tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Radiofrequency Ablation vs Antiarrhythmic Drugs as First-Line Treatment of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (RAAFT-2)
Authors: Carlos A. Morillo, Atul Verma, Stuart J. Connolly, Karl H. Kuck, Girish M. Nair, Jean Champagne, Laurence D. Sterns, Heather Beresh, Jeffrey S. Healey, Andrea Natale
Journal: JAMA (2014)

<h3>Importance</h3> Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common rhythm disorder seen in clinical practice. Antiarrhythmic drugs are effective for reduction of recurrence in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal AF. Radiofrequency ablation is an accepted therapy in patients for whom antiarrhythmic drugs have failed; however, its role as a first-line therapy needs further investigation. <h3>Objective</h3> To compare radiofrequency ablation with antiarrhythmic drugs (standard therapy) in treating patients with paroxysmal AF as a first-line therapy. <h3>Design, Setting, and Patients</h3> A randomized clinical trial involving 127 treatment-naive patients with paroxysmal AF were randomized at 16 centers in Europe and North America to received either antiarrhythmic therapy or ablation. The first patient was enrolled July 27, 2006; the last patient, January 29, 2010. The last follow-up was February 16, 2012. <h3>Interventions</h3> Sixty-one patients in the antiarrhythmic drug group and 66 in the radiofrequency ablation group were followed up for 24 months. <h3>Main Outcomes and Measures</h3> The time to the first documented atrial tachyarrhythmia of more than 30 seconds (symptomatic or asymptomatic AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia), detected by either scheduled or unscheduled electrocardiogram, Holter, transtelephonic monitor, or rhythm strip, was the primary outcome. Secondary outcomes included symptomatic recurrences of atrial tachyarrhythmias and quality of life measures assessed by the EQ-5D tool. <h3>Results</h3> Forty-four patients (72.1%) in the antiarrhythmic group and in 36 patients (54.5%) in the ablation group experienced the primary efficacy outcome (hazard ratio [HR], 0.56 [95% CI, 0.35-0.90];<i>P</i> = .02). For the secondary outcomes, 59% in the drug group and 47% in the ablation group experienced the first recurrence of symptomatic AF, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia (HR, 0.56 [95% CI, 0.33-0.95];<i>P</i> = .03). No deaths or strokes were reported in either group; 4 cases of cardiac tamponade were reported in the ablation group. In the standard treatment group, 26 patients (43%) underwent ablation after 1-year. Quality of life was moderately impaired at baseline in both groups and improved at the 1 year follow-up. However, improvement was not significantly different among groups. <h3>Conclusions and Relevance</h3> Among patients with paroxysmal AF without previous antiarrhythmic drug treatment, radiofrequency ablation compared with antiarrhythmic drugs resulted in a lower rate of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias at 2 years. However, recurrence was frequent in both groups. <h3>Trial Registration</h3> clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00392054
The HCV-genotype does not predict mortality, complications and incidence of liver cancer
Authors: C. Niederau, S. Lange, T. Heintges, A. Erhardt, M. Buschkamp, D. Hürter, M. Nawrocki, L. Kruska, F. Hensel, W. Petry, D. Häussinger
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (1998)
Studies of the secretion of monkey placental lactogen
Authors: C. Belanger, B. Shome, H. Friesen, R. E. Myers
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1971)

A radioimmunoassay for monkey placental lactogen (MPL) was developed to study the factors controlling the secretion of MPL. The sensitivity of the assay was 1 ng MPL per ml. Human and monkey growth hormone, and human placental lactogen (HPL) showed minimal cross-reactions with MPL. Maternal MPL concentrations as measured in 40 rhesus monkeys increased progressively throughout pregnancy to a mean of 5000 ng/ml at term while umbilical vein MPL was less than 50 ng/ml. After term delivery maternal MPL concentrations decreased rapidly with a t(1/2) of 20 min.After fetectomy but with retention of the placenta, MPL concentrations decreased by 25% reaching a plateau over a 6 hr period. Experimental abruption of the secondary placenta within 1 hr produced a 50% decrease in MPL concentration. After ligation of the fetal vessels supplying the secondary placental disc, MPL increased transiently and then decreased to levels significantly below those of the control period. These studies suggest MPL secretion is not directly controlled by the fetus but is sensitive to changes in placental blood flow. The pregnant rhesus monkey serves as a useful model for investigating factors which may regulate HPL secretion because of the close similarity between MPL and HPL secretion.
<i>KRAS</i> Oncogene Rearrangements and Gene Fusions: Unexpected Rare Encounters in Late-Stage Prostate Cancers
Authors: Henrik Edgren, Sara Kangaspeska, Olli Kallioniemi
Journal: Cancer Discovery (2011)

Wang and colleagues identify a fusion between UBE2L3 and KRAS in a subset of metastatic prostate cancers.
Funding policies for HIV and AIDS. Patients benefit from shared care.
Authors: H Williams
Journal: BMJ (1993)

teams to care for those with HIV infection or on the part of patients to use their general practitioners but because of a reluctance of hospital based teams to transfer responsibility to their colleagues in the community.The current arrangements for allocating funds to hospital based providers offer few incentives for HIV specialists to work with primary care teams.The failure to allocate resources to providers in the community must be urgently addressed by purchasers if general practitioners and district nurses are to be encouraged to participate in shared care for patients with HIV infection.
Hb questembert is due to a base substitution (T→C) in codon 131 of the α 2‐globin gene and has an α‐thalassemia biosynthetic ratio
Authors: J. Rocheite, R. Barnetson, S. L. Thein, B. Varet, F. Valensi
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1995)

To the Editor: Trisomy 21 Down's syndrome (DS) predisposes to the development of acute lymphocytic and non-lymphocytic leukemias [ 1-31, acute myelofibrosis [4], and a transient myeloproliferative disorder of newborns [Z].The hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is a myeloproliferative Department of Medicine, The Memorial Hospital, Brown universiv, pawtuck&, Rho& /s/and disorder characterized by long-term idiopathic eosinophilia, hepatosplenomegaly , and organ infiltration with eosinophils [5].The present report describes the first patient with trisomy 21 DS who developed HE.3 and suggests that trisomy 21 may contribute to the evolution of HES.
Efficacy of Chemotherapy After Treatment with Regorafenib in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (MCRC)
Authors: Wilcox Ryan, Kidd Michael, Alberts Steven, Rubin Joseph, Hartgers Mindy, Mitchell Jessica, Hubbard Joleen, Pham Anthony, J. Quevedo, Yoon Harry, Robinson Steven, Grothey Axel
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)
In vivo labeling with 2H2O reveals a human neutrophil lifespan of 5.4 days
Authors: Janesh Pillay, Ineke den Braber, Nienke Vrisekoop, Lydia M. Kwast, Rob J. de Boer, José A. M. Borghans, Kiki Tesselaar, Leo Koenderman
Journal: Blood (2010)
A 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine/valproate combination induces cytotoxic T-cell response against mesothelioma
Authors: S. Leclercq, F. Gueugnon, B. Boutin, F. Guillot, C. Blanquart, A. Rogel, M. Padieu, D. Pouliquen, J-F. Fonteneau, M. Grégoire
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumour with a limited response to conventional therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anticancer effect of a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (5-azaCdR), and two histone deacetylase inhibitors, valproic acid (VPA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA). Human mesothelioma cells were treated with each epigenetic drug, either alone or in combinations. The cytotoxic effects on treated cells and the expression of specific tumour antigens were evaluated. The recognition of treated cells by a specific CD8+ T-cell clone was also measured. Additionally, the effect of combined treatments was tested in a murine model of mesothelioma. We showed that VPA and SAHA synergised with 5-azaCdR to kill MPM cells and induce tumour antigen expression in the remaining living tumour cells. As a consequence, tumour cells expressing these antigens were recognised and lysed by specific CD8+ cytotoxic T-cells. In vivo , treatment with 5-azaCdR/VPA inhibited tumour growth, and promoted lymphocyte infiltration and an immune response against tumour cells. Appropriate epigenetic drug combinations, in addition to inducing mesothelioma cell death, also affect the immunogenic status of these cells. This property could be exploited in clinical investigations to develop MPM treatments combining chemotherapeutic and immunotherapeutic approaches.
Jump frequency may contribute to risk of jumper's knee: a study of interindividual and sex differences in a total of 11 943 jumps video recorded during training and matches in young elite volleyball players
Authors: Martin A Bahr, Roald Bahr
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2014)

Male sex, total training volume (number of hours per week) and match exposure (number of sets played per week) are risk factors for jumper's knee among young elite volleyball players. However, it is not known whether jump frequency differs among players on the same squad.To examine interindividual and sex differences in jump frequency during training and matches in young elite volleyball players.Observational study.Norwegian elite volleyball boarding school training programme.Student-athletes (26 boys and 18 girls, 16-18 years).Individual jump counts were recorded based on visual analysis of video recordings obtained from 1 week of volleyball training (9 training sessions for boys and 10 for girls, 14.1 h and 17.8 h of training, respectively) and 10 matches (5.9 h for boys (16 sets) and 7.7 h for girls (21 sets).A total of 11,943 jumps were recorded, 4138 during matches and 7805 during training. As training attendance and jump frequency varied substantially between players, the total exposure in training ranged from 50 to 666 jumps/week among boys and from 11 to 251 jumps/week among girls. On average, this corresponded to 35.7 jumps/h for boys and 13.7 jumps/h for girls (Student t test, p=0.002). Total jump exposure during matches ranged between 1 and 339 jumps among boys and between 0 and 379 jumps among girls, corresponding to an average jump frequency of 62.2 jumps/h for boys and 41.9 jumps/h for girls (Student t test, p<0.039). The interindividual differences in jump frequency were substantially greater than any differences observed among player functions.Jump frequency has substantial interindividual and sex differences during training and matches in young elite volleyball players. Total jump volume may represent a more important risk factor for jumper's knee than total training volume, warranting further research attention.
Function of the anal sphincters in patients with intussusception of the rectum.
Authors: B Frenckner, T Ihre
Journal: Gut (1976)

Patients with intussusception of the rectum--six with anal incontinence and nine continent--were examined with respect to the function of the anal sphincters. Anal pressure was recorded continuously during rest, during maximal voluntary squeezing of the anal muscles, and during gradual expansion of the rectum by means of a balloon inserted into the rectal ampulla. The maximal anal pressure at rest, which is mainly due to activity of the internal anal sphincter, was lower (P less than 0-001) in the incontinent patients (31 mmHg +/- 5-6) than the continent (67 mmHg +/- 4-3) and the former had significantly smaller relaxations of the internal sphincter upon rectal distension (P less than 0-05). The increase in anal pressure during voluntary squeezing, a function of the external sphincter, did not differ significantly compared with healthy subjects in either incontinent or continent patients. On the basis of the above findings, it is concluded that the function of the internal sphincter is impaired in the incontinent patients.
Transfer of Wild-Type p53 Gene Effectively Inhibits Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferation In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Yoshikazu Yonemitsu, Yasufumi Kaneda, Shinji Tanaka, Yutaka Nakashima, Kimihiro Komori, Keizo Sugimachi, Katsuo Sueishi
Journal: Circulation Research (1998)

Wild-type p53 (wt-p53), a key protein in cell cycle regulation, inactivates the G1 cyclins through direct activation of p21Waf-1/Cip-1/Sdi-1. Persistent vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation following vascular interventions hinders the benefits of these therapeutics. Using the hemagglutinating virus of Japan/liposome-mediated gene transfer method, we examined the inhibitory effect of overexpression of exogenous wt-p53 on VSMC proliferation in vitro and in vivo. We assessed the proliferative activity of human p53 cDNA-transduced bovine VSMCs by DNA synthesis assay, flow cytometry, and cell proliferation assay. p53 gene transfer reduced thymidine incorporation of VSMCs stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor-BB (P<.001). The p53-transduced VSMCs underwent synthetic phase depletion (mean, 8.02% versus 33.7% of control; P<.001) and transient G2/M accumulation 2 days after gene transfection, and in almost all cells, G1 arrest occurred (mean, 92.6% versus 79.3% of control; P<.001) 5 days later. The wt-p53 gene transfection also inhibited the VSMC proliferation (P<.001) with no detectable induction of apoptosis. Cell death of p53-transduced VSMCs was induced only by additional treatment with an apoptosis-stimulating reagent, doxorubicin. The verification of apoptosis was made by DNA ladder, flow cytometry, and electron microscopy. In vivo transfection of p53 cDNA inhibited neointimal formation after balloon injury in rabbit carotid arteries, without apoptotic stimuli (P<.01). Thus, overexpression of the p53 gene in the injured arterial wall inhibits the proliferation of VSMCs in vitro and in vivo. This novel concept, including not only exogenous but also endogenous p53 overexpression in the vessel wall, may be one approach worth exploring in the treatment of patients with restenosis occurring after vascular interventions.
Decrease in haematocrit with continuous positive airway pressure treatment in obstructive sleep apnoea patients
Authors: J Krieger, E Sforza, C Delanoe, C Petiau
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1992)

Previous preliminary results have shown an overnight decrease in haematocrit and red cell count after the first night of treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients. The present study was designed to confirm these preliminary data, and to analyse the long-term effects of CPAP. The haematocrit and red cell count (RCC) were measured in 80 OSA patients on two consecutive mornings, after an untreated night and after a CPAP treatment night. The haematocrit and RCC significantly decreased with CPAP (from 44.0 +/- 0.5 to 42.4 +/- 0.4%, p less than 0.0001 and from 4.769 +/- 0.051 to 4.597 +/- 0.052 x 10(12) red cells.l-1, p less than 0.0001, respectively). Neither the decrease in haematocrit nor the decrease in RCC were correlated with the decrease in urine volume or flow which occurred with CPAP. Thirty five of these patients remained untreated for 45 +/- 4 days, before home treatment with CPAP was initiated. The haematocrit and RCC had returned to values close to those before initial treatment and decreased again after the first treatment night. Twenty one of the patients were re-evaluated after at least one year of home treatment with CPAP, again on two consecutive nights either with CPAP or untreated. The follow-up, post-CPAP haematocrit and RCC were slightly and nonsignificantly higher than after the baseline CPAP night, but still lower than after the baseline untreated night (p less than 0.02). After the untreated follow-up night, no significant change in haematocrit was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Pulmonary complications and respiratory function changes after bone marrow transplantation in children
Authors: F Fanfulla, F Locatelli, MC Zoia, G Giorgiani, F Bonetti, L Spagnolatti, I Cerveri
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1997)

We prospectively assessed the frequency of pulmonary complications and the natural course of lung function after bone marrow transplantation (BMT), as well as the effect of several risk factors in a homogeneous group of 39 children who underwent allogeneic or autologous BMT for haematological malignancies between 1992 and 1995. Four patients developed pneumonia within the first 3 months and three 3-6 months after BMT. A considerable percentage of acute bronchitis was recorded throughout the follow-up. Three patients died after the 6 month visit because of pneumonia (two patients) and pulmonary aspergillosis (one patient). No patients had obstructive lung disease syndrome. At 3 months after BMT, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TL,CO) significantly decreased, but FEV1/FVC ratio and maximal expiratory flow at 25% of FVC remained unchanged, suggesting a restrictive defect with diffusion impairment. At 18 months, there was a progressive recovery in lung function, although only 11 patients had normalized. Seropositivity for cytomegalovirus had a significant effect on lung function whereas graft-versus-host disease also had an effect, although it was not statistically significant. Baseline respiratory function, type of transplant, type of conditioning regimen and respiratory infections did not significantly affect the outcome of BMT. The high frequency of severe lung function abnormalities found in this study, suggests a careful functional monitoring in all subjects undergoing bone marrow transplantation, even in the absence of respiratory symptoms.
A phase II trial of high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) supported by hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) in germ-cell tumors (GCTs) patients failing cisplatin-based chemotherapy: the Multicentric TAXIF II study
Authors: F. Selle, S. Wittnebel, P. Biron, G. Gravis, G. Roubaud, B.N. Bui, R. Delva, J.O. Bay, A. Fléchon, L. Geoffrois, A. Caty, D.G. Soares, T. de Revel, K. Fizazi, J. Gligorov, J.M. Micléa, C. Dubot, S. Provent, I. Temby, M. Gaulet, E. Horn, I. Brindel, J.P. Lotz
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)
Pleuropericardial effusion: a diagnostic conundrum
Authors: Sachin Kumar, Suman Lata, Yashwant Patidar
Journal: Thorax (2013)

Pleuropericardial effusion as a presenting feature raises the possibility of infectious, neoplastic and connective tissue disorders.1 However, unusual pathophysiological mechanisms may sometimes pose a diagnostic conundrum in certain clinical contexts. Simultaneous pleuropericardial effusion secondary to obstructive uropathy is such a rare scenario with no report mentioned in the published literature.

A 62-year-old man presented with progressive dyspnoea and left flank pain for 1 month. A CT scan revealed massive …
The autoimmune blistering skin disease bullous pemphigoid. The presence of plasmin/alpha 2-antiplasmin complexes in skin blister fluid indicates plasmin generation in lesional skin.
Authors: M D Kramer, J Reinartz
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (1993)

Plasminogen activators produced locally in the skin have been implicated in blistering skin diseases. To explore whether plasminogen activators convert their substrate plasminogen into plasmin locally in the lesional skin we have analyzed the autoimmune blistering skin disease bullous pemphigoid. Enzyme activity was detected in bullous pemphigoid skin blister fluid by using a low molecular weight chromogenic substrate for plasmin. Enzyme activity was detected neither in suction blister fluid raised on normal skin nor in normal plasma. Immunoprecipitation or fractionation by molecular sieve chromatography of bullous pemphigoid skin blister fluid followed by testing in immunoassays disclosed putative plasmin/alpha 2-macroglobulin complexes and plasmin/alpha 2-antiplasmin complexes. Enzyme activity detected in bullous pemphigoid skin blister fluid by the low molecular weight chromogenic peptide assay was ascribed to the putative plasmin pha 2-macroglobulin complexes. Because formation of plasmin-inhibitor complexes requires the active plasmin, our findings indicate previous activation of plasminogen to plasmin in skin lesions. There was no evidence for free plasmin (i.e., plasmin not complexed to inhibitors) in bullous pemphigoid blister fluid, suction blister fluid, or plasma.
A randomised, placebo-controlled trial of weekly paclitaxel and saracatinib (AZD0530) in platinum-resistant ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal cancer
Authors: I.A. McNeish, J.A. Ledermann, L. Webber, L. James, S.B. Kaye, M. Hall, G. Hall, A. Clamp, H. Earl, S. Banerjee, R. Kristeleit, F. Raja, A. Feeney, C. Lawrence, L. Dawson-Athey, M. Persic, I. Khan
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)
Physiologic Cardiovascular Strain and Intrinsic Wave Imaging
Authors: Elisa Konofagou, Wei-Ning Lee, Jianwen Luo, Jean Provost, Jonathan Vappou
Journal: Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering (2011)

Cardiovascular disease remains the primary killer worldwide. The heart, essentially an electrically driven mechanical pump, alters its mechanical and electrical properties to compensate for loss of normal mechanical and electrical function. The same adjustment also is performed in the vessels, which constantly adapt their properties to accommodate mechanical and geometrical changes related to aging or disease. Real-time, quantitative assessment of cardiac contractility, conduction, and vascular function before the specialist can visually detect it could be feasible. This new physiologic data could open up interactive therapy regimens that are currently not considered. The eventual goal of this technology is to provide a specific method for estimating the position and severity of contraction defects in cardiac infarcts or angina. This would improve care and outcomes as well as detect stiffness changes and overcome the current global measurement limitations in the progression of vascular disease, at little more cost or risk than that of a clinical ultrasound.