tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary epithelial permeability is immediately increased after embolisation with oleic acid but not with neutral fat.
Authors: J G Jones, B D Minty, J M Beeley, D Royston, J Crow, R F Grossman
Journal: Thorax (1982)

Pulmonary fat embolism occurs frequently after trauma but its functional significance is often unclear. To obtain direct evidence of lung damage caused by fat embolism we have measured changes in permeability of the alveolar-capillary interface. A permeability index was derived from the half time clearance from lung to blood (T1/2LB) of 99mTcDTPA introduced into the lung in a 1 ml bolus. Three groups of rabbits were studied. Baseline T1/2LB. did not differ significantly between groups. After intravenous injection of saline placebo in one group and of 300 mg/kg triolein in another group there was no change in permeability index. After intravenous injection of 100 mg/kg oleic acid in the third group there was an immediate change in T1/2LB from a monoexponential baseline 280 +/- 20 min (SEM) to a multiexponential curve which was resolved into two components, one with a T1/2LB of 3.2 +/- 0.6 min (SEM) and the other 39.5 +/- 7.6 min (SEM). Statistically significant changes in alveolar-arterial PO2 difference, dynamic compliance, chest radiography, and postmortem lung water accompanied the changes in T1/2LB in this group. There were no significant changes in these variables in the placebo or triolein group. Histological studies of the lung tissue of these animals using the osmic acid stain for fat showed no fat in the placebo group, extensive fat embolisation which was densely stained in the triolein group and much less densely stained fat in the oleic acid group. Measurement of the permeability of the alveolar-capillary interface provides direct evidence of lung damage after oleic acid embolisation. There were no functional changes in animals with extensive embolisation with triolein.
Upper limb injury in rugby union football: results of a cohort study
Authors: Juliana Usman, Andrew Stuart McIntosh
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2012)

Background There have been few in-depth studies of upper limb injury epidemiology in rugby union football, despite reports that they accounted for between 14% and 28% of all rugby injuries. Objective To report on upper limb injury incidence, injury severity and to identify the risk factors associated with upper limb injuries, for example, level of play, season (years) and playing position. Design Prospective cohort study across five rugby seasons from 2004 to 2008. Setting Formal rugby competitions—suburban, provincial and international. Participants 1475 adult male rugby players in Colts, Grade and Elite competitions. Main outcome measurements An upper limb injury resulting in a missed game and its characteristics. Results A total of 61 598 athletic exposures (AE) and 606 upper limb injuries were recorded. About 66% of the injuries were to the shoulder. The overall upper limb injury incidence rate (IIR) was 9.84 injuries/1000 AE (95% CI 9.06 to 10.62). Statistically significant associations were found between upper limb injuries and level of play; and between shoulder injuries and playing position (p&lt;0.05). No association was found between upper limb and shoulder injuries and study year. The overall upper limb IIR decreased as the level of play increased; 10.74 upper limb injuries/1000 AE (95% CI 9.93 to 11.56) in Colts to 6.07 upper limb injuries/1000 AE (95% CI 5.46 to 6.69) in Elite. Conclusions The upper limb IIR decreased as the level of play increased indicating that age, level of skill and playing experience may be risk factors for upper limb injury.
P71 Population Based Epidemiology, Treatment And Prognosis Of Malignant Mesothelioma In Leeds, Uk - A Matched Historical Comparison
Authors: R. Raju, M. Callister
Journal: Thorax (2014)

<h3>Introduction and objectives</h3> Since 2006 the National Lung Cancer Audit has provided increasingly comprehensive data on diagnosis, management and survival in patients with malignant mesothelioma on the UK. However, comparisons over a longer time period are hindered by a lack of comparable data. A previous population-based study of mesothelioma in Leeds, UK provided information on patients diagnosed between 2002 and 2005 (Thorax 2008;63:435). This current study describes the results of a matched analysis covering the years 2008–2013, allowing comparison with a historical cohort. <h3>Methods</h3> 140 patients diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma within the geographical boundaries of Leeds (CCG) were identified from 2008 to 2013 using Cancer Registry and National Lung Cancer Audit data. Clinical records from Leeds Teaching Hospitals (n = 136) or surrounding district hospitals (n = 4) were reviewed for information relating to disease characteristics at presentation, management and survival. <h3>Results</h3> Clinical information for the current cohort is shown in Table 1 alongside data from the matched historical cohort from 2002–2005. The incidence per 100,000 population fell from 4.9 in 2002–2005 to 2.9 in 2008–2013. This partly reflects an increase in the population of the area covered over the time period (from 750,000 as described in the previous study to 806,683 in the current period). Comparing earlier and later cohorts, there was a significant increase in the proportion of patients with a specific histological subtype (36% vs 86% respectively, p &lt; 0.001) with a large rise in the proportion of epithelioid cases (32% vs 71% respectively). Similarly, comparing management of pleural effusion, the use of talc insufflation remained similar (38% vs 44% respectively) with increased use of indwelling pleural catheters (12% vs 22% respectively) and a reduction in talc slurry pleurodesis (15% vs 1% respectively). Overall treatment rates with palliative chemotherapy rose from 18% to 38% (p = 0.0002). Median survival rose from 267 days (95% CI 178–356) to 380 days (95% CI 252–397) between the two cohorts. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The current study shows an unexpected reduction in measured incidence in Leeds, raising the possibility of incomplete case ascertainment in this study period. Specific histological subtyping, rates of palliative chemotherapy, and median survival increased between the cohorts.
Elevated pretreatment serum levels of interferon‐inducible protein‐10 (CXCL10) predict disease relapse and prognosis in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma patients
Authors: Stephen M. Ansell, Matthew J. Maurer, Steven C. Ziesmer, Susan L. Slager, Thomas M. Habermann, Brian K. Link, Thomas E. Witzig, William R. Macon, Ahmet Dogan, James R. Cerhan, Anne J. Novak
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (2012)

Although standard clinical prognostic factors predict outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), predicting the outcome of patients might be further refined using biological factors. We tested whether serum cytokines could provide prognostic information in DLBCL patients. Thirty cytokines were measured in pretreatment samples from newly diagnosed DLBCL patients using a multiplex ELISA. Sixty-nine patients treated with R-CHOP plus epratuzumab were used in an initial cohort and 185 patients treated with standard R-CHOP served as a subsequent validation cohort. In the initial cohort, elevated serum interleukin-10 [IL-10; hazard ratio (HR) = 6.6, P = 0.022], granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (HR = 10.8, P= 0.027) and IP-10 (interferon-inducible protein-10, CXCL10; HR = 3.32, P = 0.015) were associated with event-free survival (EFS). An identical analysis of the subsequent validation cohort confirmed that elevated serum levels of IP-10 were strongly associated with a poor EFS (HR = 2.42, P = 0.0007); and also identified interleukin-8 (IL-8; HR = 3.40, P = 0.00002) and interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R, CD25; HR = 2.59, P = 0.0012) as significantly associated with prognosis. The prognostic significance of elevated IP-10 remained significant after adjustment for the International Prognostic Index (EFS - HR 1.99, P = 0.009, overall survival-HR 1.93, P = 0.021). Elevated pretreatment serum IP-10 levels are therefore associated with an increased likelihood of disease relapse and an inferior survival in patients with DLBCL.
Disability among Elderly Survivors of Mechanical Ventilation
Authors: Amber E. Barnato, Steven M. Albert, Derek C. Angus, Judith R. Lave, Howard B. Degenholtz
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2010)

Studies of long-term functional outcomes of elderly survivors of mechanical ventilation (MV) are limited to local samples and biased retrospective, proxy-reported preadmission functional status.To assess the impact on disability of hospitalization with MV, compared with hospitalization without MV, accounting for prospectively assessed prior functional status.Retrospective population-based longitudinal cohort study of Medicare beneficiaries age 65 and older enrolled in the Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey, 1996-2003.Premeasures and postmeasures of disability included mobility difficulty and weighted activities of daily living disability scores ranging from 0 (not disabled) to 100 (completely disabled) based on self-reported health and functional status collected 1 year apart. Among 54,771 person-years (PY) of observation over 7 calendar years of data, 42,890 PY involved no hospitalization, 11,347 PY involved a hospitalization without MV, and 534 PY included a hospitalization with MV. Mortality at 1 year was 8.9%, 23.9%, and 72.5%, respectively. The level of disability at the postassessment was substantially higher for a prototypical patient who survived after hospitalization with MV (adjusted activities of daily living disability score [95% confidence interval] 14.9 [12.2-17.7]; adjusted mobility difficulty score [95% confidence interval] 25.4 [22.4-28.4]) compared with an otherwise identical patient who survived hospitalization without MV (11.5 [11.1-11.9] and 22.3 [21.8-22.9]) or who was not hospitalized (8.0 [7.9-8.1] and 13.4 [13.3-13.6]).The greater marginal increase in disability among survivors of MV compared with survivors of hospitalization without MV is larger than would be predicted from prior functional status.
Effects of corticosteroids in acute severe asthma.
Authors: N C Barnes
Journal: Thorax (1992)

Effects of corticosteroids in acute severe asthma Most respiratory physicians would subscribe to the view that systemic corticosteroids are essential in the man- agement of acute severe asthma, though there have been dissenting voices.'2Studies of asthma deaths have high- lighted failure to use systemic corticosteroids as a risk factor for death from asthma.3The recently published guidelines on the management of acute severe asthma emphasise the importance of systemic corticosteroids.4Yet in this issue of Thorax two trials are reported of the use of corticosteroids in acute severe asthma that provide little evidence of any therapeutic effect.56Can the apparent contradiction between the results of these and other trials showing no benefit for steroids in acute severe asthma and the widely held belief that they are essential be resolved?This requires an examination of our understanding of the pathogenesis of acute severe asthma, the mechanism of action of corticosteroids in asthma, and a review of published trials.
Ventilation inhomogeneity in children with primary ciliary dyskinesia
Authors: Kent Green, Frederik F Buchvald, June Kehlet Marthin, Birgitte Hanel, Per M Gustafsson, Kim Gjerum Nielsen
Journal: Thorax (2011)

<h3>Background</h3> The lung clearance index (LCI) derived from the multiple breath inert gas washout (MBW) test reflects global ventilation distribution inhomogeneity. It is more sensitive than forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV<sub>1</sub>) for detecting abnormal airway function and correlates closely with structural lung damage in children with cystic fibrosis, which shares features with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). Normalised phase III slope indices S<sub>cond</sub> and S<sub>acin</sub> reflect function of the small conducting and acinar airways, respectively. The involvement of the peripheral airways assessed by MBW tests has not been previously described in PCD. <h3>Methods</h3> A cross-sectional MBW study was performed in 27 children and adolescents with verified PCD, all clinically stable and able to perform lung function tests. LCI, S<sub>cond</sub> (n=23) and S<sub>acin</sub> (n=23) were derived from MBW using a mass spectrometer and sulfur hexafluoride as inert marker gas. MBW indices were compared with present age, age at diagnosis and spirometry findings, and were related to published normative values. <h3>Results</h3> LCI, S<sub>cond</sub> and S<sub>acin</sub> were abnormal in 85%, 96% and 78% of patients with PCD and in 81%, 93% and 79%, respectively, of 13/27 subjects with normal FEV<sub>1</sub>. LCI and S<sub>acin</sub> correlated significantly while S<sub>cond</sub> did not correlate with any other lung function parameters. None of the lung function measurements correlated with age or age at diagnosis. <h3>Conclusions</h3> PCD is characterised by marked peripheral airway dysfunction. MBW seems promising in the early detection of lung damage, even in young patients with PCD. The relationship of MBW indices to the outcome of long-term disease and their role in the management of PCD need to be assessed.
The Polycomb Group Protein Bmi-1 Is Essential for the Growth of Multiple Myeloma Cells
Authors: Zainab Jagani, Dmitri Wiederschain, Alice Loo, Dan He, Rebecca Mosher, Paul Fordjour, John Monahan, Michael Morrissey, Yung-Mae Yao, Christoph Lengauer, Markus Warmuth, William R. Sellers, Marion Dorsch
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Bmi-1 is a member of the Polycomb group family of proteins that function in the epigenetic silencing of genes governing self-renewal, differentiation, and proliferation. Bmi-1 was first identified through its ability to accelerate c-Myc-induced lymphomagenesis. Subsequent studies have further supported an oncogenic role for Bmi-1 in several cancers including those of the breast, lung, prostate, and brain. Using a stable and inducible shRNA system to silence Bmi-1 gene expression, we show a novel role for Bmi-1 in regulating the growth and clonogenic capacity of multiple myeloma cells both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, to elucidate novel gene targets controlled by Bmi-1, global transcriptional profiling studies were performed in the setting of induced loss of Bmi-1 function. We found that the expression of the proapoptotic gene Bim is negatively regulated by Bmi-1 and that Bim knockdown functionally rescues the apoptotic phenotype induced upon loss of Bmi-1. Therefore, these studies not only highlight Bmi-1 as a cancer-dependent factor in multiple myeloma, but also elucidate a novel antiapoptotic mechanism for Bmi-1 function involving the suppression of Bim.
Spinal trabecular bone mineral content in patients with non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis.
Authors: J E Compston, E O Crawley, C Evans, M M O'Sullivan
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (1988)

Spinal trabecular bone mineral content was measured in the first, second, and third lumbar vertebrae by quantitative computed tomography in 88 patients with non-steroid treated rheumatoid arthritis. Results were compared with those obtained in 105 healthy control subjects. The mean bone mineral content in the patient group, 135.8 (SD 32.8) mg/ml K2HOP4, was significantly lower than that in the controls (151.9 (32.1) mg/ml, p less than 0.01). Division of patients and controls into three age groups showed that the reduction in bone mineral content was most marked in the youngest age group (21-40 years), the mean value in male patients being significantly lower than in controls (149.6 (51.3) v 171.7 (23.9) mg/ml K2HPO4, p less than 0.05); in female patients in this age group the corresponding values were 160 (26.1) v 178.4 (22.0) mg/ml, 0.05 less than p less than 0.1). No significant difference in mean values between patients and controls was found in the other age groups. Of the 88 patients, six (7%) had abnormally low values, defined as a bone mineral content greater than 2 SD below the normal mean. One vertebral crush fracture was found in one patient but not in any of the controls. No correlation was found between bone mineral content and body weight, duration of disease, or disability as assessed by the London and Steinbroker methods. These results demonstrate a lower spinal trabecular bone mineral content in non-steroid treated patients with rheumatoid arthritis than in age and sex matched controls, the difference being most marked in younger patients. The finding of abnormally low values in 7% of the patients indicates a slightly increased prevalence of spinal osteoporosis in these patients.
A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study of immunotherapy with an alginate‐conjugated extract of <i>Parietaria Judaica</i> in patients with <i>Parietaria</i> hay fever
Authors: C. Ortolani, E. A. Pastorello, C. Incorvaia, M. Ispano, L. Farioli, C. Zara, V. Pravettoni, C. Zanussi
Journal: Allergy (1994)

A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of immunotherapy (IT) with a partially purified alginate‐conjugated extract of Parietaria judaica (Conjuvac® Parietaria , Dome/Hollister‐Stier) in patients suffering from rhinoconjunctivitis caused by Parietaria pollen. Eighteen patients (10 women, 8 men, mean age 35 years) received active treatment and 17 (10 women, 7 men, mean age 42.5 years) received placebo. Actively treated patients had significantly lower nasal symptom/medication scores (running nose P = 0.0087 and sneezing P = 0.048) during the Parietaria pollen season. Significant decreases in specific skin ( P &gt; 0.01), nasal ( P &gt; 0.05), and conjunctival ( P &gt; 0.01) reactivity to the Parietaria extract and significant increases of specific IgG ( P &gt; 0.001), IgGI ( P &gt; 0.001), and IgG4 ( P &gt; 0.001) in actively treated patients, but not in placebo, were found. IT was well tolerated, the active extract inducing five mild systemic reactions (four rhinitis and one urticaria) and placebo two (rhinitis). A significant correlation was found between low skin reactivity and high specific IgG ( P = 0.0002) and IgG4 ( P = 0.036). These findings indicate that IT with a partially purified P. judaica extract is an effective and safe treatment for Parietaria pollen allergy. The correlation between low immediate skin reactivity and high specific IgG and IgG4 suggests that, at least in the studied cutaneous model, these antibodies may exert a blocking effect.
Working Memory Control in Patients With Schizophrenia: A PET Study During a Random Number Generation Task
Authors: Eric Artiges, Pierre Salamé, Christophe Recasens, Jean-Baptiste Poline, Dominique Attar-Levy, Anne De la Raillère, Marie Laure Paillère-Martinot, Jean-Marie Danion, Jean-Luc Martinot
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2000)

The authors' goal was to investigate brain regions involved in the deficiency of working memory control processes in patients with schizophrenia.Regional cerebral blood flow was measured with positron emission tomography in eight men with stabilized schizophrenia and eight healthy men while they were performing a graded random number generation task. Twelve scans were made for each subject. Covariations between randomness of responses and regional activation were analyzed.The pattern of covariation between randomness of responses and activation in the anterior cingulate and superior parietal regions differed between patients and healthy subjects.These results suggest a cinguloparietal dysfunction underlying the impairment of working memory control processes during a random number generation task in patients with schizophrenia.
Obstructive sleep apnoea is associated with diabetes in sleepy subjects
Authors: P E Ronksley, B R Hemmelgarn, S J Heitman, P J Hanly, P D Faris, H Quan, W H Tsai
Journal: Thorax (2009)

Although obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) has been linked to insulin resistance and glucose intolerance, it is unclear whether there is an independent association between OSA and diabetes mellitus (DM) and whether all patients with OSA are at risk. The objective of this study was to determine the association between OSA and DM in a large cohort of patients referred for sleep diagnostic testing.A cross-sectional analysis of participants in a clinic-based study was conducted between July 2005 and August 2007. DM was defined by self-report and concurrent use of diabetic medications (oral hypoglycaemics and/or insulin). Sensitivity analysis was performed using a validated administrative definition of diabetes. OSA was defined by the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) using polysomnography or ambulatory monitoring. Severe OSA was defined as an RDI > or = 30/h. Subjective sleepiness was defined as an Epworth Sleepiness Scale score > or = 10.Complete data were available for 2149 patients. The prevalence of DM increased with increasing OSA severity (p<0.001). Severe OSA was associated with DM following adjustment for patient demographics, weight and neck circumference (odds ratio (OR) 2.18; 95% CI 1.22 to 3.89; p<0.01). Following a stratified analysis, this relationship was observed exclusively in sleepy patients (OR 2.59 (95% CI 1.35 to 4.97) vs 1.16 (95% CI 0.31 to 4.37) in non-sleepy patients).Severe OSA is independently associated with DM in patients who report excessive sleepiness. Future studies investigating the impact of OSA treatment on DM may wish to focus on this patient population.
How periodontal disease may contribute to cardiovascular disease
Authors: DENIS F. KINANE, GORDON D. O. LOWE
Journal: Periodontology 2000 (2000)

Coronary artery disease is the major cause of premature death among men in industrialized countries, and its pathological basis is atherosclerosis.Hemostatic and rheological variables are associated with both prevalent and incident cardiovascular disease and may be mechanisms through which risk factors such as smoking, hyperlipidemia and infections (including periodontal disease) may promote vascular events.Rheological variables (which influence blood flow) are consistently associated with both prevalent and incident cardiovascular disease, possibly because they play a role in localizing atherosclerosis and thrombosis, as well as promoting ischemia.The associations of whole-blood viscosity with cardiovascular disease are partly explained by plasma viscosity and partly by hematocrit.White cell count, but not platelet count, predicts ischemic heart disease events.Cigarette smokers have higher levels of all rheological variables than nonsmokers; these increases are partly or wholly reversible in ex-smokers.Other risk factors such as blood lipids and blood pressure also influence rheological variables.Among hemostatic variables, fibrinogen, factor VIII, von Willebrand's factor complex, tissue plasminogen activator antigen and fibrin D-dimer are associated with both prevalent and incident cardiovascular disease.These findings suggest that endothelial disturbance and increased fibrin turnover may play roles in cardiovascular disease.The association between dental infections and cardiovascular disease has been reviewed recently and will not be covered here (2).The multifactorial causation of cardiovascular disease and the many risk factors and associations attributed to this condition are shown in Fig. 1 (27).Periodontitis and atherosclerosis have many potential pathogenic mechanisms in common.Both diseases have complex causation, genetic and gender predispositions,