tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Nationwide Survey on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Cancer Patients in Japan
Authors: Ichinosuke Hyodo, Noriko Amano, Kenji Eguchi, Masaru Narabayashi, Jiro Imanishi, Midori Hirai, Tomohito Nakano, Shigemitsu Takashima
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

Purpose To determine the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with cancer in Japan, and to compare the characteristics of CAM users and CAM nonusers. Patients and Methods A questionnaire on cancer CAM and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were delivered to 6,607 patients who were treated in 16 cancer centers and 40 palliative care units. Results There were 3,461 available replies for a response rate of 52.4%. The prevalence of CAM use was 44.6% (1,382 of 3,100) in cancer patients and 25.5% (92 of 361) in noncancer patients with benign tumors. Multiple logistic regression analysis determined that history of chemotherapy, institute (palliative care units), higher education, an altered outlook on life after cancer diagnosis, primary cancer site, and younger age were strongly associated with CAM use in cancer patients. Most of the CAM users with cancer (96.2%) used products such as mushrooms, herbs, and shark cartilage. The motivation for most CAM use was recommendation from family members or friends (77.7%) rather than personal choice (23.3%). Positive effects were experienced by 24.3% of CAM users with cancer, although all of them received conventional cancer therapy concurrently. Adverse reactions were reported by 5.3% of cancer patients. CAM products were used without sufficient information by 57.3% of users with cancer and without a consultation with a doctor by 60.7% of users. Conclusion This survey revealed a high prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients, without sufficient information or consultation with their physicians. Oncologists should not ignore the CAM products used by their patients because of a lack of proven efficacy and safety.
Validity of Substance Use Self-Reports in Dually Diagnosed Outpatients
Authors: Roger D. Weiss, Lisa M. Najavits, Shelly F. Greenfield, Jose A. Soto, Sarah R. Shaw, Dana Wyner
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1998)

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the validity of self-reports of substance use among outpatients dually diagnosed with substance use disorder and either bipolar disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder. METHOD: Self-reports of substance use were compared with supervised urine samples collected on the same day for 55 subjects. RESULTS: Self-reports were highly valid. Only 4.7% of cases involved subjects not reporting substance use detected by urine screens. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reports of substance use may be highly valid in nonpsychotic, dually diagnosed outpatients under certain conditions, i.e., when patients are in treatment, when urine samples are collected with patients' prior knowledge, when patients are well-known to staff, and when honest self-reporting is encouraged. (Am J Psychiatry 1998; 155:127–128)
Resolving Disagreements in the Patient-Physician Relationship
Authors: Wendy Levinson, Rita Gorawara-Bhat, Rodney Dueck, Barry Egener, Audiey Kao, Clark Kerr, Bernard Lo, David Perry, Karen Pollitz, Sandra Reifsteck, Terri Stein, John Santa, Maysel Kemp-White
Journal: JAMA (1999)

Managed care uses financial incentives and restrictions on tests and procedures to attempt to influence physician decision making and limit costs.Increasingly, the public is questioning whether physicians are truly making decisions based on the patient's best interest or are unduly influenced by economic incentives.These circumstances lead to the potential for disagreements and conflict in the patient-physician relationship.We convened a group of individuals in October 1998, including patient representatives, leaders from health care organizations, practicing physicians, communication experts, and medical ethicists, to articulate the types of disagreements emerging in the patient-physician relationship as a result of managed care.We addressed 3 specific scenarios physicians may encounter, including allocation, illustrated by a patient who is referred to a different ophthalmologist based on a new arrangement in the physician's group; access, illustrated by a patient who wishes to see his own physician for a same-day visit rather than a nurse specialist; and financial incentives, illustrated by a patient who expects to have a test performed and a physician who does not believe the test is necessary but is afraid the patient will think the physician is not ordering the test because of financial incentives.Using these scenarios, we suggest communication strategies that physicians can use to decrease the potential for disagreements.In addition, we propose strategies that health plans or physician groups can use to alleviate or resolve these disagreements.
Cardiovascular Reactivity in Acute and Chronic Renal Hypertensive Dogs
Authors: Irvine H. Page, Yoshihiro Kaneko, James W. McCubbin
Journal: Circulation Research (1966)

Both before and after pentobarbital anesthesia, cardiovascular responsiveness to norepinephrine, epinephrine and serotonin was increased and that to angiotensin was decreased when experimental renal hypertension was first elicited. Response to tyramine was strikingly enhanced. Several weeks later, during the chronic phase of hypertension, there was a slight and scarcely significant heightened response to norepinephrine, a clearly increased response to tyramine, and no change in that to serotonin, dimethylphenylpiperazinium iodide, and 3-hydroxy-phenyl-ethanolamine HCl. Study of the problem of variability of responsiveness showed relatively little difference in mean response to any of five pressor drugs with or without anesthesia and after sham operation. Hypertension produced by infusion of angiotensin into normal anesthetized dogs did not change the response to norepinephrine but more than doubled that to tyramine. When acute renal hypertension was produced in the same dogs, angiotensin infusion failed to cause further change in response to either substance. Infusion of angiotensin into dogs with chronic renal hypertension caused increased response to tyramine but not to norepinephrine. The perfused hind legs of dogs with acute renal hypertension showed clearly reduced responses to angiotensin with no concurrent change in responses to norepinephrine. The pressor response to serotonin was increased while that to tyramine was unchanged. During chronic hypertension responses were like the normal values. Hypertension caused by infusion of angiotensin decreased greatly the vasoconstrictor response to superimposed injections of angiotensin into the perfused leg circuit while norepinephrine responses were unchanged. Response to another peptide, vasopressin, was reduced like that to angiotensin. These studies suggest that during acute renal hypertension increased quantities of angiotensin are present and that there is a decrease in neural tone. The finding that during the chronic phase of hypertension, the response to tyramine alone remained elevated, suggests the presence of small amounts of angiotensin, i.e., enough to increase the pressor effectiveness of endogenous norepinephrine released by tyramine. During the chronic phase of hypertension, peripheral resistance appears relatively more dependent on neural control.
Continuous long-term anti-TNF therapy does not lead to an increase in the rate of new bone formation over 8 years in patients with ankylosing spondylitis
Authors: Xenofon Baraliakos, Hildrun Haibel, Joachim Listing, Joachim Sieper, Jürgen Braun
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Objective</h3> Compare the radiographic progression of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients treated with infliximab (INF) versus historical controls (Herne cohort, HC) never treated with tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-blockers over 8 years. <h3>Methods</h3> Patients were selected based on the availability of lateral cervical and lumbar radiographs at baseline (BL) and after 8 years. Radiographs were scored by two blinded readers using modified Stokes AS spinal score (mSASSS). Mixed linear models were applied to compare radiographic progression between cohorts after adjustment for baseline status. <h3>Results</h3> Patients in INF (n=22) and HC (n=34) did not differ in the mSASSS status: 13.2±17.6 in INF versus 14.2±13.8 in HC (p=0.254). Both showed progression at 8 years: mean mSASSS 20.2±21.4 in INF and 25.9±17.8 in HC. After adjustment for baseline damage the mean mSASSS (SEM) at 8 years was 21.0 (1.4) in INF and 25.5 (1.1) HC (p=0.047). The mean mSASSS difference was similar in the groups between baseline and 4 years but was more pronounced in HC between 4 and 8 years (p=0.03 between groups). The mean number of syndesmophytes, although similar at baseline, differed significantly at 8 years: 1.0±0.6 new syndesmophytes/patient in INF versus 2.7±0.8 in HC (p=0.007). Adjustment for age, symptom duration, HLA-B27, Bath AS disease activity index and Bath AS function index at baseline had no influence. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Despite limitations of patient numbers and retrospective study design, these data show increase in new bone formation in both patients treated with anti-TNF and those who did not. However, since there was even less bone formation in the INF treated group after 8 years, these data argue against a major role for the TNF-brake hypothesis.
Infections, Inflammation, and the Risk of Coronary Heart Disease
Authors: Merja Roivainen, Maarit Viik-Kajander, Timo Palosuo, Petri Toivanen, Maija Leinonen, Pekka Saikku, Leena Tenkanen, Vesa Manninen, Tapani Hovi, Matti Mänttäri
Journal: Circulation (2000)

The role of infections and inflammation in the pathophysiology of coronary heart disease is emerging. We studied the independent and joint effects of these 2 components on coronary risk.We measured baseline levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and antibodies to adenovirus, enterovirus, cytomegalovirus, and herpes simplex virus as well as to Chlamydia pneumoniae (Cpn) and Helicobacter pylori in 241 subjects who suffered either myocardial infarction or coronary death during the 8.5-year trial in the Helsinki Heart Study, a coronary primary prevention trial. The 241 controls in this nested case-control study were subjects who completed the study without coronary events. Antibody levels to herpes simplex type I (HSV-1) and to Cpn were higher in cases than in controls, whereas the distributions of antibodies to other infectious agents were similar. Mean CRP was higher in cases (4.4 versus 2.0 mg/L; P<0.001), and high CRP increased the risks associated with smoking and with high antimicrobial antibody levels. The odds ratios in subjects with high antibody and high CRP levels were 25.4 (95% CI 2.9-220.3) for HSV-1 and 5.4 (95% CI 2.4-12.4) for Cpn compared with subjects with low antibody levels and low CRP. High antibody levels to either HSV-1 or to Cpn increased the risk independently of the other, and their joint effect was close to additive.Two chronic infections, HSV-1 and Cpn, increase the risk of coronary heart disease. The effect is emphasized in subjects with ongoing inflammation, denoted by increased CRP levels.
Canine Hysteria and Agenized Flour
Authors: M. H. Clark, H. Parry, J. O. Joshua, O. Uvarov, S. F. J. Hodgman
Journal: BMJ (1948)

SIR,-Two years ago, in the early spring of 1946, 1 attended a meeting of practitioners of the Birmingham area at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital; there were about 600 present, and Dr. Dain was in the chair.I painted a picture of the political career of Aneurin Bevan, and I put forward a resolution worded thus, ' That in the opinion of this meeting negotiations with the present Minister of Health are not possible."Dr. Dain was on his feet immediately ; he remonstrated with me for pro- posing this,
Association Between Urinary Type IV Collagen Level and Deterioration of Renal Function in Type 2 Diabetic Patients Without Overt Proteinuria
Authors: Shin-ichi Araki, Masakazu Haneda, Daisuke Koya, Keiji Isshiki, Shinji Kume, Toshiro Sugimoto, Hiromichi Kawai, Yoshihiko Nishio, Atsunori Kashiwagi, Takashi Uzu, Hiroshi Maegawa
Journal: Diabetes Care (2010)

Cross-sectional studies have reported increased levels of urinary type IV collagen in diabetic patients with progression of diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to determine the role of urinary type IV collagen in predicting development and progression of early diabetic nephropathy and deterioration of renal function in a longitudinal study.Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes (n = 254, 185 with normoalbuminuria and 69 with microalbuminuria) were enrolled in an observational follow-up study. The associations of urinary type IV collagen with progression of nephropathy and annual decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were evaluated.At baseline, urinary type IV collagen levels were higher in patients with microalbuminuria than in those with normoalbuminuria and correlated with urinary beta(2)-microglobulin (beta = 0.57, P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (beta = 0.15, P < 0.01), eGFR (beta = 0.15, P < 0.01), and urinary albumin excretion rate (beta = 0.13, P = 0.01) as determined by multivariate regression analysis. In the follow-up study (median duration 8 years), urinary type IV collagen level at baseline was not associated with progression to a higher stage of diabetic nephropathy. However, the level of urinary type IV collagen inversely correlated with the annual decline in eGFR (gamma = -0.34, P < 0.001). Multivariate regression analysis identified urinary type IV collagen, eGFR at baseline, and hypertension as factors associated with the annual decline in eGFR.Our results indicate that high urinary excretion of type IV collagen is associated with deterioration of renal function in type 2 diabetic patients without overt proteinuria.
The Roles of Human Sucrose Nonfermenting Protein 2 Homologue in the Tumor-Promoting Functions of Rsf-1
Authors: Jim Jinn-Chyuan Sheu, Jung Hye Choi, Isil Yildiz, Fuu-Jen Tsai, Yosef Shaul, Tian-Li Wang, Ie-Ming Shih
Journal: Cancer Research (2008)

Abstract Rsf-1 interacts with human sucrose nonfermenting protein 2 homologue (hSNF2H) to form a chromatin remodeling complex that participates in several biological processes. We have previously shown that Rsf-1 gene amplification was associated with the most aggressive type of ovarian cancer and cancer cells with Rsf-1 overexpression depended on Rsf-1 to survive. In this report, we determine if formation of the Rsf-1/hSNF2H complex could be one of the mechanisms contributing to tumor cell survival and growth in ovarian carcinomas. Based on immunohistochemistry, we found that Rsf-1 and hSNF2H were co-upregulated in ovarian cancer tissues. Ectopic expression of Rsf-1 in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells with undetectable endogenous Rsf-1 expression enhanced hSNF2H protein levels and promoted SKOV3 tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. Our studies also indicated that induction of Rsf-1 expression affected the molecular partnership of hSNF2H and translocated hSNF2H into nuclei where it colocalized with Rsf-1. Furthermore, analysis of Rsf-1 deletion mutants showed that the Rsf-D4 fragment contained the hSNF2H binding site based on coimmunoprecipitation and in vitro competition assays. As compared with other truncated mutants, expression of Rsf-D4 resulted in remarkable growth inhibition in ovarian cancer cells with Rsf-1 gene amplification and overexpression, but not in those without detectable Rsf-1 expression. The above findings suggest that interaction between Rsf-1 and hSNF2H may define a survival signal in those tumors overexpressing Rsf-1. [Cancer Res 2008;68(11):4050–7]
Multivariate survival analysis using Cox's regression model
Authors: Erik Christensen
Journal: Hepatology (1987)

In recent years, the Cox regression model has been used increasingly for analysis of censored survival data.With this model, the pattern of association (covariation) of many predictor variables with survival is analyzed to identify the combination of variables which best predicts survival.The results can be presented as a "pocket chart," by which a prognostic index for a new subject can easily be obtained.By a simple graph, the prognostic index can be translated to estimates of the probability of surviving a given time or the median survival time predicted for the subject.In controlled clinical trials, the Cox model can be used to adjust for imbalance in variables influencing prognosis and to identify variables being associated with the treatment effect (therapeutic variables).This paper describes in rather simple and practical terms some of the concepts behind the model, how to perform the analyses and how to interpret and utilize the results.
Role of the Polarity Determinant Crumbs in Suppressing Mammalian Epithelial Tumor Progression
Authors: Cristina M. Karp, Ting Ting Tan, Robin Mathew, Deidre Nelson, Chandreyee Mukherjee, Kurt Degenhardt, Vassiliki Karantza-Wadsworth, Eileen White
Journal: Cancer Research (2008)

Most tumors are epithelial-derived, and although disruption of polarity and aberrant cellular junction formation is a poor prognosticator in human cancer, the role of polarity determinants in oncogenesis is poorly understood. Using in vivo selection, we identified a mammalian orthologue of the Drosophila polarity regulator crumbs as a gene whose loss of expression promotes tumor progression. Immortal baby mouse kidney epithelial cells selected in vivo to acquire tumorigenicity displayed dramatic repression of crumbs3 (crb3) expression associated with disruption of tight junction formation, apicobasal polarity, and contact-inhibited growth. Restoration of crb3 expression restored junctions, polarity, and contact inhibition while suppressing migration and metastasis. These findings suggest a role for mammalian polarity determinants in suppressing tumorigenesis that may be analogous to the well-studied polarity tumor suppressor mechanisms in Drosophila.
Management and prevention of exacerbations of COPD
Authors: S. D. Aaron
Journal: BMJ (2014)

Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are prone to acute respiratory exacerbations, which can develop suddenly or subacutely over the course of several days. Exacerbations have a detrimental effect on patients' health status and increase the burden on the healthcare system. Initial treatment is unsuccessful in 24-27% of patients, who have a relapse or a second exacerbation within 30 days of the initial event. No obvious benefit has been seen in recent clinical trials of anti-tumour necrosis factor therapy, anti-leukotriene therapy, intensive chest physiotherapy, or early inpatient pulmonary rehabilitation for treatment of exacerbations. By contrast, clinical trials of prevention rather than acute treatment have shown promising results. Long acting β agonist (LABA) or long acting anti-muscarinic (LAMA) bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroid-LABA combinations prevent exacerbations in patients at risk, with relative risk reductions averaging 14-27% for each of these drugs relative to placebo. Triple therapy with inhaled corticosteroid-LABA plus LAMA may provide additional benefit, although study results to date are heterogeneous and more studies are needed. Pneumonia is an important complication of treatment with inhaled corticosteroid-LABA products, and the risk of pneumonia seems to be doubled in patients with COPD who use fluticasone. The addition of azithromycin to usual COPD therapy prevents exacerbations, although it may prolong the Q-T interval and increase the risk of death from cardiovascular disease in patients prone to arrhythmia. New potential drugs—including mitogen activated protein kinase inhibitors, phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitors, and monoclonal antibodies to the interleukin 1 receptor—offer additional hope for treatments that may prevent exacerbations in the future.
Essential thrombocythemia associated with recurrent abortions and fetal growth retardation
Authors: John Falconer, Graham Pineo, Walter Blahey, Tom Bowen, Brian Docksteader, Inderman Jadusingh
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1987)

Abstract Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is one of the myeloproliferative disorders characterized by an elevated platelet count, usually greater than 1,000 × 10 9 /L. It may be associated with either hemorrhagic or thrombotic tendencies. Although it usually affects older people, we have recently encountered two young women with ET who had a total of six spontaneous abortions before the end of the first trimester. During her most recent pregnancy, one of the patients underwent plateletpheresis on four separate occasions before the 12th week. She reached 34 weeks but demonstrated evidence of fetal growth retardation and pre‐eclampsia. At delivery there were scattered villus infarcts in the placenta. Based on this patient and previous reports in the literature, we postulate that the spontaneous abortions, fetal growth retardation, and pre‐eclampsia may be related to the thrombocytosis and suggest that the use of antiplatelet agents throughout pregnancy should be seriously considered in such cases.
Therapeutic use of infliximab in sight threatening uveitis: retrospective analysis of efficacy, safety, and limiting factors
Authors: B Bodaghi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2005)

Anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) molecules have become a valuable addition to the therapeutic armamentarium for patients with severe uveitis.1–7 A retrospective study was conducted from June 2001 to June 2003 including patients with a refractory uveitis, resistant to corticosteroids and conventional immunosuppressive drugs. Patients were screened for infectious conditions. Informed consent was obtained in all cases. Treatment was given if patients were suffering. Infliximab was initially given at a dose of 5 mg/kg, renewed at weeks 2, 6, and every 8 weeks, and then every 10–12 weeks when uveitis had been controlled for more than 6 months. Prednisone and immunosuppressive drugs were tapered progressively if there was no evidence of ocular inflammation. Dose escalation (10 mg/kg) was proposed when relapse or secondary resistance occurred.

Twelve patients (21 eyes) were included in this study (mean …
Collagen Deposition in Large Airways May Not Differentiate Severe Asthma from Milder Forms of the Disease
Authors: HONG WEI CHU, JANET L. HALLIDAY, RICHARD J. MARTIN, DONALD Y. M. LEUNG, STANLEY J. SZEFLER, SALLY E. WENZEL
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1998)

Chronic airway inflammation and remodeling, including fibrosis, have been proposed as important contributors to asthma pathophysiology. Previous studies of airway fibrosis have been performed mainly in mild and moderate asthmatics at the subepithelial "basement membrane" (SBM) level. The current study was designed to evaluate the large airway SBM thickness and submucosal collagen deposition, as measured by three different collagen staining methods, in endobronchial biopsies from 17 severe, nine moderate, and seven mild asthmatics, as well as eight normal control subjects. Tissue eosinophils and transforming growth factor- β (TGF- β ) immunoreactivity were also examined. There were no statistically significant differences in the SBM thickness, submucosal collagen deposition, eosinophil numbers, or TGF- β positive cells among the three groups of asthmatics and the normal control subjects. It was only when examining all asthmatics (n = 33) together, that a modestly thickened SBM (p = 0.04), as evaluated by collagen type III immunostaining, was observed as compared with normal control subjects. Despite this difference, no significant differences were found in the amount of submucosal collagen deposition and the number of eosinophils or TGF- β expressing cells when comparing total asthmatics and normal control subjects. Additionally, no significant correlations were found between collagen deposition and eosinophil count, TGF- β expression level, FEV1, or duration of asthma. These results suggest that although increased collagen deposition in the SBM at the large airway level is a characteristic of asthma, it may not explain the differences in severity of asthma.