tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Monitoring cytokeratin19 (<i>KRT19</i>) levels as response of circulating tumor cells (CTC) to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in breast cancer (BC).
Authors: AL Guerrero-Zotano, M Garcia-Casado, A Fernandez-Serra, J Lopez-Guerrero, J Gavila, M Climent, A Ruiz, V Guillem
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Abstract Abstract #5022 Background: KRT19 mRNA+ cells before the initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy has been shown as an independent prognostic factor for disease recurrence in patients with early BC. Its usefulness for monitoring response to NAC it is not clear. We have studied changes in KRT19 levels during NAC and correlated it with response. Material and Methods: We analyzed a prospective series of 70 BC patients treated with NAQ. Stage II (45%), Stage III (55%), HR negative (43%), HER-2 positive (42%). Treatment was based on sequential anthracyclines and taxanes. Trastuzumab was given concomitant in HER2 disease. KRT19 level expression was measured from lymphocytes of peripheral blood using a quantitative RT-PCR. The analysis was performed at diagnosis (baseline), before taxane administration, at the end of NAC, and after surgery. On the other hand, 27 healthy donors and 18 metastasic BC patients were also analyzed in order to determine a cut-off value for CTC positivity according to receiver operating characteristics [ROC] analysis. Association between variables was performed by Pearson's Chi-squared and Fisher's tests. Results: We observed a differential rate in KRT19 expression, between the control and the metastasic series being higher in the last group (U-Mann-Withney test, p=0.010). According to the selected cut-off value (AUC 0.272; p=0.010), we detected CTC in 46/70 (65.7%) patients at baseline, 22/40 (55%) prior to taxane administration, 36/50 (72%) at the end of NAC and 13/17 (76.5%) after surgery.Forty out of 57 patients (70.2%) responded to NAC(15 CR and 25 PR). Decreased in CTCs levels during treatment wasn't associated with response, on the contrary, residual CTCs were detected after surgery in all those cases that responded (p=0.005). The presence of CTCs after completion of chemotherapy, previous to surgery, was inversely related to tumor stage (p=0.012). Negative tumors for HER2 and tumors with high levels of ER expression maintain the CTC levels detected at diagnosis (p=0.044 and p=0.057 respectively). DISCUSSION: We weren't able to find a correlation between response and decrease in CTCs levels. The presence of residual CTCs in responding cases could suggest a release of tumor cells into blood by NAQ and surgery The prognostic factor of residual CTCs needs to be addressed with longer follow up, and taking into account the effect of others therapies. This study is financed by the grant GVA07/130. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 5022.
A Speaker's Lament
Authors: Jean Spencer Felton
Journal: JAMA (1983)

Since continuing medical education (CME), in any of its many formats, has been mandated for many physicians in their retention of board certification or licensure, most medical centers—university or hospital based—have made lectures by their own staff members or by visiting faculty available to their staffs. Having been closely affixed to many lecterns in over four decades of addressing medical and mixed audiences, I have experienced certain disconcerting occurrences that could easily have been averted. While physicians giving public addresses often enjoy the sharing of knowledge, teaching can be carried out most effectively only after there has been adequate preparation, including preliminary discussion with the person who will introduce the speaker. To avoid some of the glitches that often arise, I suggest the following checklist for caring for a visiting speaker: Invite the prospective speaker initially by telephone to establish a date and time convenient to both the guest
266 INFLUENCE OF BOSENTAN ON LIVER MICROCIRCULATION IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MOUSE MODEL OF CIRRHOSIS STUDIED BY INTRAVITAL MICROSCOPY
Authors: E. Vanheule, F. de Clerck, C. Van Steenkiste, A.M. Geerts, H. Van Vlierberghe, M. De Vos, I. Colle
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2008)
Surgical footwear: a survey of prescribing consultants.
Authors: M. Lord, J. Foulston
Journal: BMJ (1989)

had a history of hepatitis; and, secondly, in the three cases of infection not transmitted by transfusion all the donors were negative for hepatitis B core antibody.Blood donations are accepted by the National Blood Transfusion Service 12 months after an episode of jaundice or hepatitis in the donor so long as testing for hepatitis B surface antigen yields negative results.In the light of our findings and recent legislation relating to product liability we believe that this policy should be reassessed and that consideration should be given to testing such donors for hepatitis B core antibody and excluding them if they are found to be positive.
Revascularization Still the Goal, Strategy Differs as Cardiologists Consider Clinical Trial Results
Authors: Marsha F. Goldsmith
Journal: JAMA (1993)

BEWARE! said cardiologists concerned with atherosclerosis and restenosis at the 65th scientific sessions of the American Heart Association, held in New Orleans, La. Actually, they said it in Latin: CAVEAT (the acronym for Coronary Angioplasty vs Excisional Atherectomy Trial). "An explanation to prevent misinterpretation" is Webster's second definition of<i>caveat</i>, and that's exactly what the researchers hoped to gain from "the first randomized trials ever to compare one new technology with another," as the study was called by Robert Califf, MD, director, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC. Califf is one of the physicians who took part in the trial. <h3>PTCA vs DCA</h3> The technologies that were pitted against one another at 35 sites—32 in the United States and one each in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands— are percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and directional coronary atherectomy (DCA). Simultaneously, a similar study was conducted in Canada.
Early detection of canine myocardial infarction by magnetic resonance imaging in vivo.
Authors: P W Pflugfelder, G Wisenberg, F S Prato, S E Carroll, K L Turner
Journal: Circulation (1985)

This study was undertaken to assess the ability of proton magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect myocardial ischemia shortly after coronary artery occlusion. Fifteen dogs were studied before and serially for up to 6 hr after anterior descending or circumflex coronary artery ligation in vivo by gated MRI with a 0.15 tesla resistive magnet (resonant frequency of hydrogen 6.25 MHz). Image acquisition was by single-spin echo, with echo times (TE) of 30 msec and TE 60 msec, and modified inversion recovery pulse sequences. Excellent anatomic definition was observed. By 4 hr after coronary artery occlusion the signal in the infarct zone increased to 36 +/- 20% greater than that in the adjacent normal myocardium for the TE 30 msec sequence (p less than .01) and to 116 +/- 100% for the TE 60 msec sequence (p less than .05). The most intense increase in signal was noted with the TE 60 msec pulse sequence and because normal myocardium is not well visualized by this technique, acutely ischemic myocardium was clearly delineated. Inversion recovery imaging did not show areas of ischemia. Changes seen on MR images correlated well with the location of ischemic changes noted on microscopic examination of the excised hearts. MRI thus provides a noninvasive means for detection of ischemia early in the course of myocardial infarction.
Abstract 417: Tax-interacting protein 1 (TIP-1) as one biomarker of invasive astrocytomas
Authors: Hailun Wang, Dennis Hallahan, Zhaozhong Han
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Abstract Despite the comparatively low incidence of astrocytomas to other human cancers, mortality rates of cancer patients with invasive astrocytomas are extremely high. Despite decades of therapeutic research, curative intervention is still nonexistent for high grade astrocytomas; patient care ultimately focuses on palliative management. Even with aggressive surgical, radio- and chemo- therapies, highly invasive astrocytomas have poor prognosis with an average survival time of 12 months. We intend to identify and characterize new biomarkers or molecular targets for effective diagnostics or therapeutics development. In our previous study of recombinant peptide for tumor imaging, we found that tumor xenografts formed with D54 glioma cells had relatively higher binding to HVGGSSV peptide than other tumor models. It was further elucidated that Tax-interacting protein 1 (TIP-1) contributes to the HVGGSSV peptide binding within tumors. Immunohistochemistry study of human brain tissues revealed significantly elevated expression of TIP-1 within astrocytomas, while compared to normal brain tissue or oligodendrogliomas that showed faint to negative staining of TIP-1. More interestingly, the highest expression of TIP-1 was found in glioblastoma multiforme, the highly invasive astrocytomas. To elucidate biological relevance of TIP-1 expression in invasive astrocytomas, human glioma cell line D54 was genetically engineered to have elevated or down-regulated expression of TIP-1. Tumorigenesis studies indicated that TIP-1 positively regulated tumor formation in nude mice. Knocking-down TIP-1 within D54 cells resulted in delayed tumor formation and decreased tumor growth rate. However, over-expression of TIP-1 within D54 cells lead to fast growing tumors in vivo, histological examination showed the TIP-1 over-expressing D54 tumors were sporadic with presence of necrotizing tissues surrounded by anaplatic cells, one characteristic of glioblastomas multiforme. In vitro characterization further demonstrated that the TIP-1 over-expressing cells had improved invasion capability, TIP-1 is dominantly expressed in invasion front of D54 cells. Biochemical studies indicated that the TIP-1 modulates cytoskeleton organization by interacting with multiple proteins. In summary, this study demonstrated that TIP-1 is one biomarker of invasive astrocytomas, and might be one potent molecular target for therapeutics development. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 417.
Access to cardiac rehabilitation varies widely across Europe
Authors: Robert Short
Journal: BMJ (2008)

Thousands of people throughout Europe are failing to receive cardiac rehabilitation for heart attack, heart failure, and other conditions, a survey of rehabilitation services across Europe has found. 

Birna Bjarnason-Wehrens presented the results of the first European cardiac rehabilitation inventory survey (CRIS) on behalf of the European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (EACPR) at EuroPRevent 2008 in Paris, France. So far, results have been obtained from 19 countries, but the association is hoping to obtain results from a total of 40.

Commenting …
Amyloid β protein immunotherapy neutralizes Aβ oligomers that disrupt synaptic plasticity in vivo
Authors: Igor Klyubin, Dominic M Walsh, Cynthia A Lemere, William K Cullen, Ganesh M Shankar, Vicki Betts, Edward T Spooner, Liying Jiang, Roger Anwyl, Dennis J Selkoe, Michael J Rowan
Journal: Nature Medicine (2005)
LACTIC ACID IN THE ORAL CAVITY
Authors: J. Lewis Blass
Journal: JAMA (1941)

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> W. D. Miller (<i>Arch. f. exper. Path. u. Pharmakol.</i><b>16</b>:291, 1882; The Micro-Organisms of the Human Mouth, Philadelphia, S. S. White Company, 1890) enunciated his chemicoparasitic theory of dental caries more than fifty years ago. He related dental decay to the production of acids resulting from the action of micro-organisms on carbohydrates. One of the acids stressed in this connection was lactic acid. While Miller and many others have made numerous in vitro experiments showing the production of acids by oral micro-organisms, it is only recently that such in vivo experiments have been performed. Miller and Neuwirth (<i>Dental Cosmos</i><b>77</b>:453 [May] 1935) showed that the continual sucking of hard candies resulted in tooth decalcification. They found that the hard candies were composed of practically pure sucrose. They postulated that the tooth decalcification resulted from the action of organic acids on the tooth, the organic acids
THE EFFECT OF INHALATION ANESTHESIA ON INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE
Authors: K. WINFIELD NEY
Journal: JAMA (1928)

The extensive research in recent years on the cerebrospinal fluid and its circulating system 1 has demontrated that ether, among certain other drugs, accelerates the formation of cerebrospinal fluid. Dixon and Halliburton 2 have shown that both ether and chloroform markedly increase the cerebrospinal fluid pressure. Whether this increase of pressure is due to an excessive formation of the fluid or to other factors remains to be determined. In clinical work I have repeatedly demonstrated an elevation of cerebrospinal fluid pressure attending inhalation anesthesia when induced by ether, chloroform or nitrous oxide. The elevation is probably most pronounced in the latter, and I believe that this is due to the elevation of intrathoracic pressure, which in turn produces cerebral venous stasis and diminished absorption of cerebrospinal fluid.  Many surgeons, in operating on patients with increased intracranial pressure, have observed the development of profound medullary disturbance apparently inaugurated by the anesthetic,
Flowcytometric analysis of basophil counts in human blood and inaccuracy of hematology analyzers
Authors: S. Ducrest, F. Meier, C. Tschopp, R. Pavlovic, C. A. Dahinden
Journal: Allergy (2005)

Background: Differential leukocyte counts are of proven clinical value, but information about basophil counts in normal and disease conditions is scarce although basophils are regarded as key effector cells in allergy. Aims: To establish and validate flowcytometric methods for counting basophils in peripheral human blood, to determine reference values, and to examine the accuracy of two widely used hematology analyzers. Methods: Basophils were measured in whole blood by flowcytometry after staining with antibodies against the IL‐3‐receptor (CD123) or the eotaxin‐receptor (CCR3) combined with other markers used for gating or validation purposes. Results: The basophil percentages in 95 healthy adults showed an excellent correlation between the two independent flowcytometric methods, demonstrating that both are accurate and precise. The most robust maker is CCR3, which seems to be sufficient to specifically identify basophils. Normal values of relative and absolute blood basophils counts were 0.22–1.28% and 0.014–0.087 G/L (95% reference intervals), respectively. Basophil counts measured with two hematology analyzers Coulter GEN‐S and ADVIA‐120 showed no correlation between these instruments. Comparing the data obtained by flowcytometry and the analyzers demonstrate that basophil counts of the GEN‐S are erratic, while the ADVIA‐120 gives at least an estimation of true basophil numbers. Conclusions: We provide a solid description and validation of a novel and rapid method for the flowcytometric enumeration of basophil in whole blood. The fact that the most heavily used Hematology autoanalyzer gives completely erroneous results could explain why basophils counts have not yet received recognition as a clinically useful diagnostic marker.
Deadly tricks to combat atherosclerosis
Authors: L Temmerman, E A L Biessen
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2015)

This editorial refers to ‘Phosphatidylserine liposomesmimic apoptotic cells to attenuate atherosclerosis by expanding polyreactive IgM producing B1a lymphocytes’ by H. Hosseini et al ., pp. 443–452. 

Cardiovascular disease is still the largest morbidity and mortality issue in Western society. Although current medication has proved effective in reducing cardiovascular disease risk, the need for additional therapeutic options remains. In this issue, Hosseini et al. present an elegant new concept with real bench-to-bedside potential: administration of phosphatidylserine (PS) liposomes to dampen atherosclerosis-related immune responses by mobilizing and expanding atheroprotective B1a cells ( Figure 1 ).1 



Figure 1 
Apoptotic cells expose phosphatidyl serine (PS) residues on the membrane. Artificial PS-coated liposomes are able to serve as apoptotic-cell-mimics. Administration of apoptotic cells or PS liposomes will promote B1a-cell activity and expansion in the peritoneum, possibly through interaction of PS with TIM-1 receptors. Activated B1a cells will produce increased levels of natural IgM antibodies, which are secreted into the blood where they confer protection against atherosclerotic plaque formation by (i) sequestering oxidized LDL, (ii) inducing elimination of apoptotic cells, and (iii) reducing autoantibody formation, in part by interaction of IgM/OxLDL immune complexes with Fc(micro) receptors on other immune cells. Apoptotic cell and PS liposome dependent B1a cell activation implicates the spleen by a still unknown mechanism; although a role of the recently identified splenic CD138+ B1a cells, representing a major source of IgM, cannot be excluded, it …
Water and electrolyte balance in subjects with a permanent ileostomy.
Authors: H J Kennedy, E A Al-Dujaili, C R Edwards, S C Truelove
Journal: Gut (1983)

Water and electrolyte balance has been studied in 39 patients with a permanent ileostomy, who had had a proctocolectomy for ulcerative colitis. The findings have been compared with those in 39 healthy subjects who were matched for age and sex. The ileostomists were found to lose excessive quantities of water and sodium in the ileostomy effluent compared with the corresponding losses in normal faeces. The mean plasma total protein and albumin concentrations were increased in the ileostomists suggesting a state of chronic dehydration. The daily urinary output of sodium was low and the output of potassium was high. The urinary pH was low. The ileostomists had raised mean concentration of aldosterone in the plasma (p less than 0.001) and it is suggested that this is responsible for the body9s partial compensation for the depletion of sodium and water, including the so-called ileostomy adaptation.
Website of the week: Breast cancer and stress
Authors: G. Yamey
Journal: BMJ (2002)

Is belly dancing the new feminism? An article in Habibi , a journal of Middle Eastern dance, says that when belly dancers “place the roots of belly dance in goddess worship or birth ritual, they express the idea that this dance receives its vital power from an ultimately feminine force” (http://people.uncw.edu/deagona/raqs/feminism.htm#_ftn1). Driven by a belief …
Effects of Neuropeptides and Leptin on Nutrient Partitioning: Dysregulations in Obesity
Authors: Bernard Jeanrenaud, Françoise Rohner-Jeanrenaud
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (2001)

▪ Abstract Body weight homeostasis is maintained via a series of complex interactions that occur between the brain (particularly the hypothalamus) and the periphery, notably via the hormone leptin, which is synthesized in and secreted from adipose tissue. Under normal conditions, a dynamic equilibrium exists between anabolic neuropeptides (orexigenic peptides), which favor food intake, decrease energy expenditure, and facilitate fat storage, and catabolic ones (anorexigenic peptides), which decrease food intake, increase energy expenditure, and facilitate the loss of fat stores. Secreted leptin, although it may have some direct peripheral effects, exerts its action principally within the brain. Following its transport through the blood-brain barrier, leptin reaches the hypothalamic area, where it binds to its long receptor isoform. After a specific signaling cascade, leptin inhibits many of the orexigenic neuropeptides while favoring many of the anorexigenic ones. Thus, leptin decreases food intake and body weight, and it increases fat oxidation and energy expenditure, ultimately favoring leanness. Lack of leptin secretion, the inability of leptin to reach the brain, or the inability of leptin to interact with hypothalamic leptin receptors, prevent leptin's effects and lead to obesity.
The Impact of Comorbid and Sociodemographic Factors on Access to Renal Transplantation
Authors: Daniel S. Gaylin
Journal: JAMA (1993)

To assess the impact of sociodemographic factors and comorbid conditions on access to renal transplantation for adult US dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Cohort analytic study. Data on comorbid conditions at onset of ESRD were abstracted from patients' medical records and matched to sociodemographic and ESRD data from the United States Renal Data System database.United States Medicare dialysis population.Random, national sample of ESRD patients starting dialysis in 1986 and 1987 (n = 4118).Time to first renal transplant (living or cadaver donor) since onset of ESRD regressed with two nested Cox proportional hazards models, first against sociodemographic factors alone, and then against sociodemographic factors and comorbid conditions.Cardiovascular diseases are most predictive of who received a transplant; patients with coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, or left ventricular hypertrophy showed lower transplantation rates relative to patients without the disease (relative rate [RR] = 0.65 to 0.80, P < .05 each). Obese patients and patients with peripheral vascular disease also showed lower transplantation rates (RR = 0.65 to 0.75, P < .05 each). Previously reported sociodemographic effects of lower transplantation rates for older patients, women, nonwhite patients, and lower income patients were confirmed (P < .01). Sociodemographic effects remained essentially unchanged when adjusted for comorbid conditions.These findings indicate that sociodemographics have strong independent effects on access to transplantation that cannot be explained away as "surrogate" effects related to comorbid factors. Furthermore, the results suggest that lower mortality rates for transplant recipients relative to dialysis patients are due, in part, to a healthier case mix among patients receiving transplants.