tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Perioperative blood transfusions are associated with increased rates of recurrence and decreased survival in patients with high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities.
Authors: S A Rosenberg, C A Seipp, D E White, R Wesley
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1985)

One hundred fifty-six patients with high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities treated on prospective randomized trials were analyzed to determine the impact of perioperative blood transfusions on tumor recurrence and patient survival. A significant increase in the incidence of tumor recurrence and decrease in survival were associated with the receipt of blood transfusions at the time of definitive surgical therapy of the sarcoma. Actuarial 5-year continuous disease-free survival was 70% in patients who had not been transfused compared to 48% in patients who received one or more transfusions (P = .007). Overall 5-year survival was also substantially decreased in patients receiving transfusions (85% compared to 63%; P = .0035). A direct relationship existed between the number of transfusions administered and the decrease in disease-free and overall survival; the larger the number of transfusions the worse the prognosis (P less than .0001 and P = .0001, respectively). A large number of other prognostic factors were included in the analysis including the age, sex, race of the patient, histology of the primary lesion, anatomic site of the primary lesion, final surgical margins, size of the tumor, type of surgery required, the use of chemotherapy, actual time in the operating room under anesthesia, the exact anesthetic agent used, and the individual surgeon who performed the operation. Accounting for all of these factors a strong association continued to exist between the receipt of blood transfusion and poor patient prognosis. We have previously shown that adjuvant chemotherapy is of benefit to patients with high-grade extremity sarcomas, and 132 (84.6%) of 156 patients in this series received chemotherapy. In patients receiving chemotherapy, blood transfusions were associated with increased recurrence (P less than .0001) and decreased survival (P = .0001). The only other significant independent prognostic variable in these patients was the size of the primary tumor. An analysis of all patients, stratified for tumor size, revealed an impact of transfusions on increasing recurrence (P = .007) and decreasing survival (P = .016). An analysis of the subpopulation of patients with large tumors (greater than 150 mL) gave the same results (P = .03 and .015, respectively). It thus appears that the receipt of blood transfusions is associated with increased tumor recurrence and decreased survival in patients with high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Pancytopenia Related to Azathioprine — An Enzyme Deficiency Caused by a Common Genetic Polymorphism: A Review
Authors: A Anstey, L Lennard, S C Mayou, J D Kirby
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (1992)

Keywords azathioprine, thiopurine methyltransferase, 6-thioguanine nucleotides, pancytopenia, genetic polymorphism
Nestin expressing progenitor cells in pulmonary vasculature
Authors: Farhan Saboor, Claudia Berndt, Norbert Weissmann, Ralph Schermuly, Dieter Müller, Ralf Middendorff
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and pericytes (PCs), distinguished by the expression of neuronal stem cell marker “Nestin”, may represent stem cell-like progenitor cells for tissues in various organs. In one of our previous studies, we found that nestin-expressing VSMCs and PCs in testicular blood vessels are the progenitors of testosterone producing Leydig cells.  To analyze the expression pattern of nestin and its role as marker for proliferating progenitor cells in the lung, nestin expression and localization was investigated during postnatal development in nestin-GFP mice. To investigate nestin expression during vascular remodelling, samples from two models of pulmonary hypertension (PH) [monocrotaline (MCT) rat model and hypoxic mouse model] as well as human samples from patients of PH were analyzed. Nestin data was compared with expression of proliferation markers (PCNA, Ki67) and PDGF receptors.  Nestin was found in a subpopulation of VSMCs and PCs of lung vasculature. As compared to adult normoxic controls significantly higher nestin expression was observed in pulmonary vasculature of postnatal tissues and in adult lungs between day 3-7 of hypoxic exposure but not at later time points when PH became evident. Increase of nestin correlated well with an increase of cell proliferation. In hypoxic lungs peak of phosphorylated (activated) PDGF receptor β correlated with nestin one. Increase of nestin-immunoreactive VSMCs and PCs was also found in MCT rat and human lung samples.  Certain contractile cells capable of proliferation could be identified by Nestin expression in lungs and may be used as prognostic marker and new target for therapeutic interventions of diseases like PH.
Predicting the risk of falls in patients with COPD: Does age matter?
Authors: Alda Marques, Joana Cruz, Daniela Figueiredo
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction: The extrapulmonary manifestations of COPD have been associated with deficits in mobility and balance, which potentiate the risk of falls. This is more evident in advanced COPD. However, research in the risk of falling in this population is scarce. Furthermore, as deterioration of balance increases with age, it is important to understand how age influences the fall risk in these patients.  Aim: To assess the risk of falls in different age groups of patients with advanced COPD.  Methods: Fifty-five outpatients with COPD (GOLD III and IV) were recruited. The risk of falling was assessed using the Timed Up & Go (TUG) test. Two TUG tests were performed and the best performance was considered. Participants (39 males) were divided into 4 groups according to their age:   Results: The mean TUG time for each group was G1 11.03±3.11; G2 10.73±1.36; G3 11.22±4.35; G4 14.34±4.87 seconds. No statistical significant differences between groups were found. However, all groups presented worse values than the average performance of their age-matched healthy peers 1 .  Conclusion: Patients with advanced COPD exhibit changes in balance and are at risk of falling, regardless of their age. The results suggest that pulmonary rehabilitation, a recommended standard of care for patients with COPD aimed to optimize functional status and increase participation, should include a specific component of balance training and strategies to prevent falls, to restore the highest possible level of independent function in this population.   1 Bohannon, R.W., Reference Values for the Timed Up and Go Test: A Descriptive Meta-Analysis. J Geriatr Phys Ther 2006; 29(2):64-68.
Interstitial lung disease; where do we stand without histopathology?
Authors: Neeraj Gupta, Rakesh Gupta, Nishtha Singh, Ramakant Dixit, Suresh Jangir
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Aims: - Diagnosis of Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) is a multidisciplinary approach involving clinical data, a pulmonologist, radiologist & pathologist. The present study was carried out in an attempt to diagnose ILD based on clinical and radiographic presentation without support of lung biopsies.  Method:- A series of consecutive 63 cases of ILDs presenting to us were thoroughly examined including detaill history, physical examination, Lab investigations and HRCT Chest. The patients were then tried to classified according to ATS/ERS international multidisciplinary consensus classification.  Results:- With best of our clinical skills and HRCT evaluation, we were able to identify single disease / pattern in 57 patients (90.4%) out of the series of 63 patients. In 4 patients (6.3%) we were not able to reach any diagnosis, while in 1 patient each (1.6%) we could narrow down the differential diagnosis to two entities and up to three entities respectively. The split of these diagnosed cases are described in given table.  Interpretation:- In majority of cases of ILD we were able to diagnose 57 cases (90.4%) without a need for Histopathology.
Curability of Burkitt's lymphoma with high-dose cyclophosphamide-high-dose methotrexate therapy and intrathecal chemoprophylaxis.
Authors: M P Sullivan, I Ramirez
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1985)

Twenty-four children with Burkitt's lymphoma were treated beginning May 1976 with a regimen alternating high doses of cyclophosphamide and methotrexate in induction and consolidation; only high doses of methotrexate were used in the maintenance phase. Throughout therapy, which was planned for 54 weeks, intrathecal chemoprophylaxis using methotrexate, cytosine arabinoside, and hydrocortisone was coordinated with the high-dose methotrexate infusion therapy to provide CNS chemoprophylaxis that maintained therapeutic methotrexate spinal fluid levels (greater than 10(-6) mol/L) for approximately 60 hours. Twenty-two (92%) of the 24 children attained complete remission; two (8.3%) patients attained only partial remission, failing therapy. Two children died of infection while in complete remission; two children relapsed on therapy. Actual survival is 75%; the median follow-up time is 38+ months (range, 1 1/2+ to 84+ months). Relapses correlated with Murphy disease stage as follows: stage I--0/3, stage II--2/7, stage III--2/10, and stage IV--0/2. Serious side effects and toxicities of chemotherapy occurred in ten patients (metabolic disturbances after rapid tumor lysis, two; infectious and/or febrile episodes following cyclophosphamide therapy, three; methotrexate side effects, four; and complications of intrathecal therapy, one). Results of this therapy are similar to those of the best regimens that have been reported. Treatment has been adapted for use in Burkitt's lymphoma by the Pediatric Oncology Group; the responsiveness of other B cell lymphomas of childhood to this treatment is also being determined.
Childhood pneumonia: the role of viruses
Authors: H J Zar, F P Polack
Journal: Thorax (2015)

The development and availability of improved vaccines, particularly the pneumococcal (PCV) and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines have substantially reduced the incidence of childhood pneumonia and severe pneumonia associated with these pathogens over the last decade.1 However, despite a declining pneumonia incidence and high rates of immunisation, pneumonia remains the leading cause of childhood mortality globally and a major cause of hospitalisation.2

Defining the aetiology of pneumonia has become crucial to develop appropriate management strategies, and guide development of new vaccines. Further, the development of better methods for specimen collection and of molecular diagnostics has provided more sensitive techniques to define potential aetiological agents.3 However, assigning aetiology may be challenging as it can be difficult to distinguish colonising from pathogenic organisms in respiratory specimens, blood culture rarely is positive and pneumonia, especially severe disease, may frequently be due to multiple copathogens.

In this issue of Thorax , Rhedin and colleagues report the association of viral pathogens and radiological pneumonia in Swedish children (median age 21 months) using a matched case–control study conducted over three winter seasons.4 PCV immunisation was well established before the study began. Healthy control children were randomly selected during routine visits; aetiological diagnosis was investigated using a quantitative PCR assay for 15 viruses performed on nasopharyngeal aspirates. There are several notable findings. First, viruses were detected in >80% of cases and in approximately 60% of controls. Second, in multivariate analysis, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (adjusted OR (aOR) 21.3), influenza virus (aOR 13.8) or human metapneumovirus (hMPV) (aOR 14.9) were most strongly associated with pneumonia, with RSV being most commonly detected. …
Diagnosis of Nosocomial Pneumonia in Mechanically Ventilated Patients
Authors: PATRICK GERBEAUX, VERONIQUE LEDORAY, ALAIN BOUSSUGES, FLORENCE MOLENAT, PHILIPPE JEAN, JEAN-MARIE SAINTY
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1998)

The repeatability of the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was assessed prospectively in 44 mechanically ventilated patients with suspected nosocomial pneumonia. Two BAL were performed in the same lung area (contiguous segment) during two fibroscopic procedures performed with a thirty minute interval. All the bronchoscopies were performed by the same operator. The statistical analysis looked out for bias (MacNemar test), agreement, and repeatability (kappa test). In the 44 patients studied, the qualitative repeatability (i.e., presence or absence of bacteria) was excellent (95.4%). However, in the 16 patients having at least one positive culture, these results were more controversial. The quantitative repeatability for bacteria (same log10 for both BAL of the same patient) was the lowest of all the results (26.7%). The distinction between presence and absence of bacterial pneumonia (based on the 104 cfu / ml threshold) showed a repeatability of 75% with no bias, an agreement of 47% and a just-significant kappa test (test = 1.97; p = 1.96 for a 5% risk error). BAL seems to have excellent repeatability when sterile. Its repeatability when positive needs further studies to be assessed.
Nonlinear Optics: NIR-Triggered Drug Delivery by Collagen-Mediated Second Harmonic Generation (Adv. Healthcare Mater. 8/2015)
Authors: Aoune Barhoumi, Borja Salvador-Culla, Daniel S. Kohane
Journal: Advanced Healthcare Materials (2015)

In the study presented by D. S. Kohane and co-workers on page 1159, fluorescein molecules are initially bound to collagen fibers through UV-sensitive bonds. Collagen fibers are exposed to NIR light, which is upconverted to UV light through second harmonic generation. The UV-sensitive bonds absorb the upconverted UV light and undergo an irreversible cleavage releasing the fluorescein molecules.
Distribution of 5-Fluorouracil-2-14 C and Its Metabolites in a Murine Glioma2
Authors: Victor A. Levin, Marjory Chadwick
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1972)

The uptake and distribution of 5-fluorouracil-2-14C (FU) and its metabolites were determined in normal brain and an intracerebral glioma of C57BL/6 mice during maintenance of a steady-state concentration of FU in plasma. After 1 hour, FU reached a concentration in tumor approximately 11 times that in normal brain. 5-Fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-monophesphate (FdUMP), believed to be the chemotherapeutically active metabolite, was identified in intracerebral tumor.
Disturbance of airway patency is accompanied by a decrease of exhaled breath temperature in asthmatics
Authors: Juliy M. Perelman, Anna G. Prikhodko, Nelly M. Smirnova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Introduction: Allergy in asthmatics is accompanied with the increase of exhaled breath temperature. The correlation of this parameter with airway patency is known little about.

Aim: To study the correlation between bronchi patency and exhaled breath temperature in patients with bronchial asthma.

Methods: The exhaled breath temperature (ToC) during quiet breathing using a device «X-halo» (Delmedica Investments Pte Ltd), lung function (FEV1, FEV1/FVC) and the level of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) were studied in 82 patients with bronchial asthma (the mean age 35.0±1.1 years).

Results: The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of airway patency impairment or its absence (FEV1 80.8±2.69 and 108.3±2.09%; p<0.001; FEV1/FVC 68.3±1.37 and 77.8±1.23%; p<0.001, respectively). In the group of patients with airway patency impairment there were a significant decrease of exhaled breath temperature (34.0±0.14°C) and the increase of H2O2 level (1.18±0.08nmole/ml) in EBC in comparison with the group of patients without lung function changes (34.5±0.14°C; p<0.05; 0.89±0.08 nmole/ml; p<0.05, respectively). There was found the correlation between the exhaled breath temperature and FEV1 (r=0.22; p<0.05) and the bronchodilation response to β2-agonist (ΔFEV1, r=-0.41; p<0.01), as well as between the level of H2O2 in EBC and FEV1 (r=-0.64; p<0.01).

Conclusion: The decrease of exhaled breath temperature in asthmatics is associated with the disturbance of bronchial patency and reversibility of bronchial obstruction.
Baseline exhaled NO in relation to asthma control improvement after increased dose of inhaled steroids - A real-life study
Authors: Andrei Malinovschi, Alain Michils, Sébastien Michiels, Alain Van Muylem
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is a marker of airways inflammation. The ATS clinical guidelines suggest that FeNO > 50 ppb indicate need of stepping-up treatment, but no clear recommendations exist for lower FeNO levels. Therefore we studied, in a real-life setting, the predictive value of FeNO for an improvement of asthma control when stepping up inhaled corticosteroids (ICS).  Decision, according to GINA guidelines, to step up ICS was made in 135 (73 women) non-smoking, steroid-treated asthmatics, aged 46 years (range 18-85). FeNO and asthma control (ACQ) were measured at baseline and follow-up (median 98 days). Subjects were grouped upon baseline FeNO in: low (L) (≤25 ppb, n=49), intermediate (I) (>25 and ≤50 ppb, n=46) and high (H) FeNO (>50 ppb, n=40). A sub-analysis was done in subjects who responded by decreasing airway inflammation (FeNO) upon stepping-up ICS (n=73).  Similar ICS doses at baseline (p=0.30) and similar dose increases (p=0.24) were prescribed in all three groups. A clinical improvement of ACQ (≥0.5) was more prevalent in I and H (p  In conclusion, both subjects with intermediate and high FeNO are likely to improve their asthma control when stepping-up treatment. Only one in five subjects with low FeNO further improved asthma control after intensified treatment.
Gene polymorphism could be a useful prognostic tool in patients with work-related chronic bronchitis
Authors: Sergei Lalikov, Sivakov Alexander, Rybina Tatyana, Elena Amelchenko, Natalya Saevich, Oksana Omelyanenko, Treshkova Tatyana
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Objective:  Study aimed to assess gene polymorphism for the prognosis of the work-related chronic bronchitis.   Methods:  63 patients with work-related chronic bronchitis were enrolled to the study. Control group included 20 healthy comparable male volunteers without occupational hazards.Study participants were genotyped on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) gene - G(-308)A and G(-238)A, IL-8 gene (A(-252)T), proteintyrozinephosphatase 22 (PTP 22) gene(R620W), microsomal epoxidhydrolase gene (T337C and A416G). Spirometry, CAT questionnaire data were analyzed.   Results:  TNF- α gene polymorphism revealed that heterozygous type was most frequent. IL-8 gene heterozygotes A(-252)T carriers revealed higher IL-6 values vs the homozygotes AA and TT (Kruskal-Wallis test: H=5,34; p=0,07).Respiratory failure was the rare complication in proteintyrozinephosphatase 22 gene(R620W) heterozygotes (Chi-Square=6,12, p   Conclusions:  PTP22 gene polymorphism assessement could be a useful tool for the prognosis of the work-related chronic bronchitis onset and risk of respiratory failure development. PTP 22 heterozygotes are the risk group for the work-related chronic bronchitis development.
Detection of the t(14;18) chromosomal translocation by interphase cytogenetics with yeast-artificial-chromosome probes in follicular lymphoma and nonneoplastic lymphoproliferation.
Authors: M Poetsch, K Weber-Matthiesen, H J Plendl, W Grote, B Schlegelberger
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1996)

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to establish a fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique for the detection of t(14;18)(q32;q21), characteristic for follicular lymphoma (Kiel classification: centroblastic centrocytic [cb-cc] lymphoma). MATERIALS AND METHODS After the FISH system had been established, parallel studies of lymph node biopsy specimens from 30 patients with cb-cc lymphoma and from 32 patients with nonneoplastic lymphoproliferation were performed by means of chromosome analysis, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and FISH analysis. Two differently labeled yeast-artificial-chromosome (YAC) probes that contained the entire bcl-2 gene and the C-region of the immunoglobulin H (IgH) gene, respectively, were used to detect t(14;18) by FISH. RESULTS The presence of the translocation is indicated by a red (Cy3)/green (fluorescien isothiocyanate [FITC]) double signal, which corresponds to the IgH/bcl-2 fusion gene, whereas in normal cells the signals are separate. Control studies showed that the double signal is visible in less than 1% of normal cells. FISH analysis was able to identify the t(14;18) in all cases of cb-cc lymphoma we studied. All bcl-2 breakpoints can be detected. Combined immunophenotyping and interphase cytogenetics demonstrated that t(14;18) was restricted to CD22+ B lymphocytes and never occurred in CD3+ T lymphocytes. In four of 32 cases of nonneoplastic lymphoproliferation, t(14;18) was also detected. CONCLUSION FISH turned out to be the most sensitive method to detect t(14;18). Our FISH results confirm PCR data from other groups that found evidence for the presence of t(14;18) in nonneoplastic lymphoproliferation. It needs to be determined whether, in morphologically nonneoplastic processes, t(14;18) is associated with an increased risk for the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
The role of inflamatory markers in obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Biljana Lazovic, Nada Bogdanovic
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

BACKGROUND: Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are characterised by airway and systemic inflammation, but little is known about differences and similarities in inflammatory markers in patients with obstructive airways disease.

METHODS: In 320 adult outpatients serum level of leucocytes, neutorcytes, blood eosinophils, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen were measured.

RESULTS: hs-CRP levels were increased in COPD patients as well as fibrinogen (p<0.01, p =0.03 respectively), whereas eosinophils were increased in patients with asthma (p=0.04). There was no difference in leucocytes, neutorcytes. In the ROC analysis, hs-CRP and fibrinogen had the largest area under the curve (AUC=0.651; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.552 to 0.749), with a specifity of 83% and a sensitivity of 42% for the diagnosis of COPD. Serum levels of fibrinogen correlated with the number of smoking pack-years (r=0.218, p=0.001) and inversely with lung function parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of serum hs-CRP, fibrinogen, blood eosinophils, could identify distinct aspects of local and systemic inflammation in patients with obstructive airways disease. This might help to differentiate between asthma and COPD in primary care patients when spirometry is not available.