tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
The effect of concomitant COPD on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome severity and sleep structure
Authors: Ali Fidan, Banu Salepçi, Nesrin Kiral, Elif Torun, Sevda Cömert, Gülsen Saraç, Aslihan Altin, Benan Çaglayan
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Aim:  To investigate the effect of concomitant chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) severity and sleep structure   Material and Method:  The files of 874 OSAS patients diagnosed in our sleep laboratory between January 2005 – January 2010 were retrospectively analysed. Polysomnography was performed with Sleep Screen - Viasys device and scorring was done according to the criteria of Rech-Schaffen Kales. Chi-square and student9s t-test was used in statistical analysis.   Results:  Of 874 OSAS cases, mean age was 49.1±10.7 and 602 (68.9%) were male, 272 (31.1%) were female. The severity of OSAS was mild in 235 (26.9%), moderate in 224 (25.6%) and severe in 415 (47.5%). In 91 (10.4%) patients there was Overlap Syndrome (OSAS+COPD). Overlap Syndrome (OS) was seen 12.5% of male patients while OS was in only 4.4% of female patients (p 0.05). Mean age of OS patients was significantly higher when compared to pure OSAS patients (53.6 vs. 48.7; p   Conclusion:  COPD has no effect on OSAS severity and sleep structure. COPD is more frequent in male and older OSAS patients as if in community.
Paediatrics in Vienna
Authors: Fabio Midulla, Enrico Lombardi, Karin C. Lødrup Carlsen, Nicolas Regamey, Jonathan Grigg, Robert I. Ross Russell, Steve W. Turner, Kostas Priftis, Ernst Eber
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

The aim of this update is to describe, in the context of the current literature, major papers from the seven groups of the Paediatric Assembly (Respiratory Physiology; Asthma and Allergy; Cystic Fibrosis; Respiratory Infection and Immunology; Neonatology and Paediatric Intensive Care; Respiratory Epidemiology; and Bronchology) presented during the annual European Respiratory Society congress held in 2012 in Vienna, Austria.
Hemodynamic assessment of pulmonary hypertension in corrected versus non-corrected grown-up congenital heart disease
Authors: Mario Gerges, Christian Gerges, Marie Beatrice Lang, Harald Gabriel, Irene Lang
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

PURPOSE: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) is thought to result from persistent exposure of the pulmonary vasculature to increased blood flow of systemic-to-pulmonary shunts, and comprises a typical pulmonary arteriopathy in association with biventricular heart failure. Endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated in individuals with congenital heart disease both before and after surgery.  METHODS: 3107 right and left heart catheterizations were analyzed. Diagnoses were validated on the grounds of patient histories, imaging, clinical data and patho-anatomic evidence (2369 complete data sets). 241 data sets were from patients with CHD.  RESULTS: Our database showed pre-tricuspid defects in 162 patients, post-tricuspid defects in 36 patients and complex lesions in 43 patients. 44 patients with CHD had undergone any correction. PH was observed in 27 patients with a correction status and in 22 patients with non-corrected CHD. Mean survival of “corrected” patients with PH (7.3 years) was worse than in “non-corrected” patients PH (11.4 years; p=0.009). There was a significant difference in age (p=0.05), mixed venous saturation (SvO2) (p=0.01), diastolic pulmonary artery pressure (dPAP) (p=0.018) and mean pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (mPCWP) (p=0.006) between “corrected” patients with PH and PH patients who did not undergo surgical or interventional correction.  CONCLUSION: In an analysis accounting for confounders, grown-up patients with PH due to CHD after any corrective procedure show a worse survival than similar patients without correction.
Respiratory muscle function during and after a severe exacerbation of COPD – Preliminary results
Authors: Rafael Barreto de Mesquita, Isabel Cristina Hilgert Genz, Letícia de Castro, Nidia Aparecida Hernandes, Vanessa Suziane Probst, Fábio Pitta
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  It is known that peripheral muscle function (especially the quadriceps muscle function) is markedly reduced during the course of a severe exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the function of the respiratory muscles has not been studied in depth in the same context.   Objectives:  To investigate the respiratory muscle function during and after a severe exacerbation of COPD requiring hospitalization.   Methods:  Twelve patients with COPD (7 male, 68±14 years, forced expiratory volume in the first second [FEV 1 ] 37±22%pred) hospitalized due to an acute exacerbation of COPD were studied. Inspiratory and expiratory muscle strenght (PImax and PEmax, respectively) were assessed at day 1 and day 3 of hospitalization and at hospital discharge, as well as at 1 month after discharge (1MD). Lung function was assessed at day 1, at discharge and at 1MD.   Results:  PImax was significantly reduced at day 1, day 3 and at discharge in comparison to 1MD (p 2  assessed at day 1 (r=0.75).   Conclusions:  These preliminary data suggest that the respiratory muscle function is markedly reduced at the onset of a severe exacerbation of COPD. However, unlike the quadriceps muscle, respiratory muscles markedly improve their function during the hospitalization period and during the following month.
Artery Tertiary Lymphoid Organs Control Aorta Immunity and Protect against Atherosclerosis via Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Lymphotoxin β Receptors
Authors: Desheng Hu, Sarajo K. Mohanta, Changjun Yin, Li Peng, Zhe Ma, Prasad Srikakulapu, Gianluca Grassia, Neil MacRitchie, Gary Dever, Peter Gordon, Francis L. Burton, Armando Ialenti, Suleman R. Sabir, Iain B. McInnes, James M. Brewer, Paul Garside, Christian Weber, Thomas Lehmann, Daniel Teupser, Livia Habenicht, Michael Beer, Rolf Grabner, Pasquale Maffia, Falk Weih, Andreas J.R. Habenicht
Journal: Immunity (2015)

Tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) emerge during nonresolving peripheral inflammation, but their impact on disease progression remains unknown. We have found in aged Apoe(-/-) mice that artery TLOs (ATLOs) controlled highly territorialized aorta T cell responses. ATLOs promoted T cell recruitment, primed CD4(+) T cells, generated CD4(+), CD8(+), T regulatory (Treg) effector and central memory cells, converted naive CD4(+) T cells into induced Treg cells, and presented antigen by an unusual set of dendritic cells and B cells. Meanwhile, vascular smooth muscle cell lymphotoxin β receptors (VSMC-LTβRs) protected against atherosclerosis by maintaining structure, cellularity, and size of ATLOs though VSMC-LTβRs did not affect secondary lymphoid organs: Atherosclerosis was markedly exacerbated in Apoe(-/-)Ltbr(-/-) and to a similar extent in aged Apoe(-/-)Ltbr(fl/fl)Tagln-cre mice. These data support the conclusion that the immune system employs ATLOs to organize aorta T cell homeostasis during aging and that VSMC-LTβRs participate in atherosclerosis protection via ATLOs.
Microsatellite instability (MSI) in stage II and III colon cancer treated with 5FU-LV or 5FU-LV and irinotecan (PETACC 3-EORTC 40993-SAKK 60/00 trial)
Authors: S. Tejpar, F. Bosman, M. Delorenzi, R. Fiocca, P. Yan, D. Klingbiel, D. Dietrich, E. Van Cutsem, R. Labianca, A. Roth
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2009)

4001 Background: Patients with high MSI (MSI H) tumors are increasingly being recognized as a prognostic and predictive subgroup in colon cancer (COC). We investigated the incidence of MSI-H in stage II (n=395) and stage III (n=859) COC, its association with histopathological variables and its prognostic and predictive impact. Methods: The study accrued 3278 patients with Stage II and Stage III COC to receive post-operative 5-FU -LV with or without irinotecan (IRI). Paraffin tissue blocks of 1327/1405 available patients were successfully analyzed for MSI status using the NCI extended panel of 10 markers. MSI-H was defined as instability in ≥3 markers. Relapse Free Survival (RFS) and Overall Survival (OS, median follow up 68 months) were assessed. Results: MSI H was present in 22% (85) of Stage II and 12% (103)of Stage III colon cancer . MSI H status was significantly associated with age &lt;60, higher T stage, higher grade, lower N stage and right sided tumor location. The table presents univariate RFS and OS hazard rates (with 95% confidence intervals) for prognostic and predictive impact per stage and arm, estimated by a survival regression analysis using Cox proportional hazards model and of selected P values by Wald tests. Conclusions: Microsatellite instability is a strong prognostic factor for RFS and OS when considering Stage II and Stage III COC. Subgroup analysis suggests a stronger effect in Stage II than in Stage III, but is limited by sample size and multiple testing. Taken together with differences in incidence between the stages, this may suggest stage specific biological effects of MSI. In contrast to previous reports (a) in Stage II the prognostic effect of MSI remained significant even in pts treated with 5FU (w/o IRI),(b) There is no evidence for an effect of the addition of IRI. [Table: see text] [Table: see text]
Increasing frequency of pulmonary nontuberculous mycobacteria (pNTM), and accumulation of the patients, observed in a city hospital in Tokyo
Authors: Kozo Morimoto, Takashi Yoshiyama, Hideo Ogata, Atsuyuki Kurashima, Shoji Kudoh, Kazuro Iwai
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Introduction:  There are many papers reporting that the prevalence of pNTM is increasing especially in developed countries including Japan. However, there were few articles that discuss yearly accumulation of the patients. We planed to elucidate the frequency of NTM isolation and also the accumulation of pNTM patients in a center hospital of mycobacteriosis in Tokyo area.   Methods:  Initially, we reviewed all kinds of pulmonary mycobacteria isolation from January 2004 to December 2009, based upon the laboratory database with clinical chart. When multiple isolates were detected, species identification was performed for one species per patient per year. Next, we investigated, on the 2009 patients, the initial year of MAC diagnosis during the past 20 years.Thirdly, we followed the course of 2004 MAC patients up to 2009, speculating the yearly accumulation of the disease.   Results:  From laboratory data, the yearly number of all NTM isolation increased from 353 in 2004 to 488 in 2009 (mean annual increase,5.9%), and of MAC from 291 to 418 (increase,6.8%). Proportion of MAC to all NTM showed a constant value of 81.4%, indicating that increase was due to an increase of MAC. From clinical data, many of MAC patients in 2009 had an initial diagnosis of MAC during the period from 1978 to 2008. Follow up analysis on the cases found in 2004 and having yearly bacteriological examination, showed over half of the positive MAC patients in 2004, were still culture positive in 2009. MAC- related death was observed on 8 cases among the total 99 cases in 2004.   Conclusion:  An accumulation of MAC patients in recent years was likely to occur in Tokyo, Japan.
Inhalation of exhaust particles of biodiesel fuel promotes similar alterations on heart rate variability induced by diesel fuel
Authors: Mariangela Macchione, Jôse Mára Brito, Guilherme Cavalheiro, Kelly Yoshizaki, Eliane Guimarães, Ana Julia Lichtenfels, Paulo Andre, Dolores Rivero, Paulo Saldiva
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Epidemiological studies link short-term exposures to urban traffic-related particles with adverse cardiovascular events. Diesel engine exhaust contributes to urban ambient particulate matter (PM) and gaseous pollutants. However, biodiesel is a clean fuel that reduces particles emission and few studies assess its effects. The objectives were to assess heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure (BP) on 60 Balb/C mice exposed to filtered air (FA) and two doses (600 and 1200 µg/m 3 ) of both diesel (D) and biodiesel (BD) fuels.HRV (time and frequency domain), HR and BP parameters were collected after 30 minutes of exposure. There were an increase in mean concentration of the pollutants on biodiesel exhaust compared to diesel: NO (FA- 4 µg/m 3 , B600- 89 µg/m 3 , B1200- 92 µg/m 3 , D600- 20 µg/m 3 , and D1200- 91 µg/m 3 ) and NO 2  (FA- no detectable, B600- 118 µg/m 3 , B1200- 144 µg/m 3 , D600- 31 µg/m 3 , and D1200- 97 µg/m 3 ). The HRV results obtained at 600 µg/m 3  showed an increase on SDNN (p 3 showed an increase on SDNN (p
Reduction of physical activity in daily life and its determinants in smokers without airflow obstruction
Authors: Karina C. Furlanetto, Leandro C. Mantoani, Gianna W. Bisca, Andrea A. Morita, Juliana Zabatiero, Mahara Proenca, Demetria Kovelis, Fabio Pitta
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Background: Detailed, objective and controlled quantification of the level of physical inactivity in daily life in smokers without airflow obstruction was never performed. This study aimed to objectively assess and characterize the level of physical activity in daily life in adult smokers without airflow obstruction in comparison to a matched sample of non-smokers, as well as to investigate its determinants. Methods: Sixty smokers (50[39-54] years) and 50 non-smokers (48[40-53] years) matched for confounders of physical activity were cross-sectionally evaluated regarding functional exercise capacity (6-minute walking test, 6MWT), lung function (spirometry), quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire), anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), depression (Beck Depression Inventory), and objective assessment of daily physical activity (pedometer Yamax Digiwalker SW-200). Results: Despite presenting lung function within the normal limits, smokers walk less in daily life than non-smokers (7923±3558 vs 9553±3637 steps/day, respectively), besides presenting also worse 6MWT, quality of life, anxiety and depression (P
Endoscopic ultrasound in the evaluation of gastric small lymphocytic mucosa-associated lymphoid tumors.
Authors: A C Pavlick, H Gerdes, C S Portlock
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1997)

PURPOSE Low-grade, small lymphocytic lymphomas of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) have recently been shown to be associated with Helicobacter pylori infections. Regression of these tumors has been reported with antibiotic therapy. Here we evaluate endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) as on objective method to evaluate pretreatment disease and posttherapy response. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients initially diagnosed elsewhere with MALT lymphoma. All patients had their initial endoscopic biopsies (EGDs) reviewed at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). All patients had EUS performed at the time of consultation and on completion of therapy if treated at our center. Antral biopsies were stained with a modified Steiner preparation to determine infection by H pylori. RESULTS Gastric low-grade lymphoma was confirmed in 16 of 20 patients; 11 of 16 had previously received antibiotic therapy for biopsy-positive H pylori infection. All gastric lymphomas had an abnormal EUS: eight with discrete tumor masses and eight with gastric wall infiltration (submucosa, n = 4; muscularis propria, n = 3; serosa, n = 1). On completion of lymphoma treatment with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery, 11 of 16 patients underwent follow-up EUS. Five patients received care elsewhere and did not return for posttreatment EUS. The gastric wall was normal with no evidence of disease on EUS-guided biopsy in eight of 11 patients. The remaining three patients had abnormal gastric walls. One was biopsy-negative and two had residual lymphoma. Four patients were found to have benign lymphoid aggregates in association with H pylori on initial EGD and EUS biopsies. All four patients were previously untreated with antibiotics. EUS showed prominent mucosa, but no significant findings within the gastric wall. CONCLUSION EUS appears useful to stage objectively and evaluate therapeutic outcome in the management of gastric, low-grade MALT lymphomas. It also helps to distinguish benign lymphoid aggregates from lymphoma associated with H pylori infection. EUS findings may have a significant impact on assessment and therapeutic recommendations.
Duplex scanning of cerebral vessels in patients with chronic smoking
Authors: Vera Nevzorova, Natalia Zaharchuk, Elena Gonchar, Natalia Sarafanova
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

47 smokers were divided into two groups and examined. The first group included 34 people with COPD stage I-III, the average age of 59.3, with smoking duration of 35.6 years, smoking index (SI) is 311.3. The second group comprised 13 smokers without COPD with an average age of 50 years, smoking duration 22.5 years, SI 240.The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery (CA) and the average flow velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) were estimated with help by transcranial duplex sonography. It was found that the IMT of CA was significantly higher in patients with COPD (1.24 and 1.0, p  0,5). However, an increased mean blood flow velocity of 180 cm/ s due to the presence of hemodynamic CA stenosis was showed in patients with COPD stage III. So, all smoking patients have signs of carotid atherosclerosis. With COPD progression, a higher rate of occurrence of plaque formation and progression of atherosclerosis until the development of hemodynamically significant stenoses in stage III was found. In patients without COPD and COPD I-II the mean blood flow velocity in the MCA is reduced. In stage III COPD the increased men speed in the MCA is caused by compensation.
Use of breast-conserving surgery for treatment of stage I and stage II breast cancer.
Authors: E Guadagnoli, J C Weeks, C L Shapiro, J H Gurwitz, C Borbas, S B Soumerai
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1998)

PURPOSE To assess the use of breast-conserving surgery in two states reported to differ with respect to surgical treatment of breast cancer. METHODS A retrospective cohort study based on data collected from medical records and patients was performed among 1,514 patients diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in Massachusetts and 1,061 patients in Minnesota. Patients were identified at 18 randomly selected hospitals in Massachusetts and at 30 hospitals in Minnesota. The rate of breast-conserving surgery in both states and the correlates of breast-conserving surgery among women eligible for the procedure were determined. RESULTS The rate of breast-conserving surgery in both states was much higher than previously reported. Among those eligible for the procedure, nearly 75% underwent breast-conserving surgery in Massachusetts and nearly half did so in Minnesota. Significantly (P &lt; .003) more women who underwent mastectomy in Minnesota (27%) than in Massachusetts (15%) reported that their surgeon did not discuss breast-conserving surgery with them. Among women who underwent mastectomy and who reported being informed of both surgical alternatives, more women (P &lt; .001) in Minnesota (74%) than in Massachusetts (62%) said they ultimately chose mastectomy because their surgeon recommended it. In Massachusetts, women treated at teaching hospitals were twice as likely as other women to undergo breast-conserving surgery. In Minnesota, women over age 70 and those who lived in rural areas were less likely than other women to undergo breast-conserving surgery. CONCLUSION Although the rate of breast-conserving surgery in each state was higher than expected based on earlier reports, the rates differed considerably between states. Additional studies are needed to determine whether variation in practice between geographic areas is due to differences in patients' preferences and values or to surgeons' propensity for one type of surgery based on where they practice.
Second central nervous system prophylaxis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who relapse after elective cessation of therapy.
Authors: G Rivera, S L George, W P Bowman, D Kalwinsky, J Ochs, G V Dahl, H O Hustu, J V Simone
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1983)

A treatment plan to achieve better disease control in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) who relapse after elective cessation of therapy was assessed. The principal modifications were (1) a second preventive treatment of the central nervous system (CNS) at relapse and every six weeks throughout therapy, using intrathecal methotrexate with cytosine arabinoside, and (2) a four-week course of systemic chemotherapy given immediately before therapy was stopped a second time. Twenty-four patients were studied. There have been no meningeal relapses, in contrast to seven among 16 similar patients who were retreated without CNS prophylaxis. Although the median length of second hematologic remission was not significantly different from the outcome in the comparison group, a much higher proportion of patients (eight of 24 versus zero of 17) remain in prolonged reinduced complete remission (48-79 months). Children whose first relapse occurred later than six months after cessation of therapy had significantly longer subsequent remissions. These end results establish the value of intrathecal CNS prophylaxis in relapsed ALL and suggest that a late intensive phase of therapy will extend remissions in a substantial proportion of patients.
NT-proBNP, troponin T and left ventricular function in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Mitja Lainscak, Robert Marcun, Alan Sustic, Pika Mesko Brguljan, Mitja Kosnik, Sasa Kadivec, Jerneja Farkas
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Purpose. Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have unrecognized left ventricular dysfunction. We aimed to investigate relation between NT-proBNP, troponin T (TnT), and left ventricular function in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD.  Methods. We prospectively included patients hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD. Complete pulmonary assessment and echocariodgraphy were performed and we measured NT-proBNP and troponin T at admission, discharge, and 7-10 days after discharge.  Results. We included 127 patients (70±10 years, 70% men, GOLD III/IV 87%). Left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) was recorded in 70 (55%) patients. NT-proBNP was higher in patients with LVD but decreased significantly from admission to discharge in patients with and without LVD.  (p  Conclusions. LVD is common in patients with acute exacerbation of COPD. NT-proBNP and TnT dynamics suggest clinically relevant implications of cardiac (dys)function with potential to identify cardiac triggers of clinical deterioration.
Novel West Nile virus lineage 1a full genome sequences from human cases of infection in north-eastern Italy, 2011
Authors: L. Barzon, M. Pacenti, E. Franchin, L. Squarzon, E. Lavezzo, S. Toppo, T. Martello, M. Cattai, R. Cusinato, G. Palù
Journal: Clinical Microbiology and Infection (2012)

During 2008-2009, several human cases of WNV disease caused by an endemic lineage 1a strain were reported in areas surrounding the Po river in north-eastern Italy. Since 2010, cases have been recorded in nearby northern areas, where, in 2011, both lineage 1a and 2 were detected. We describe here two new WNV complete genome sequences from human cases of WNV infection occurring in 2011 in the Veneto Region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that both genome sequences belonged to lineage 1a and were related to WNV strains of the Western Mediterranean subtype. The novel WNV genomes had high nucleotide and amino acid sequence divergence from each other and from the WNV strain circulating in Italy in 2008-2009. The presence of different WNV strains in a relatively small geographical area is a novel finding with unpredictable impact on human disease that requires further investigation.