tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Role of Serial Routine Microbiologic Culture Results in the Initial Management of Ventilator-associated Pneumonia
Authors: JAN HAYON, CORINNE FIGLIOLINI, ALAIN COMBES, JEAN-LOUIS TROUILLET, NAJIBI KASSIS, MARIE CHRISTINE DOMBRET, CLAUDE GIBERT, JEAN CHASTRE
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2002)

Results of routine microbiologic cultures of specimens obtained before the onset of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in intensive care unit (ICU) patients might help to identify the causative microorganisms and thus to select effective initial antimicrobial therapy. To test this hypothesis, we prospectively studied 125 consecutive VAP episodes for which the causative microorganisms were determined using bronchoscopic techniques. Upon entry into the study, each patient's hospital chart was reviewed and culture results of all previously obtained microbiologic specimens were recorded (mean number ± SD per patient, 45 ± 38). A total of 220 microorganisms were cultured at significant concentrations ( ⩾ 103/104 colony-forming units [cfu]/ml) from bronchoscopic specimens and considered responsible for pneumonia. Of these 220 organisms, only 73 (33%) were recovered before VAP onset, sometimes from multiple sites in the same patient but mainly from prior respiratory secretion cultures (n = 53). Also previously isolated were 342 organisms that were not responsible for VAP, making prospective identifications of the true pathogens difficult. Among the 102 episodes for which prior respiratory secretion culture results had been obtained (mean time before VAP onset, 8 ± 9 d), all the organisms ultimately responsible for pneumonia were previously recovered from only 36 (35%) of these specimens. Based on these data, the contribution of routine microbiologic specimens in guiding initial antimicrobial therapy decisions for patients with suspected VAP appears limited.
Aerobic and anaerobic PCB biodegradation in the environment.
Authors: D A Abramowicz
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1995)

Studies have identified two distinct biological processes capable of biotransforming polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): aerobic oxidative processes and anaerobic reductive processes. It is now known that these two complementary activities are occurring naturally in the environment. Anaerobic PCB dechlorination, responsible for the conversion of highly chlorinated PCBs to lightly chlorinated ortho-enriched congeners, has been documented extensively in the Hudson River and has been observed at many other sites throughout the world. The products from this anaerobic process are readily degradable by a wide range of aerobic bacteria, and it has now been shown that this process is occurring in surficial sediments in the Hudson River. The widespread anaerobic dechlorination of PCBs that has been observed in many river and marine sediments results in reduction of both the potential risk from and potential exposure to PCBs. The reductions in potential risk include reduced dioxinlike toxicity and reduced carcinogenicity. The reduced PCB exposure realized upon dechlorination is manifested by reduced bioaccumulation in the food chain and by the increased anaerobic degradability of these products.
Nongenotoxic carcinogens: an extension of the perspective provided by Perera.
Authors: J Ashby, I F Purchase
Journal: Environmental Health Perspectives (1992)

Perera recently discussed the very real problems that accompany any attempt to classify rodent carcinogens into two groups--genotoxic or nongenotoxic. Not the least of these problems is that no agreed definition of these two terms exist. Nonetheless, the current carcinogen databases, for example, that of the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP), clearly comprise two broad groups of carcinogens--DNA reactive, mutagenic and multiply carcinogenic chemicals, and others. The others appear to be nonreactive to DNA, are inactive in the primary mutagenicity assays, and usually elicit highly selective carcinogenic responses in animals. These two classes of carcinogen are illustrated by examples taken from the NTP database and are discussed within the possible context of the latter group not being active in humans or, if they are, only when a threshold dose has been exceeded, chronically.
Hospitals should cap what staff agencies can charge, after some demand 1760 a day
Authors: G. Iacobucci
Journal: BMJ (2015)

NHS consultants are choosing to work as locums in understaffed emergency departments for up to £1760 (€2340; $2650) a day, a parliamentary inquiry has found.1

In its inquiry into the financial sustainability of NHS bodies the House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts heard that consultants were profiting “at a substantial cost to the NHS.” The committee has urged the government to crack down on the problem.

The MPs heard that the NHS overall spent £2.6bn on temporary staff in 2013-14, up from £2.1bn in 2012-13, and concluded that the Department of Health for England was not making the most of cost saving opportunities. One example cited was Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust …
Responding to Employment Concerns of Cancer Survivors
Authors: Pamela Farley Short, Mary M. Vargo
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

The report on cancer survivorship recently released by the Institute of Medicine called on providers to become familiar with the employment rights of survivors, to offer them information about employment rights and programs, and to help minimize the adverse effects of cancer on employment. This review is designed to help providers respond to the Institute of Medicine's recommendations by describing relevant employment and health insurance protections, nationally accessible services and information sources for survivors, functional limitations that may affect survivors' work, and a variety of rehabilitation services that may be helpful for survivors with disabling residual effects of cancer and its treatment. It also suggests directions for further efforts on the part of public and private cancer organizations, researchers, and clinicians to address the employment concerns of survivors.
Recanalization of the Inferior Vena Cava after Ligation
Authors: Richard D. Sautter
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1969)

LIGATION of the inferior vena cava is an effective method for the prevention of pulmonary embolization. Chronic edema of the lower extremities, sometimes massive, and skin ulceration are accompanying undesirable postoperative sequelae. To prevent these complications, Streuter,† in 1953, suggested the use of catgut as a ligature, after his animal experimentation indicated reopening of the inferior vena cava at about six weeks. He emphasized the fact that pulling the suture material tightly about the vena cava would produce permanent stricture. In the case presented below, a single No. 1 chromic-catgut suture was tightly drawn about the inferior vena cava to . . .
Cancer patients should be offered semen cryopreservation
Authors: A. Lass, N. Abusheikha, F. Akagbosu, P. Brinsden
Journal: BMJ (1999)

EDITOR—M⊘ller and Skakkebaek have confirmed the association between male subfertility and subsequent testicular cancer.1 We and others have shown that men with malignant disease, and especially with testicular cancer, have reduced sperm quality at the time of diagnosis of their illness.2–4 Further deterioration occurs due to the …
* Effect of deprivation and ethnicity on bowel cancer screening uptake
Authors: L.-A. Smith, J. Stansbie, L. Juby
Journal: Gut (2011)

<h3>Introduction</h3> The BCSP commenced in Bradford and Airedale during 2007, throughout this period, the authors have seen slightly lower uptake than other areas in our region. Bradford and Airedale BCSP encompasses an area of significant ethnic diversity and has variable rates of economic deprivation. This combination was felt to contribute to our lower uptake rate. <h3>Methods</h3> The authors analysed their data from August 2007 to January 2010 looking at their uptake rates according to postcode. This was measured against deprivation index and ethnicity data from those areas. The study aim was to confirm that social deprivation and ethnicity contribute to lower uptake rates. <h3>Results</h3> The cumulative uptake figure for Bradford since the programme started is 52.4% compared to 56.2% for the North East region. In the last financial quarter uptake in Bradford was 54.4% compared to 60.3% for the region. Figure 1 shows the relationship between practice uptake and the Index of Multiple Deprivation. The relationship between deprivation and uptake is strong, with more deprived practices having lower uptake. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Addressing the relationship between deprivation and ethnicity with uptake on the BCSP is a step forward to improving our kit return rates. Understanding the local population is important for raising awareness of the BCSP. Over the next quarter, the authors9 goal will be to target areas with lower uptake aiming to increase awareness of the BCSP with health promotion directed towards the South Asian population and working with GPs in the more deprived city areas.
Ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxides (USPIOs): a future alternative magnetic resonance (MR) contrast agent for patients at risk for nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF)?
Authors: Edward A. Neuwelt, Bronwyn E. Hamilton, Csanad G. Varallyay, William R. Rooney, Robert D. Edelman, Paula M. Jacobs, Suzanne G. Watnick
Journal: Kidney International (2008)
New watchdog given power to overturn GMC acquittals
Authors: Clare Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2004)

Doctors who are cleared of serious professional misconduct by the General Medical Council risk having their acquittals overturned by a court following a ruling this week from a High Court judge.

The Council for the Regulation of Healthcare Professionals (CRHP), the new watchdog set up to oversee disciplinary bodies in the healthcare field, won a High Court test case this week against the General Medical Council over the extent of its powers.

The GMC had argued that the CRHP's power to refer cases to the High Court when it believes regulators have acted too leniently applies …
Abstract 4046: Estrogen receptor-α coordinates the unfolded protein response,autophagy, and reactive oxygen species generation to regulate breast cancer survival.
Authors: Pamela A. Clarke, Katherine Cook, Rong Hu, Jessica L. Schwartz, Mones Abu-Asab, Anni Warri, Robert Clarke
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract Of the almost 240,000 new breast cancers diagnosed in 2011 within the USA, approximately 70% of these cases express the estrogen receptor-α (ER). ER targeted therapies such as tamoxifen (TAM) or faslodex (ICI) are often used to treat this breast cancer subtype. However, the curative potential of these interventions is frequently limited in patients due to resistance. Understanding how antiestrogen resistance occurs could lead to improved approaches to eradicate ER+ breast cancers. Increased unfolded protein response (UPR, an endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway) or autophagy (a “self” eating process used to clear dysfunctional protein or organelles) was previously shown to promote antiestrogen resistance in ER+ breast cancer. Using the antiestrogen sensitive MCF7-LCC1 (LCC1) and resistant MCF7-LCC9 (LCC9) cell lines, we determined the effect of antiestrogens and ERα on autophagy and UPR signaling. Suprisingly, ablation of ERα through RNAi potentiated LCC1 to antiestrogen-mediated cell death and resensitized LCC9 cells to endocrine therapy. While ICI stimulated both autophagy and UPR signaling, RNAi knockdown of ERα in LCC1 and LCC9 cells inhibited ICI-mediated UPR signaling and concurrently stimulated autophagy. Furthermore, we showed that ERα knockdown stimulated ROS production and potentiated the cell death response to antiestrogen therapy. ERα knockdown, but not ICI treatment, reduced nuclear Nrf2 (a UPR-induced antioxidant signaling protein) and increased cytosolic KEAP1 (an inhibitor of Nrf2), which may lead to the observed increase in ROS production. Autophagy inhibition through ATG7 silencing increases cell death and apoptosis in LCC1 ERα knockdown cells, showing that autophagy induction by antiestrogens is prosurvival in this context. These data suggests that UPR and autophagy stimulated by antiestrogen therapy results from two different mechanisms of ER regulation. We show that antiestrogens promote the accumulation of ERα in the cytosol that is associated with increased UPR signaling, while the inhibition of ERα promotes prosurvival autophagy. The inherent stimulation of resistance mechanism signaling through antiestrogen treatment suggests that combining autophagy or UPR inhibitors with anti-estrogens may greatly reduce the development of acquired antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer. Citation Format: Pamela A. Clarke, Katherine Cook, Rong Hu, Jessica L. Schwartz, Mones Abu-Asab, Anni Warri, Robert Clarke. Estrogen receptor-α coordinates the unfolded protein response,autophagy, and reactive oxygen species generation to regulate breast cancer survival. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4046. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4046
SARCOPENIA IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SEVERITY OF HEART FAILURE IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE
Authors: Eiichi Akiyama, Masaaki Konishi, Yasushi Matsuzawa, Mitsuaki Endo, Hiroyuki Suzuki, Naoki Nakayama, Nobuhiko Maejima, Noriaki Iwahashi, Kengo Tsukahara, Yoshio Tahara, Kiyoshi Hibi, Toshiaki Ebina, Satoshi Umemura, Kazuo Kimura
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2014)
Corrigendum to “Contour tracking in echocardiographic sequences via sparse representation and dictionary learning” [Med. Image Anal. 18 (2) (2014) 253–271]
Authors: Xiaojie Huang, Donald P. Dione, Colin B. Compas, Xenophon Papademetris, Ben A. Lin, Alda Bregasi, Albert J. Sinusas, Lawrence H. Staib, James S. Duncan
Journal: Medical Image Analysis (2015)
Attenuation of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) secreted from an infarcted segment reresents the process of left ventricular remodeling after myocardial infarction
Authors: Atsushi Hirayama, Fuminobu Ishikura, Naoyuki Misaki, Hisakazu Fuji, Takayoshi Adachi, Yashuhiko Sakata, Kazuhisa Kodama
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (1996)
F-18 FDG PET/CT as a Valuable Imaging Tool for Assessing Treatment Efficacy in Inflammatory and Infectious Diseases
Authors: A. Imperiale, L. Federici, N. Lefebvre, J.J. Braun, F. Pfumio, R. Kessler, Y. Hansmann, E. Andres, André Constantinesco
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2010)

Activated inflammatory cells like neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes have increased F-18 FDG uptake, causing significant tracer accumulation in inflammatory and infectious processes. In this report, we have illustrated F-18 FDG PET/CT features related to systemic sarcoidosis, large-vessel arteritis, abdominal tuberculosis, and pleural aspergillosis in 4 selected patients, who underwent scintigraphic evaluation before and after anti-inflammatory or antibiotic treatment. The evolution of radiotracer uptake intensity reflected the efficacy of medical treatment, permitting either a better modulation of drug dosage or a radical modification of therapeutic strategy. Independently from the cost and access to this type of medical imaging, F-18 FDG PET/CT could have a potential role in assessing treatment efficacy in selected non-neoplastic conditions, allowing morphofunctional cartography of residual inflammatory localizations.
A Randomized Controlled Trial Using Glycemic Plus Fetal Ultrasound Parameters Versus Glycemic Parameters to Determine Insulin Therapy in Gestational Diabetes With Fasting Hyperglycemia
Authors: Siri L. Kjos, Ute Schaefer-Graf, Smeeta Sardesi, Ruth K. Peters, Ann Buley, Anny H. Xiang, James D. Bryne, Cher Sutherland, Martin N. Montoro, Thomas A. Buchanan
Journal: Diabetes Care (2001)

OBJECTIVE—To compare management based on maternal glycemic criteria with management based on relaxed glycemic criteria and fetal abdominal circumference (AC) measurements in order to select patients for insulin treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with fasting hyperglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—In a pilot study, 98 women with fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations of 105–120 mg/dl were randomized. The standard group received insulin treatment. The experimental group received insulin if the AC, measured monthly, was ≥70th percentile and/or if any venous FPG measurement was &amp;gt;120 mg/dl. Power was projected to detect a 250-g difference in birth weights. RESULTS—Gestational ages, maternal glycemia, and AC percentiles were similar at randomization. After initiation of protocol, venous FPG (P = 0.003) and capillary blood glucose levels (P = 0.049) were significantly lower in the standard group. Birth weights (3,271 ± 458 vs. 3,369 ± 461 g), frequencies of birth weights &amp;gt;90th percentile (6.3 vs 8.3%), and neonatal morbidity (25 vs. 25%) did not differ significantly between the standard and experimental groups, respectively. The cesarean delivery rate was significantly lower (14.6 vs. 33.3%, P = 0.03) in the standard group; this difference was not explained by birth weights. In the experimental group, infants of women who did not receive insulin had lower birth weights than infants of mothers treated with insulin (3,180 ± 425 vs. 3,482 ± 451 g, P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS—In women with GDM and fasting hyperglycemia, glucose plus fetal AC measurements identified pregnancies at low risk for macrosomia and resulted in the avoidance of insulin therapy in 38% of patients without increasing rates of neonatal morbidity.
Obstructive jaundice impairs hepatic sinusoidal endothelial cell function and renders liver susceptible to hepatic ischemia/reperfusion
Authors: Hiroyuki Yoshidome, Masaru Miyazaki, Hiroaki Shimizu, Hiroshi Ito, Koji Nakagawa, Satoshi Ambiru, Nobuyuki Nakajima, Michael J Edwards, Alex B Lentsch
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2000)
Hemosiderosis in Hemodialysis Patients-Reply
Authors: Majid Ali
Journal: JAMA (1981)

<h3>In Reply.—</h3> All of our patients with dialysis siderosis received intravenous iron dextran. We agree with Bregman and colleagues that iron dextran appears to be the principal cause of the dissociation between the hepatic and the bone marrow iron in these patients. However, this may not be the sole cause of this phenomenon. Recently, we observed this paradox of hepatosplenic siderosis and marrowiron depletion in nondialysis patients with liver cirrhosis. Other published observations of Bregman et al<sup>1</sup>concerning HLA-linked iron overload, myopathy, marrow iron, and serum ferritin are in basic alignment with ours. They furnish no data concerning hepatic iron stores. Their argument seems to center about the validity of the serum ferritin as a marker of bone marrow iron. Since our aforementioned study, we have reported the association of high serum ferritin levels and depletion of marrow iron stores in ten of 36 dialysis patients with hepatosplenic siderosis.
Comparative mortality of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in Canada
Authors: Sean W. Murphy, Robert N. Foley, Brendan J. Barrett, Gloria M. Kent, Janet Morgan, Paul Barré, Patricia Campbell, Adrian Fine, Marc B. Goldstein, S. Paul Handa, Kailash K. Jindal, Adeera Levin, Henry Mandin, Norman Muirhead, Robert M.A. Richardson, Patrick S. Parfrey
Journal: Kidney International (2000)
Trial to Evaluate the Management of Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia During an Electrophysiology Study With Tecadenoson
Authors: Kenneth A. Ellenbogen, Gearoid O’Neill, Eric N. Prystowsky, John A. Camm, Lixin Meng, Hsiao Dee Lieu, Markus Jerling, Revati Shreeniwas, Luiz Belardinelli, Andrew A. Wolff
Journal: Circulation (2005)

Background— Tecadenoson is a potent selective A 1 -adenosine receptor agonist with a dose-dependent negative dromotropic effect on the AV node. Tecadenoson terminates induced paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) without the clinically significant side effects caused by stimulation of other adenosine receptors. This trial was designed to determine a safe and effective tecadenoson bolus for termination of electrophysiologically induced PSVT. Methods and Results— Patients with a history of symptomatic PSVT and inducible PSVT at the time of a clinically indicated electrophysiology study were randomized into a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Five 2-dose tecadenoson bolus regimens were evaluated versus placebo (75/150, 150/300, 300/600, 450/900, 900 μg/900 μg). The second bolus was administered only if PSVT persisted for 1 minute after the first bolus. Each tecadenoson regimen resulted in a significant therapeutic conversion rate compared with placebo (range, 50.0% to 90.3%, analysis of all patients dosed; n=181; P &lt;0.0005). Conversion by the first bolus was dose related (range: placebo, 3.3% to 86.7% for 900 μg/900 μg). Time to conversion was dose dependent, with a median time of &lt;1 minute for the 3 highest dose regimens. Postconversion arrhythmias were transient, requiring no additional treatment in 4 regimens (including placebo). Transient second- and third-degree heart block occurred at higher doses (300/600, 450/900, 900 μg/900 μg) and was supported with backup pacing when needed. No effect on blood pressure was observed. Ten patients with a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease tolerated tecadenoson without bronchospasm. Conclusions— We identified an optimal tecadenoson regimen (300 μg/600 μg) that effectively and rapidly converted 90% (28 of 31) of PSVT patients to normal sinus rhythm with no significant adverse effects.
Species-specific homing mechanisms of human prostate cancer metastasis in tissue engineered bone
Authors: Boris M. Holzapfel, Ferdinand Wagner, Daniela Loessner, Nina P. Holzapfel, Laure Thibaudeau, Ross Crawford, Ming-Tat Ling, Judith A. Clements, Pamela J. Russell, Dietmar W. Hutmacher
Journal: Biomaterials (2014)
Phase I Trial of VNP40101M (Cloretazine) in Children with Recurrent Brain Tumors: A Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Study
Authors: Sridharan Gururangan, Christopher D. Turner, Clinton F. Stewart, Melinda O'Shaughnessy, Mehmet Kocak, Tina Young Poussaint, Peter C. Phillips, Stewart Goldman, Roger Packer, Ian F. Pollack, Susan M. Blaney, Verena Karsten, Stanton L. Gerson, James M. Boyett, Henry S. Friedman, Larry E. Kun
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2008)

Abstract Purpose: VNP40101M (Cloretazine), a novel DNA alkylating agent, was evaluated in a phase I study in children with recurrent brain tumors. Experimental Design: VNP40101M was given i.v. daily for 5 consecutive days every 6 weeks for up to eight cycles. Dose escalation was done independently in patients stratified based on intensity of prior therapy (moderately pretreated, stratum I; heavily pretreated, stratum II). Correlative studies included pharmacokinetics and measurement of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyl transferase levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells before and after treatment. Results: Forty-one eligible patients (stratum I, 19; stratum II, 22) were enrolled on this study. The dose-limiting toxicity in 35 evaluable patients was myelosuppression, which occurred in 4 of 16 patients in stratum I and 3 of 19 patients in stratum II. Pharmacokinetic studies showed a median terminal half-life of 30 min (range, 14-39.5). The maximum tolerated dose in stratum I and II were 45 and 30 mg/m2/d daily for 5 days every 6 weeks, respectively. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells alkylguanine alkyl transferase levels did not decrease significantly after VNP40101M treatment. Central imaging review confirmed that three patients had stable disease for a median of 45 weeks (range, 37-61+) after therapy. Conclusions: The recommended dose of VNP40101M for phase II studies in children with brain tumors is 45 mg/m2/d in moderately pretreated and 30 mg/m2/d in heavily pretreated patients when administered for 5 consecutive days every 6 weeks.