tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy with CyberKnife for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma: high local control with low toxicity
Authors: H. Iwata, K. Sato, K. Tatewaki, N. Yokota, M. Inoue, Y. Baba, Y. Shibamoto
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2011)

The aim was to evaluate the clinical outcome of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) with CyberKnife for nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. From October 2000 to March 2009, 100 patients with nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma were treated with hypofractionated SRT. Forty-three patients were male, and 57 were female. The patient's ages ranged from 16 to 82 years (median, 59 years). Five patients were medically inoperable, and 1 refused surgery; the remaining 94 were recurrent cases or those receiving postoperative adjuvant SRT. No patients had a history of previous cranial radiotherapy. Tumor volume ranged from 0.7 to 64.3 mL (median, 5.1 mL). The marginal doses were 17.0 to 21.0 Gy for the 3-fraction schedule and 22.0 to 25.0 Gy for the 5-fraction schedule. Toxicities were evaluated with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. The median follow-up period for living patients was 33 months (range, 18–118.5 months). The 3-year overall survival and local control rates were 98% and 98%, respectively. In-field and out-field tumor regrowth were observed in 3 and 2 patients, respectively. Transient cyst enlargement occurred in 3 cases. A post-SRT grade 2 visual disorder occurred in 1 patient. Symptomatic post-SRT hypopituitarism was observed in 3 of 74 patients who had not received hormone replacement therapy after surgery. CyberKnife SRT involving 21 Gy in 3 fractions or 25 Gy in 5 fractions is safe and effective for surgical treatment of nonfunctioning pituitary adenoma. Hypofractionated SRT appears useful for protecting the visual nerve and neuroendocrine function, especially for tumors located near the optic pathways and large tumors.
Variability of aerosol delivery via spacer devices in young asthmatic children in daily life
Authors: H.M. Janssens, S.G. Devadason, W.C.j Hop, P.n LeSouëf, J.C. De Jongste, H.A.W.M. Tiddens
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1999)

Pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDI) are widely used together with spacers for the treatment of asthma in children. However, the variability of daily medication dose for pMDI/spacer combinations is not known. Electrostatic charge is a potential source of dose variability. Metal spacers have no static charge. This study assessed and compared within-subject variability of aerosol delivery of metal and plastic spacers. This was a randomized, crossover study in children with stable asthma aged 1-4 (group I, n=17) and 5-8 (group II, n=16) yrs. In both groups the amount of drug delivered to the mouth by a metal spacer (Nebuchamber) and one of two plastic (polycarbonate) spacers, i.e. Babyhaler in group I and Volumatic in group II was measured. The metal and plastic spacers were tested at home in a randomized order for 7 days each, using budesonide (200 microg b.i.d.). Aerosol was collected on a filter positioned between spacer and facemask or mouth. Budesonide on the filter was assessed by high performance liquid chromatography. The mean filter dose for each child (mean+/-SD) during the 7 days was expressed as a percentage of the nominal dose. Within-subject variability was expressed as coefficient of variation (CV). Mean filter dose in group I was 41.7+/-10.1% for Nebuchamber and 26.0+/-4.0% for Babyhaler (p&lt;0.001). Mean filter dose in group II was 50.2+/-9.2% for Nebuchamber and 19.4+/-7.2% for Volumatic (p&lt;0.001). Mean CV in group I was 34% for Nebuchamber and 37% for Babyhaler (p=0.44). Mean CV in group II was 23% for Nebuchamber and 34% for Volumatic (p=0.003). There was substantial within-subject dose variability in aerosol delivery in children using a pMDI/spacer at home. This variability was lower for the metal than for the plastic spacer in children 5-8 yrs of age. The dose delivered to the mouth was about two-fold higher for the metal than the plastic spacer independent of age.
Compliance with inhaled medication and self-treatment guidelines following a self-management programme in adult asthmatics
Authors: J van der Palen, JJ Klein, MM Rovers
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1997)

Two of the principal components of self-management are compliance with medication and adherence to self-treatment guidelines. The aim of this study was to evaluate compliance objectively. Twenty two adult asthmatics attended a self-management programme. During a 2 week run-in period, compliance with inhaled steroids and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were electronically-registered. For PEF this resulted in a personal best value (PBV). Subsequently, patients attended four educational group sessions. During the four weeks of follow-up, patients were instructed to measure their PEF on a fixed day of the week and when they experienced an increase in symptoms. If PEF fell below 80% of PBV, patients had to double their use of inhaled steroids; if PEF fell below 60%, they had to start a short course of oral steroids. During run-in, mean compliance was 83% and compliance per patient varied from 6 to 106%. During follow-up, on days without exacerbation, compliance with inhaled steroids increased by 12% (95% confidence interval (95% CI) 3-21%) compared to run-in, ranging 21-200%. On days when patients should have doubled their inhaled steroids, compliance decreased by 28% (95% CI -39 to -17), and compliance ranged 46-94%. Of the 10 patients who should have doubled their medication, only three did so, whilst four increased the use of inhaled steroids but only by one or two puffs; three patients did not alter their behaviour. In five patients (24%) PEF fell below 60% of their PBV, after which four started prednisolone (self-report). In conclusion, even after a formal self-management programme, patients with asthma comply only partially to self-treatment guidelines. Most are willing to increase, but not double, their inhaled steroids. This suggests that more emphasis is needed to reassure patients about the safety of inhaled steroids.
VPS33B regulates protein sorting into and maturation of α-granule progenitor organelles in mouse megakaryocytes
Authors: Danai Bem, Holly Smith, Blerida Banushi, Jemima J. Burden, Ian J. White, Joanna Hanley, Nadia Jeremiah, Frédéric Rieux-Laucat, Ruth Bettels, Gema Ariceta, Andrew D. Mumford, Steven G. Thomas, Steve P. Watson, Paul Gissen
Journal: Blood (2015)
Activation of Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Reverses Experimental Pulmonary Hypertension and Vascular Remodeling
Authors: Rio Dumitrascu, Norbert Weissmann, Hossein Ardeschir Ghofrani, Eva Dony, Knut Beuerlein, Harald Schmidt, Johannes-Peter Stasch, Mark Jean Gnoth, Werner Seeger, Friedrich Grimminger, Ralph Theo Schermuly
Journal: Circulation (2006)

Severe pulmonary hypertension is a disabling disease with high mortality, characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and right heart hypertrophy. Using wild-type and homozygous endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3(-/-)) knockout mice with pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia and rats with monocrotaline-induced pulmonary hypertension, we examined whether the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) stimulator Bay41-2272 or the sGC activator Bay58-2667 could reverse pulmonary vascular remodeling.Both Bay41-2272 and Bay58-2667 dose-dependently inhibited the pressor response of acute hypoxia in the isolated perfused lung system. When wild-type (NOS3(+/+)) or NOS3(-/-) mice were housed under 10% oxygen conditions for 21 or 35 days, both strains developed pulmonary hypertension, right heart hypertrophy, and pulmonary vascular remodeling, demonstrated by an increase in fully muscularized peripheral pulmonary arteries. Treatment of wild-type mice with the activator of sGC, Bay58-2667 (10 mg/kg per day), or the stimulator of sGC, Bay41-2272 (10 mg/kg per day), after full establishment of pulmonary hypertension from day 21 to day 35 significantly reduced pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, and structural remodeling of the lung vasculature. In contrast, only minor efficacy of chronic sGC activator therapies was noted in NOS3(-/-) mice. In monocrotaline-injected rats with established severe pulmonary hypertension, both compounds significantly reversed hemodynamic and structural changes.Activation of sGC reverses hemodynamic and structural changes associated with monocrotaline- and chronic hypoxia-induced experimental pulmonary hypertension. This effect is partially dependent on endogenous nitric oxide generated by NOS3.
Opportunities for Improving Psychosocial Care for Cancer Survivors
Authors: William F. Pirl, Paul B. Jacobsen, Teresa L. Deshields
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

The quality of psychosocial care provided to patients with cancer has received increased attention since the 2008 publication of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report entitled "Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Addressing Psychosocial Health Needs." 1 The report concluded that, despite evidence for the effectiveness of psychosocial care, many patients who could benefit from these services do not receive them.Among the report's main recommendations was that processes should be in place to identify patients' psychosocial needs and then link patients with appropriate services to address those needs.Since the report's publication, there have been numerous efforts to evaluate the extent to which psychosocial care is being provided consistent with the IOM recommendations.These efforts include surveys of oncologists, 2 oncology nurses, 3 and psychosocial care providers 4 as well as reviews of medical records of patients seen in selected medical practices. 5Although useful, these reports provide an incomplete picture because they are based on convenience rather than on population-based samples and because they do not include the patient's perspective.These limitations are addressed by Forsythe et al 6 in the article that accompanies this editorial.Using data from the 2010 National Health Interview Survey, an in-person nationwide survey, the authors report on information collected from 1,777 survivors of adult-onset cancer.The study yielded two major findings.First, only 40.2% of survivors reported having had a discussion with their providers about how cancer may have affected their emotions or relationships.Second, more than 90% of the barriers to the use of professional counseling or support groups identified by survivors involved lack of knowledge about, or perceived unavailability of, services.Taken together, these findings provide the most compelling evidence, to date, that heightened psychological distress in many patients with cancer is still unrecognized and untreated.The facilitative role of psychosocial discussions by providers is supported by additional findings from the study showing that patients who reported such a discussion were almost three times more likely to also report participation in professional counseling or a support group.The findings are tempered by the cross-sectional nature of this study which limits the extent to which a causal inference can be drawn about the relationship between provider discussions and receipt of psychosocial care.Another important study limitation is the use of a retrospective recall 1920
Mechanisms underlying nystagmus
Authors: R. V Abadi
Journal: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2002)

In health, there are three main control mechanisms for maintaining steady gaze—fixation; the vestibulo-ocular reflex; and a gaze-holding system (the neural integrator), which operates whenever the eyes are required to hold an eccentric gaze position1,2,3. Failure of any of these control systems will bring about a disruption of steady fixation. Two types of abnormal fixation can result—nystagmus and saccadic intrusions/oscillations. The essential difference between them lies in the initial movement that takes the line of sight off the object of regard. In the case of nystagmus, it is a slow drift or ‘slow phase’ often due to a disturbance of one of the three mechanisms for gaze stability. On the other hand, with either saccadic intrusions or saccadic oscillations, it is an inappropriate fast movement that moves the eyes off target4,5. This paper will concern itself only with the clinical aspects of nystagmus and cover the possible reasons for its presence.
ABC of complementary medicine: What is complementary medicine?
Authors: C. Zollman, A. Vickers
Journal: BMJ (1999)

Complementary medicine refers to a group of therapeutic and diagnostic disciplines that exist largely outside the institutions where conventional health care is taught and provided. Complementary medicine is an increasing feature of healthcare practice, but considerable confusion remains about what exactly it is and what position the disciplines included under this term should hold in relation to conventional medicine

In the 1970s and 1980s these disciplines were mainly provided as an alternative to conventional health care and hence became known collectively as “alternative medicine.” The name “complementary medicine” developed as the two systems began to be used alongside (to “complement”) each other. Over the years, “complementary” has changed from describing this relation between unconventional healthcare disciplines and conventional care to defining the group of disciplines itself. Some authorities use the term “unconventional medicine” synonymously. This changing and overlapping terminology may explain some of the confusion that surrounds the subject.

View this table:

Common complementary therapies



#### Definition of complementary medicine adopted by Cochrane Collaboration

“Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is a broad domain of healing resources that encompasses all health systems, modalities, and practices and their accompanying theories and beliefs, other than those intrinsic to the politically dominant health system of a particular society or culture in a given historical period. CAM includes all such practices and ideas self-defined by their users as preventing or treating illness or promoting health and well-being. Boundaries within CAM and between the CAM domain and that of the dominant system are not always sharp or fixed.”

We use the term complementary medicine to describe healthcare practices such as those listed in the box. We use it synonymously with the terms “complementary therapies” and “complementary and alternative medicine” found in other texts, according to the definition used by the Cochrane Collaboration.

### Which disciplines are complementary?

Our list is not exhaustive, and new branches of established disciplines are continually being developed. Also, …
Ly-6Chi monocytes dominate hypercholesterolemia-associated monocytosis and give rise to macrophages in atheromata
Authors: Filip K. Swirski, Peter Libby, Elena Aikawa, Pilar Alcaide, F. William Luscinskas, Ralph Weissleder, Mikael J. Pittet
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2007)

Macrophage accumulation participates decisively in the development and exacerbation of atherosclerosis. Circulating monocytes, the precursors of macrophages, display heterogeneity in mice and humans, but their relative contribution to atherogenesis remains unknown. We report here that the Ly-6Chi monocyte subset increased dramatically in hypercholesterolemic apoE–deficient mice consuming a high-fat diet, with the number of Ly-6Chi cells doubling in the blood every month. Ly-6Chi monocytes adhered to activated endothelium, infiltrated lesions, and became lesional macrophages. Hypercholesterolemia-associated monocytosis (HAM) developed from increased survival, continued cell proliferation, and impaired Ly-6Chi to Ly-6Clo conversion and subsided upon statin-induced cholesterol reduction. Conversely, the number of Ly-6Clo cells remained unaffected. Thus, we believe that Ly-6Chi monocytes represent a newly recognized component of the inflammatory response in experimental atherosclerosis.
Use of magnetic resonance angiography to select candidates with recently symptomatic carotid stenosis for surgery: systematic review
Authors: M. E Westwood
Journal: BMJ (2002)

To determine if sufficient evidence exists to support the use of magnetic resonance angiography as a means of selecting patients with recently symptomatic high grade carotid stenosis for surgery.Systematic review of published research on the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance angiography, 1990-9.Performance characteristics of diagnostic test.126 potentially relevant articles were identified, but many articles failed to examine the performance of magnetic resonance angiography as a diagnostic test at the surgical decision thresholds used in major clinical trials on endarterectomy. 26 articles were included in a meta-analysis that showed a maximal joint sensitivity and specificity of 99% (95% confidence interval 98% to 100%) for identifying 70-99% stenosis and 90% (81% to 99%) for identifying 50-99% stenosis. Only four articles evaluated contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography.Magnetic resonance angiography is accurate for selecting patients for carotid endarterectomy at the surgical decision thresholds established in the major endarterectomy trials, but the evidence is not very robust because of the heterogeneity of the studies included. Research is needed to determine the diagnostic performance of the most recent developments in magnetic resonance angiography, including contrast enhanced techniques, as well as to assess the impact of magnetic resonance angiography on surgical decision making and outcomes.
The impact of urinary stress incontinence in young and middle-age women practising recreational sports activity: an epidemiological study
Authors: S Salvatore, M Serati, R Laterza, S Uccella, M Torella, P-F Bolis
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2008)

To evaluate the prevalence of urinary stress incontinence (USI) in menstruating women practising recreational sports activity, to detect specific sports with a stronger association with urinary incontinence (UI) and to evaluate risk factors possibly related to this condition.Epidemiological study.Non-competitive sports organisations in the province of Varese, Italy.679 women of fertile age, practising recreational sports activity.Anonymous questionnaire on UI.The questionnaire included questions about patients' general characteristics, occurrence of UI in relation to sport or daily general activities, time of onset of this condition, frequency of leakage episodes, correlation of incontinence with types of movements or sports, subjective impression of being limited on such occasions and/or necessity to modify the type of sport.UI was reported by 101 women (14.9%). Of these, 32 (31.7%) complained of UI only during sports activity, 48 (47.5%) only during daily life and 21 (20.8%) in both circumstances. Body mass index and parity were significantly associated with the risk of UI. Looking at the different sports activities, a higher rate of incontinence was found in women participating in basketball (16.6%), athletics (15%), and tennis or squash (11%). 10.4% of women abandoned their favourite sport, because of USI, and a further 20% limited the way they practised their favourite sport to reduce leakage episodes.Female UI affects a significant proportion of young women practising non-competitive sports activity; it can cause abandonment of the sport or limitation of its practice.
Renal Thrombotic Microangiopathy Associated with Anticardiolipin Antibodies in Hepatitis C-Positive Renal Allograft Recipients
Authors: SEEMA BAID, MANUEL PASCUAL, WINFRED W. WILLIAMS, NINA TOLKOFF-RUBIN, STEPHEN M. JOHNSON, BERNARD COLLINS, RAYMOND T. CHUNG, FRANCIS L. DELMONICO, A. BENEDICT COSIMI, ROBERT B. COLVIN
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1999)

Abstract. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has been associated with de novo or recurrent membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and acute transplant glomerulopathy in transplanted kidneys. Recently, anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) have been linked with chronic HCV infection. A few reports have suggested an association between ACA and renal allograft thrombosis. This study examines the clinical and pathologic features of HCV-positive renal allograft recipients at our institution. From 1990 to 1996, 379 kidney transplants were performed. We identified 18 recipients (4.8%) with HCV-positive serology pretransplant. Determination of IgG and IgM ACA was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using pretransplant sera. Among the 18 patients, five patients presented with biopsy-proven de novo renal thrombotic microangiopathy (RTMA), occurring 5 to 120 d (median, 14 d) after transplant. No differences in pretransplant characteristics were observed between patients with ( n = 5) or without ( n = 13) RTMA. All five patients had a positive ACA test (either IgG or IgM titer &gt; 2 SD above normal), compared with only one of 13 patients without RTMA. The mean value for IgG ACA was significantly higher in the RTMA patients than in patients without RTMA (22.9 ± 14.1 versus 6.9 ± 4.9 IgG phospholipid units, P = 0.02); however, there were no significant differences in IgM ACA titers. Rheumatoid factor and complement C4 levels were normal in pretransplant sera of patients with RTMA. Patients with RTMA had their cyclosporine withdrawn (four of five) or the dose was decreased (one of five), and one of five underwent plasmapheresis. Four of five patients died within 5 yr after transplant, compared with no deaths in the other 13 patients. Finally, as a control group, seven HCV-negative renal allograft recipients who presented with RTMA/hemolytic uremic syndrome during the same time period were found to have normal ACA values (IgG or IgM). RTMA associated with ACA in HCV-positive renal allograft recipients may represent a new clinical entity. The occurrence of this syndrome may have deleterious consequences for patient and graft survival.
Fine mapping of the chromosome 3p susceptibility locus in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: J Hampe
Journal: Gut (2001)

<h3>BACKGROUND AND AIMS</h3> Genetic predisposition for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been demonstrated by epidemiological and genetic linkage studies. Genetic linkage of IBD to chromosome 3 has been observed previously. A high density analysis of chromosome 3p was performed to confirm prior linkages and elucidate potential genetic associations. <h3>METHODS</h3> Forty three microsatellite markers on chromosome 3 were genotyped in 353 affected sibling pairs of North European Caucasian extraction (average marker density 2 cM in the linkage interval). Marker order was defined by genetic and radiation hybrid techniques. <h3>RESULTS</h3> The maximum single point logarithm of odds (LOD) score was observed for Crohn9s disease at D3S3591. Peak multipoint LOD scores of 1.65 and 1.40 for the IBD phenotype were observed near D3S1304 (distal 3p) and near D3S1283 in the linkage region previously reported. Crohn9s disease contributed predominantly to the linkage. The transmission disequilibrium test showed significant evidence of association (p=0.009) between allele 4 of D3S1076 and the IBD phenotype (51 transmitted<i>v</i> 28 non-transmitted). Two known polymorphisms in the CCR2 and CCR5 genes were analysed, neither of which showed significant association with IBD. Additional haplotype associations were observed in the vicinity of D3S1076. <h3>CONCLUSIONS</h3> This study provides confirmatory linkage evidence for an IBD susceptibility locus on chromosome 3p and suggests that CCR2 and CCR5 are unlikely to be major susceptibility loci for IBD. The association findings in this region warrant further investigation.