tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Influence of different factors in maximal nasal inspiratory pressure (SNIP) values in healthy volunteers
Authors: Ana Balañá, Juana Martínez Llorens, Pilar Ausin, Mireia Admetllo, Mohamed Kallauchi, Laura Gutiérrez, Joaquim Gea
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Inspiratory muscle force is usually evaluated through the maximal inspiratory mouth pressure during static manoeuvre (MIP). Nevertheless, the lack of coordination between the patient and the technician hampers the correct evaluation of MIP. In order to overcome this limitation, a dynamic nasal manoeuvre has been described (SNIP). The SNIP test measures the maximal inspiratory pressure obtained in the nose during a sniff manoeuvre. However, the influence of methodological issues on the results of the SNIP have not been described in deep.  Aim: To evaluate the relevance of three methodological factors on SNIP values.  Method: 35 healthy volunteers were included in a transversal blind study (11men, 28±11years). The nostril chosen for the study was selected according to the best SNIP value obtained. We analyse three different factors which could influence the results of the manoeuvre: open vs. occluded contralateral nostril, RV(residual volume) vs. FRC(functional residual capacity) for the initial lung volume, and visual feed-back incentive or not.  Results: The SNIP values were significantly modified by either the visual stimulus or the occlusion of the contralateral nostril. However, lung volume chosen to initiate the manoeuvre did not affect the SNIP values.   Conclusion: The technique to obtain the SNIP should be standardized since different methodological factors (such as visual feed-back and occlusion of the contralateral nostril) can modify the results.
Clinical improvement and amyloid regression after liver transplantation in hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis
Authors: G Holmgren, L Steen, O Suhr, B.-G Ericzon, C.-G Groth, O Andersen, B.G Wallin, A Seymour, S Richardson, P.N Hawkins, M.B Pepys
Journal: The Lancet (1993)
Pinpointing clinical diagnosis through whole exome sequencing to direct patient care: a case of Senior-Loken syndrome
Authors: Jamie M Ellingford, Panagiotis I Sergouniotis, Rachel Lennon, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Simon G Williams, Kate A Hillman, James O'Sullivan, Georgina Hall, Simon C Ramsden, I Christopher Lloyd, Adrian S Woolf, Graeme C M Black
Journal: The Lancet (2015)
Application of independent component analysis to microarrays
Authors: Su-In Lee, Serafim Batzoglou
Journal: Genome biology (2003)

We apply linear and nonlinear independent component analysis (ICA) to project microarray data into statistically independent components that correspond to putative biological processes, and to cluster genes according to over- or under-expression in each component. We test the statistical significance of enrichment of gene annotations within clusters. ICA outperforms other leading methods, such as principal component analysis, k-means clustering and the Plaid model, in constructing functionally coherent clusters on microarray datasets from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Caenorhabditis elegans and human.
Doctors are warned not to prescribe generic pregabalin for pain control
Authors: J. Wise
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Field studies were conducted on <i>Vitis vinifera</i> L. cvs. Cabernet franc and Merlot to evaluate the effects of basal leaf removal timing and severity on 3-isobutyl-2-methoxypyrazine (IBMP) concentration in grape berries. Treatments consisted of removing either 50% or 100% of leaves from the fruiting zone at either 10 days after anthesis, 40 days after anthesis, or 60 days after anthesis. In the second year of the Cabernet franc study, a 15-day postveraison leaf removal treatment was also included. In both years of the Cabernet franc study, significant reductions in IBMP (range = 28 to 53%) were observed before veraison compared with the control in both 10 days after anthesis treatments (50% and 100% leaf removal). In 2007, all leaf removal treatments significantly reduced IBMP concentrations compared with the control (46 to 88%) in Cabernet franc berries at harvest, with the greatest reduction observed in the 100% leaf removal treatments at 10 days after anthesis and 40 days after anthesis. In 2008, the 100% leaf removal treatment at 10 days after anthesis and the 50 and 100% leaf removal treatments at 40 days after anthesis significantly reduced IBMP concentrations (34 to 60%) in mature Cabernet franc berries. In the Merlot trial, all leaf removal treatments significantly reduced IBMP concentrations (38 to 52%) at harvest. In summary, early season (10 to 40 day after anthesis) basal leaf removal reduced IBMP accumulation preveraison compared with the control in both studies, suggesting that early leaf removal is a more effective management strategy to reduce IBMP accumulation in grape berries than leaf removal later in the season.
Impact of Age on the Efficacy of Newer Adjuvant Therapies in Patients With Stage II/III Colon Cancer: Findings From the ACCENT Database
Authors: Nadine J. McCleary, Jeffrey A. Meyerhardt, Erin Green, Greg Yothers, Aimery de Gramont, Eric Van Cutsem, Michael O'Connell, Christopher J. Twelves, Leonard B. Saltz, Daniel G. Haller, Daniel J. Sargent
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

Purpose Prior studies have suggested that patients with stage II/III colon cancer receive similar benefit from intravenous (IV) fluoropyrimidine adjuvant therapy regardless of age. Combination regimens and oral fluorouracil (FU) therapy are now standard. We examined the impact of age on colon cancer recurrence and mortality after adjuvant therapy with these newer options. Patients and Methods We analyzed 11,953 patients age &lt; 70 and 2,575 age ≥ 70 years from seven adjuvant therapy trials comparing IV FU with oral fluoropyrimidines (capecitabine, uracil, or tegafur) or combinations of fluoropyrimidines with oxaliplatin or irinotecan in stage II/III colon cancer. End points were disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and time to recurrence (TTR). Results In three studies comparing oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy with IV FU, statistically significant interactions were not observed between treatment arm and age (P interaction = .09 for DFS, .05 for OS, and .36 for TTR), although the stratified point estimates suggested limited benefit from the addition of oxaliplatin in elderly patients (DFS hazard ratio [HR], 0.94; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.13; OS HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.27). No significant interactions by age were detected with oral fluoropyrimidine therapy compared with IV FU; noninferiority was supported in both age populations. Conclusion Patients age ≥ 70 years seemed to experience reduced benefit from adding oxaliplatin to fluoropyrimidines in the adjuvant setting, although statistically, there was not a significant effect modification by age, whereas oral fluoropyrimidines retained their efficacy.
Quantitative Ultrasound Evaluation of Tumor Cell Death Response in Locally Advanced Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Chemotherapy
Authors: Ali Sadeghi-Naini, Naum Papanicolau, Omar Falou, Judit Zubovits, Rebecca Dent, Sunil Verma, Maureen Trudeau, Jean Francois Boileau, Jacqueline Spayne, Sara Iradji, Ervis Sofroni, Justin Lee, Sharon Lemon-Wong, Martin Yaffe, Michael C. Kolios, Gregory J. Czarnota
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2013)

Quantitative ultrasound techniques have been recently shown to be capable of detecting cell death through studies conducted on in vitro and in vivo models. This study investigates for the first time the potential of early detection of tumor cell death in response to clinical cancer therapy administration in patients using quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic methods.Patients (n = 24) with locally advanced breast cancer received neoadjuvant chemotherapy treatments. Ultrasound data were collected before treatment onset and at 4 times during treatment (weeks 1, 4, and 8, and preoperatively). Quantitative ultrasound parameters were evaluated for clinically responsive and nonresponding patients.Results indicated that quantitative ultrasound parameters showed significant changes for patients who responded to treatment, and no similar alteration was observed in treatment-refractory patients. Such differences between clinically and pathologically determined responding and nonresponding patients were statistically significant (P < 0.05) after 4 weeks of chemotherapy. Responding patients showed changes in parameters related to cell death with, on average, an increase in mid-band fit and 0-MHz intercept of 9.1 ± 1.2 dBr and 8.9 ± 1.9 dBr, respectively, whereas spectral slope was invariant. Linear discriminant analysis revealed a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 83.3% for distinguishing nonresponding patients by the fourth week into a course of chemotherapy lasting several months.This study reports for the first time that quantitative ultrasound spectroscopic methods can be applied clinically to evaluate cancer treatment responses noninvasively. The results form a basis for monitoring chemotherapy effects and facilitating the personalization of cancer treatment.
Comparative pharmacokinetics of 14C-sucrose in RG-2 rat gliomas after intravenous and convection-enhanced delivery
Authors: Michael Vavra, M. Jaffer Ali, Eric W.-Y. Kang, Yot Navalitloha, Allison Ebert, Cathleen V. Allen, Dennis R. Groothuis
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2004)

We compared tissue and plasma pharmacokinetics of 14 C-sucrose in subcutaneous RG-2 rat gliomas after administration by 3 routes, intravenous bolus (IV-B; 50 Ci over 30 s), continuous IV infusion (IV-C, 50 Ci at a constant rate), and convection-enhanced delivery (CED, 5 Ci infused at a rate of 0.5 l/min), and for 3 experimental durations, 0.5, 2, and 4 h.Plasma, tumor, and other tissue samples were obtained to measure tissue radioactivity.Plasma radioactivity in the CED group increased exponentially and lagged only slightly behind the IV-C group.After 90 min, plasma values were similar in all.Mean tumor radioactivity was 100 to 500 times higher in the CED group at each time point than in the IV-B and IV-C groups.Tumor radioactivity was homogeneous in the IV groups at 0.5 h and inhomogeneous at 1 and 2 h.In CED, radioactivity distribution was inhomogeneous at all 3 time points; highest concentrations were in tissue
How respiratory system mechanics may help in minimising ventilator-induced lung injury in ARDS patients
Authors: P.P. Terragni, G.L. Rosboch, A. Lisi, A.G. Viale, V.M. Ranieri
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2003)

The main supportive therapy in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients is mechanical ventilation. As with any therapy, mechanical ventilation has side-effects, and may induce lung injury (ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI)/ventilator-associated lung injury). The mechanical factors responsible for VILI are thought to be related to tidal recruitment/derecruitment of previously collapsed alveoli and/or pulmonary overdistension. The volume/pressure ( V / P ) curve of the respiratory system in patients as well as in animal models of acute lung injury (ALI) has a characteristic sigmoid shape, with a lower inflection point (LIP) corresponding to the pressure/end-expiratory volume required to initiate recruitment of collapsed alveoli, and an upper inflection point (UIP) corresponding to the pressure/end inspiratory volume at which alveolar overdistension occurs. “Protective” ventilatory approaches have therefore set out to minimise mechanical injury by using the V / P curve to individualise positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (PEEP above the LIP) and tidal volume (by setting end-inspiratory V / P below the UIP) since a large number of experimental studies correlate P / V curves to histological and biological manifestations of VILI and two randomised trials showed that protective ventilatory strategy individually tailored to the P / V curve minimised pulmonary and systemic inflammation and decreased mortality in patients with ALI. However, despite the fact that several studies have: 1) proposed new techniques to perform pressure/volume curves at the bedside, 2) confirmed that the lower inflection point and upper inflection point correspond to computed tomography scan evidence of atelectasis and overdistension, and 3) demonstrated the ability of the pressure/volume curve to estimate alveolar recruitment with positive end-expiratory pressure, no large studies have assessed whether such measurement can be performed in all intensive care units as a monitoring tool to orient ventilator therapy. Preliminary experimental and clinical studies show that the shape of the dynamic inspiratory pressure/time profile during constant flow inflation (stress index), allows prediction of a ventilatory strategy that minimises the occurrence of ventilator-induced lung injury.
Challenges in Systematic Reviews of Therapeutic Devices and Procedures
Authors: Lisa Hartling
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2005)

The authors discuss 3 challenges in conducting and interpreting any systematic review that are particularly relevant for systematic reviews of therapeutic devices or surgical procedures: 1) inclusion or exclusion of grey literature, 2) the role of nonrandomized studies, and 3) issues in applying the results to clinical care that are unique to the surgical and therapeutic device literature. The authors also discus s empirical evidence related to these topics and illustrate how reviewers in the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's Evidence-based Practice Center program have dealt with these challenges in developing evidence reports for decision makers and clinicians about therapeutic devices or surgical procedures.
Stable breathing through deeper sleeping
Authors: J. Saboisky, D. Eckert, A. Malhotra
Journal: Thorax (2010)

Although there is evidence that patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) have anatomical susceptibility coupled with abnormalities in upper airway motor control and/or instability in ventilatory control, the data now suggest that the mechanisms underlying OSA vary considerably between patients.1 In some patients OSA is primarily the result of anatomical problems, while in others it may be due to dysfunctional motor control with only minimal anatomical abnormality. Similarly, abnormal ventilatory control (loop gain) may be important in only a subgroup of patients with OSA.2 As a result, the concept of individualised therapy has now emerged, such that treatment of the major underlying abnormality is likely to be beneficial in the appropriately targeted patient subgroups.3 In theory, patients with OSA who respond well to palatal surgery probably primarily have an abnormality in the velopharyngeal anatomy,4 whereas those who respond well to oxygen may have mainly an abnormality in ventilatory control instability.5 6

The arousal threshold is one concept that has received some—but not sufficient—attention in the OSA arena.7 8 The trigger for arousal from sleep during respiratory events is believed to be increasing negative intrathoracic pressure9 (see figure 1). The realisation of the importance of the arousal threshold in the pathogenesis of OSA has recently been brought to light by the work of Younes, particularly the emphasis that most patients with OSA spontaneously have some periods of stable breathing.10 11 Jordan et al recently observed that these stable breathing periods were associated with markedly increased activity in the genioglossus, …
Increasing Coverage and Decreasing Inequity in Insecticide-Treated Bed Net Use among Rural Kenyan Children
Authors: Abdisalan M Noor, Abdinasir A Amin, Willis S Akhwale, Robert W Snow
Journal: PLoS Medicine (2007)

Background Inexpensive and efficacious interventions that avert childhood deaths in sub-Saharan Africa have failed to reach effective coverage, especially among the poorest rural sectors. One particular example is insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs). In this study, we present repeat observations of ITN coverage among rural Kenyan homesteads exposed at different times to a range of delivery models, and assess changes in coverage across socioeconomic groups. Methods and Findings We undertook a study of annual changes in ITN coverage among a cohort of 3,700 children aged 0–4 y in four districts of Kenya (Bondo, Greater Kisii, Kwale, and Makueni) annually between 2004 and 2006. Cross-sectional surveys of ITN coverage were undertaken coincidentally with the incremental availability of commercial sector nets (2004), the introduction of heavily subsidized nets through clinics (2005), and the introduction of free mass distributed ITNs (2006). The changing prevalence of ITN coverage was examined with special reference to the degree of equity in each delivery approach. ITN coverage was only 7.1% in 2004 when the predominant source of nets was the commercial retail sector. By the end of 2005, following the expansion of heavily subsidized clinic distribution system, ITN coverage rose to 23.5%. In 2006 a large-scale mass distribution of ITNs was mounted providing nets free of charge to children, resulting in a dramatic increase in ITN coverage to 67.3%. With each subsequent survey socioeconomic inequity in net coverage sequentially decreased: 2004 (most poor [2.9%] versus least poor [15.6%]; concentration index 0.281); 2005 (most poor [17.5%] versus least poor [37.9%]; concentration index 0.131), and 2006 with near-perfect equality (most poor [66.3%] versus least poor [66.6%]; concentration index 0.000). The free mass distribution method achieved highest coverage among the poorest children, the highly subsidised clinic nets programme was marginally in favour of the least poor, and the commercial social marketing favoured the least poor. Conclusions Rapid scaling up of ITN coverage among Africa's poorest rural children can be achieved through mass distribution campaigns. These efforts must form an important adjunct to regular, routine access to ITNs through clinics, and each complimentary approach should aim to make this intervention free to clients to ensure equitable access among those least able to afford even the cost of a heavily subsidized net.
Finishing a whole-genome shotgun: Release 3 of the Drosophila melanogastereuchromatic genome sequence
Authors: Susan E Celniker, David A Wheeler, Brent Kronmiller, Joseph W Carlson, Aaron Halpern, Sandeep Patel, Mark Adams, Mark Champe, Shannon P Dugan, Erwin Frise, Ann Hodgson, Reed A George, Roger A Hoskins, Todd Laverty, Donna M Muzny, Catherine R Nelson, Joanne M Pacleb, Soo Park, Barret D Pfeiffer, Stephen Richards, Erica J Sodergren, Robert Svirskas, Paul E Tabor, Kenneth Wan, Mark Stapleton, Granger G Sutton, Craig Venter, George Weinstock, Steven E Scherer, Eugene W Myers, Richard A Gibbs, Gerald M Rubin
Journal: Genome biology (2002)

The Drosophila melanogaster genome was the first metazoan genome to have been sequenced by the whole-genome shotgun (WGS) method. Two issues relating to this achievement were widely debated in the genomics community: how correct is the sequence with respect to base-pair (bp) accuracy and frequency of assembly errors? And, how difficult is it to bring a WGS sequence to the accepted standard for finished sequence? We are now in a position to answer these questions.Our finishing process was designed to close gaps, improve sequence quality and validate the assembly. Sequence traces derived from the WGS and draft sequencing of individual bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) were assembled into BAC-sized segments. These segments were brought to high quality, and then joined to constitute the sequence of each chromosome arm. Overall assembly was verified by comparison to a physical map of fingerprinted BAC clones. In the current version of the 116.9 Mb euchromatic genome, called Release 3, the six euchromatic chromosome arms are represented by 13 scaffolds with a total of 37 sequence gaps. We compared Release 3 to Release 2; in autosomal regions of unique sequence, the error rate of Release 2 was one in 20,000 bp.The WGS strategy can efficiently produce a high-quality sequence of a metazoan genome while generating the reagents required for sequence finishing. However, the initial method of repeat assembly was flawed. The sequence we report here, Release 3, is a reliable resource for molecular genetic experimentation and computational analysis.
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis: randomised controlled multicentre trial
Authors: J A Ogden
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2004)

Technological change in general orthopaedics and its multiple subspecialisations is continual. These changes are regulated, to varying degrees, by delegated authorities within appropriately mandated concepts. One relatively recent technology, since approximately 1990, has been the revision of treating relatively deep seated urolithiasis, whether in the renal parenchyma or the ureter, to more superficial musculoskeletal indications. Although originally conceived to dissipate calcifications in rotator cuff tendinopathy and to alter osseous biology, the technology rapidly spread to other common disorders that affect the musculoskeletal system. Unfortunately many of these applications were not tested through appropriate randomised clinical trials or practical clinical trials, which could adequately assess clinical efficacy and significant modification of the natural history of a given musculoskeletal disorder. Such studies are obviously in demand by clinicians and healthcare provider organisations to justify the application of both a given treatment modality and the efficiency of a new drug or device to accomplish an end result that is personally satisfactory to the patient and doctor and economically justifiable to the healthcare insurer/provider. …
Genetic epidemiology of mutated K-<i>ras</i>proto-oncogene, altered suppressor genes, and microsatellite instability in colorectal adenomas
Authors: A Rashid, M Zahurak, S N Goodman, S R Hamilton
Journal: Gut (1999)

BACKGROUND The genetic epidemiology of colorectal adenomas has not been studied prospectively in colonoscopy patients without cancer. AIMS To study genetic alterations in colorectal adenomas and correlate these with patient demographics and adenoma characteristics. METHODS Mutations and allelic deletions in 201 adenomas from 60 patients were compared with demographic features, adenoma characteristics, and family history. RESULTS The most common alteration was K- ras proto-oncogene mutation, present in 35% of adenomas and 65% of patients. Patients 65 years of age and older had a decreased probability of K- ras mutations (26% versus 45%). Overexpression of p53 gene product was present in only 6% of adenomas but was more frequent in villous or tubulovillous adenomas (19% versus 3%). Allelic loss of chromosome 18q was present in only 2% of adenomas and was significantly less frequent than p53 overexpression. DNA replication errors (RER) were present in 7% of adenomas and 15% of patients, including multiple adenomas in four patients (two with hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome). Only 36% of RER positive adenomas had alteration of BAT-26 alleles, none had alteration of BAT-25, and only one (8%) had mutation in the transforming growth factor β type II receptor gene. RER positive adenomas were more likely to have a K- ras mutation. In patients with multiple adenomas, there was concordance of p53 overexpression and RER but not of K- ras mutations. CONCLUSIONS Genetic progression in colorectal adenomas is heterogeneous, involving factors related to patient age and the presence of RER for the occurrence of ras mutations, but different intraindividual characteristics for the occurrence of p53 alterations and RER.