endoplasmic reticulum stress induced apoptosis, as evidenced by reduction of both caspase-12 activation and pro-apoptotic transcription factor C/EBP homologous protein induction during ischemia/reperfusion injury. In addition, the depressed SR Ca-cycling by HAX-1 overexpression was associated with reduced mitochondrial Ca-load as reflected by: a) hyper-phosphorylation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and decreases in its activity, to diminish ATP production consistent with the attenuated energetic demand in these hearts; and b) reduced levels of reactive oxygen species, indicating protection from oxidative damage and preserved mitochondrial integrity. These findings suggest that HAX-1 is a key regulator of Ca-cycling, apoptosis and energetics in the heart. Thus, decreases in HAX-1 levels, observed during ischemia/reperfusion injury, may contribute to the deteriorated function and progression to heart failure development.
Prediction of prognosis in primary breast cancer by detection of a high molecular weight mucin-like antigen using monoclonal antibodies DF3, F36/22, and CU18: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B study.
Authors: D F Hayes, R Mesa-Tejada, L D Papsidero, G A Croghan, A H Korzun, L Norton, W Wood, J A Strauchen, M Grimes, R B Weiss
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1991)

Three monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (DF3, F36/22, CU18) were used to monitor expression of distinct epitopes present within a family of mucin-like, breast carcinoma-associated molecules. Primary tumor specimens from more than 190 stage II breast cancer patients were evaluated for expression of the high molecular weight antigens. With a median follow-up of 6 years, patients whose tumors exhibited high immunoperoxidase staining scores (greater than 50% positive cells) with MAb DF3 had a superior disease-free survival ([DFS] 56% +/- 6% v 37% +/- 5% at 6 years; P = .0088) and overall survival ([OS] 72% +/- 5% v 59% +/- 5% at 6 years; P = .025). Staining scores with the other two antibodies did not correlate with improved prognosis. For MAbs DF3 and CU18, patients whose tumors exhibited predominantly apical cellular reactivity patterns had improved DFS, although differences reached conventional levels of statistical significance only with MAb CU18. In multivariate analyses, the prognostic value of MAb DF3 staining was independent of other identified prognostic factors. Furthermore, the concordance between primary and axillary lymph node metastases staining with each MAb was 73%, 80%, and 85% for MAbs DF3, F36/22, and CU18, respectively. These results suggest that staining with MAb DF3 identifies a group of node-positive women with a relatively favorable prognosis. Expression of the DF3 mucin-like glycoprotein is related to better differentiation, and staining with MAb DF3 provides an accurate and objective estimate of clinical outcome independent of histopathologic evaluation.