tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Risk Assessment, Genetic Counseling, and Genetic Testing for BRCA-Related Cancer in Women: A Systematic Review to Update the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation
Authors: Heidi D. Nelson, Miranda Pappas, Bernadette Zakher, Jennifer Priest Mitchell, Leila Okinaka-Hu, Rongwei Fu
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2013)

Mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are associated with increased risks for breast, ovarian, and other types of cancer.To review new evidence on the benefits and harms of risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing for BRCA-related cancer in women.MEDLINE and PsycINFO between 2004 and 30 July 2013, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from 2004 through the second quarter of 2013, Health Technology Assessment during the fourth quarter of 2012, Scopus, and reference lists.English-language studies about accuracy of risk assessment and benefits and harms of genetic counseling, genetic testing, and interventions to reduce cancer incidence and mortality.Individual investigators extracted data on participants, study design, analysis, follow-up, and results, and a second investigator confirmed key data. Investigators independently dual-rated study quality and applicability by using established criteria.Five referral models accurately estimated individual risk for BRCA mutations. Genetic counseling increased the accuracy of risk perception and decreases the intention for genetic testing among unlikely carriers and cancer-related worry, anxiety, and depression. No trials evaluated the effectiveness of intensive screening or risk-reducing medications in mutation carriers, although false-positive rates, unneeded imaging, and unneeded surgeries were higher with screening. Among high-risk women and mutation carriers, risk-reducing mastectomy decreased breast cancer by 85% to 100% and breast cancer mortality by 81% to 100% compared with women without surgery; risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy decreased breast cancer incidence by 37% to 100%, ovarian cancer by 69% to 100%, and all-cause mortality by 55% to 100%.The analysis included only English-language articles;efficacy trials in mutation carriers were lacking.Studies of risk assessment, genetic counseling, genetic testing, and interventions to reduce cancer and mortality indicate potential benefits and harms that vary according to risk.
High resolution computed tomographic findings in pulmonary tuberculosis.
Authors: O N Hatipoglu, E Osma, M Manisali, E S Ucan, P Balci, A Akkoclu, O Akpinar, C Karlikaya, C Yuksel
Journal: Thorax (1996)

BACKGROUND: Although chest radiographs usually provide adequate information for the diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis, minimal exudative tuberculosis can be overlooked on standard chest radiographs. The aim of the present study was to assess the findings of active pulmonary tuberculosis on high resolution computed tomographic (HRCT) scans, and to evaluate their possible use in determining disease activity. METHODS: Thirty two patients with newly diagnosed active pulmonary tuberculosis and 34 patients with inactive pulmonary tuberculosis were examined. The diagnosis of active pulmonary tuberculosis was based on positive acid fast bacilli in sputum and bronchial washing smears or cultures and/or changes on serial radiographs obtained during treatment. RESULTS: With HRCT scanning centrilobular lesions (n = 29), "tree-in-bud" appearance (n = 23), and macronodules 5-8 mm in diameter (n = 22) were most commonly seen in cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis. HRCT scans showed fibrotic lesions (n = 34), distortion of bronchovascular structures (n = 32), emphysema (n = 28), and bronchiectasis (n = 24) in patients with inactive tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Centrilobular densities in and around the small airways and "tree-in-bud" appearances were the most characteristic CT features of disease activity. HRCT scanning clearly differentiated old fibrotic lesions from new active lesions and demonstrated early bronchogenic spread. These findings may be of value in decisions on treatment.
A METHOD FOR THE PRELIMINARY PSYCHIATRIC "SCREENING" OF LARGE GROUPS
Authors: LIONEL S. PENROSE, C. ROGER MYERS
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1941)

A comparison of the performance of psychotic and neurotic subjects with that of non-psychotic subjects on "General Examination—M" showed that the patients had a distinctive pattern of sub-test achievement. A method was devised for measuring the extent to which an individual subject exhibits this abnormality of pattern in his performance on the test. Application of this method to a trial group of records, served to distinguish between psychotic and non-psychotic subjects in about 75 per cent of cases. A similar abnormality of pattern (less marked in degree) was displayed by "neurotic" subjects. It is suggested that this method of identifying abnormal performance on a group intelligence test, though it is not capable of differentiating clinical types, offers an economical means of selecting an enriched sample of psychiatric "suspects" for individual clinical examination.
TCT-144 Impact of chronic kidney disease on platelet reactivity and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Fabio Mangiacapra, Elisabetta Ricottini, Emanuele Barbato, Giuseppe Patti, Vincenzo Vizzi, Andrea D'Ambrosio, Bernard De Bruyne, William Wijns, Germano Di Sciascio
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2012)
Sources of Bias in Specimens for Research About Molecular Markers for Cancer
Authors: David F. Ransohoff, Margaret L. Gourlay
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2009)

Claims about the diagnostic or prognostic accuracy of markers often prove disappointing when "discrimination" found between cancers versus normals is due to bias, a systematic difference between compared groups. This article describes a framework to help simplify and organize current problems in marker research by focusing on the role of specimens as a source of bias in observational research and using that focus to address problems and improve reliability. The central idea is that the "fundamental comparison" in research about markers (ie, the comparison done to assess whether a marker discriminates) involves two distinct processes that are "connected" by specimens. If subject selection (first process) creates baseline inequality between groups being compared, then laboratory analysis of specimens (second process) may erroneously find positive results. Although both processes are important, subject selection more fundamentally influences the quality of marker research, because it can hardwire bias into all comparisons in a way that cannot be corrected by any refinement in laboratory analysis. An appreciation of the separateness of these two processes-and placing investigators with appropriate expertise in charge of each-may increase the reliability of research about cancer biomarkers.
Kinanthropometry and exercise physiology laboratory manual, 2nd edition. Volume 1: Anthropometry; Volume 2: Exercise physiology
Authors: T Ackland
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2005)

Edited by R Eston, T Reilly. UK: Published by Taylor and Francis Group, 2001, £27.99 each, softcover, pp vol 1 302, vol 2 298. ISBN vol 1, 0415236134; vol 2, 0415251885

This two volume series is aimed squarely at lecturers and students of human movement and sports science, although high level coaches and those in the sports medicine and fitness industries may also appreciate its contents. The two volumes are of equal size, and, although containing tests for capacities including body composition, proportion, size, growth, and somatotype, the title of volume 1, …
Frequency dependence of elastance and resistance in ventilated children with and without the chest opened
Authors: T Nicolai, CJ Lanteri, PD Sly
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (1993)

Measurements of respiratory mechanics in mechanically-ventilated children are potentially useful for understanding the pathogenesis and progress of diseases resulting in respiratory failure. Measurement techniques that can be simply and noninvasively employed model the respiratory system as a single compartment. The frequency dependence of elastance and resistance, both of the total respiratory system and of the lungs, was investigated in eight children (aged 2-56 months) undergoing open-heart surgery. The children were studied whilst anaesthetized, paralysed and mechanically-ventilated. Dynamic elastance (Ers) and resistance (Rrs) of the respiratory system and of the lung (EL, RL) were calculated using a multilinear regression technique, with the chest wall intact, prior to the commencement of surgery, and with the chest wall opened via a mid-line sternotomy. Measurements were repeated after brief (60 s) changes in ventilation frequency. The total respiratory system and the lungs demonstrated frequency-dependent behaviour, with elastance increasing and resistance decreasing with frequency. The pattern of the frequency-dependent behaviour was essentially the same, whether the chest wall was intact or opened, suggesting that the chest wall was not solely responsible for this behaviour in these children. These data are consistent with a linear viscoelastic model containing a Kelvin body. When using measurements of respiratory mechanics to follow the progress of respiratory disease in mechanically-ventilated children, this frequency-dependent behaviour must be taken into account.
Bringing order to early B cell chaos
Authors: Heather L. Van Epps
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2006)

In the early 1990s, Richard (Randy) Hardy and colleagues divided B cell precursors into subpopulations—the Hardy fractions—based on the cells' expression of various cell surface proteins. This classification helped lay the groundwork for our present-day understanding of the molecular events that control early B cell development.
Efficacy of moxifloxacin in the treatment of bronchial colonisation in COPD
Authors: M. Miravitlles, A. Marín, E. Monsó, S. Vilà, C. de la Roza, R. Hervás, C. Esquinas, M. García, L. Millares, J. Morera, A. Torres
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2009)

This study was designed to investigate the efficacy of moxifloxacin for the eradication of bacterial colonisation of the airways in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Out of 119 stable patients with COPD screened, 40 (mean age 69 yrs, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s 50% predicted) were colonised with potentially pathogenic microorganisms (PPMs) and were included in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with moxifloxacin 400 mg daily for 5 days. Eradication rates were 75% with moxifloxacin and 30% with placebo at 2 weeks (p = 0.01). Bacterial persistence at 8 weeks was still higher (not significantly) in the placebo arm (five (25%) out of 20 versus one (5%) out of 20; p = 0.18). The frequencies of acquisition of a new PPM were high and similar in both treatment groups; consequently, the prevalence of colonisation at 8 weeks was also similar between treatment arms. No difference was found in the number of patients with exacerbations during the 5-month follow-up. Only the acquisition of a new PPM during follow-up showed a statistically significant relationship with occurrence of an exacerbation. Moxifloxacin was effective in eradicating PPMs in patients with positive sputum cultures. However, most patients were recolonised after 8 weeks of follow-up. Acquisition of a new strain of bacteria was associated with an increased risk of developing an exacerbation.
Vitamin D and multiple health outcomes: umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies and randomised trials
Authors: E. Theodoratou, I. Tzoulaki, L. Zgaga, J. P. A. Ioannidis
Journal: BMJ (2014)

To evaluate the breadth, validity, and presence of biases of the associations of vitamin D with diverse outcomes.Umbrella review of the evidence across systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies of plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations and randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation.Medline, Embase, and screening of citations and references.Three types of studies were eligible for the umbrella review: systematic reviews and meta-analyses that examined observational associations between circulating vitamin D concentrations and any clinical outcome; and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials assessing supplementation with vitamin D or active compounds (both established and newer compounds of vitamin D).107 systematic literature reviews and 74 meta-analyses of observational studies of plasma vitamin D concentrations and 87 meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation were identified. The relation between vitamin D and 137 outcomes has been explored, covering a wide range of skeletal, malignant, cardiovascular, autoimmune, infectious, metabolic, and other diseases. Ten outcomes were examined by both meta-analyses of observational studies and meta-analyses of randomised controlled trials, but the direction of the effect and level of statistical significance was concordant only for birth weight (maternal vitamin D status or supplementation). On the basis of the available evidence, an association between vitamin D concentrations and birth weight, dental caries in children, maternal vitamin D concentrations at term, and parathyroid hormone concentrations in patients with chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis is probable, but further studies and better designed trials are needed to draw firmer conclusions. In contrast to previous reports, evidence does not support the argument that vitamin D only supplementation increases bone mineral density or reduces the risk of fractures or falls in older people.Despite a few hundred systematic reviews and meta-analyses, highly convincing evidence of a clear role of vitamin D does not exist for any outcome, but associations with a selection of outcomes are probable.
A Low Carbohydrate, High Protein Diet Slows Tumor Growth and Prevents Cancer Initiation
Authors: Victor W. Ho, Kelvin Leung, Anderson Hsu, Beryl Luk, June Lai, Sung Yuan Shen, Andrew I. Minchinton, Dawn Waterhouse, Marcel B. Bally, Wendy Lin, Brad H. Nelson, Laura M. Sly, Gerald Krystal
Journal: Cancer Research (2011)

Since cancer cells depend on glucose more than normal cells, we compared the effects of low carbohydrate (CHO) diets to a Western diet on the growth rate of tumors in mice. To avoid caloric restriction-induced effects, we designed the low CHO diets isocaloric with the Western diet by increasing protein rather than fat levels because of the reported tumor-promoting effects of high fat and the immune-stimulating effects of high protein. We found that both murine and human carcinomas grew slower in mice on diets containing low amylose CHO and high protein compared with a Western diet characterized by relatively high CHO and low protein. There was no weight difference between the tumor-bearing mice on the low CHO or Western diets. Additionally, the low CHO-fed mice exhibited lower blood glucose, insulin, and lactate levels. Additive antitumor effects with the low CHO diets were observed with the mTOR inhibitor CCI-779 and especially with the COX-2 inhibitor Celebrex, a potent anti-inflammatory drug. Strikingly, in a genetically engineered mouse model of HER-2/neu-induced mammary cancer, tumor penetrance in mice on a Western diet was nearly 50% by the age of 1 year whereas no tumors were detected in mice on the low CHO diet. This difference was associated with weight gains in mice on the Western diet not observed in mice on the low CHO diet. Moreover, whereas only 1 mouse on the Western diet achieved a normal life span, due to cancer-associated deaths, more than 50% of the mice on the low CHO diet reached or exceeded the normal life span. Taken together, our findings offer a compelling preclinical illustration of the ability of a low CHO diet in not only restricting weight gain but also cancer development and progression.
Bayer faces potential fine over cholesterol lowering drug
Authors: A. Tuffs
Journal: BMJ (2001)

Bayer, the German company that was forced earlier this month to withdraw a cholesterol lowering drug from the market, might have to pay a fine of DM50000 (£16200; $23400) for withholding from the German authorities information on the drug's potentially fatal interaction with another drug.

Bayer's drug, cerivastatin (Baycol in the United States, Lipobay in the United Kingdom), was withdrawn after 52 deaths occurred in patients taking the drug; 31 of the deaths were in the United States (18 August, p …
The Impact of Patient Preferences on the Cost-Effectiveness of Intensive Glucose Control in Older Patients With New-Onset Diabetes
Authors: Elbert S. Huang, Morgan Shook, Lei Jin, Marshall H. Chin, David O. Meltzer
Journal: Diabetes Care (2006)

OBJECTIVE—Cost-effectiveness analyses have reported that intensive glucose control is not cost-effective in older patients with new-onset diabetes. However, these analyses have had limited data on patient preferences concerning diabetic health states. We examined how the cost- effectiveness of intensive glucose control changes with the incorporation of patient preferences. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We collected health state preferences/utilities from 519 older diabetic patients. We incorporated these utilities into an established cost-effectiveness model of intensive glucose control and compared incremental cost-effectiveness analyses ratios (ICERs) (cost divided by quality-adjusted life-year [QALY]) when using the original and patient-derived utilities for complications and treatments. RESULTS—The mean utilities were ∼0.40 for major complications, 0.76 (95% CI 0.74–0.78) for conventional glucose control, 0.77 (0.75–0.80) for intensive therapy with oral medications, and 0.64 (0.61–0.67) for intensive therapy with insulin. Incorporating our patient-derived complication utilities alone improved ICERs for intensive glucose control (e.g., patients aged 60–65 years at diagnosis, $136,000/QALY→$78,000/QALY), but intensive therapy was still not cost-effective at older ages. When patient-derived treatment utilities were also incorporated, the cost-effectiveness of intensive treatment depended on the method of glucose control. Intensive control with insulin generated fewer QALYs than conventional control. However, intensive control with oral medications was beneficial on average at all ages and had an ICER ≤$100,000 to age 70. CONCLUSIONS—The cost-effectiveness of intensive glucose control in older patients with new-onset diabetes is highly sensitive to assumptions regarding quality of life with treatments. Cost-effectiveness analyses of diabetes care should consider the sensitivity of results to alternative utility assumptions.
Thoracoabdominal dyssynchrony and it relationship with muscle strength in patients with COPD: Preliminary results
Authors: Renata Basso, Camila Pantoni, Eloisa Regueiro, Audrey Borghi-Silva, Mauricio Jamami, Valéria Pires Di Lorenzo, Dirceu Costa
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background : Upper limbs (UL) exercises can generate thoracoabdominal dyssynchrony (TD), which increase the dyspnea in patients with COPD. However, it is unknown the influence of posture and inspiratory muscle strength (IMS) in TD.   Aim : To verify the TD in rest and UL exercises comparing sitting and standing posture and IMS.   Methods : Fifteen patients with COPD (FEV 1  47±16%pred, age 66±9, MIP 58±21cmH 2 O) performed flexion-extension exercises at the shoulder (1), above the shoulder (2) and horizontal abduction-adduction (3) in sitting and standing postures. The respiratory inductive plethysmography was performed (LifeShirt) and the Borg scale was reported. The PhRIB (Phase Relation during Inspiration), PhREB (during Expiration), PhRTB (Entire Breath) and PhAng (Phase Angle) were analysed (repeated measures test). In addition, patients were divided in two groups (MIP above and below 60%pred) (one-way ANOVA).   Results : The TD increased during exercises. There was a significant increase of the variables (p   Conclusion : These preliminary results suggest that upper limb exercises cause TD independent of the postures adopted. In additional, the results suggest that the inspiratory muscle weakness seems get worse the dyssynchrony.  RB is a fellow of CAPES.
Outcomes of cervical mediastinoscopy for undiagnosed lymphadenopathy: TB or not TB?
Authors: Kerry Woolnough, Maninder Kalkat, Heinke Kunst
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Introduction   We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes of patients with suspected tuberculous mediastinal lymphadenopathy undergoing cervical mediastinoscopy. We wanted to see what proportion of these patients had a diagnosis of tuberculosis confirmed/supported by tissue obtained from this procedure.   Methods   Histological and microbiological data was retrospectively reviewed from patients undergoing a cervical mediastinoscopy with a suspected diagnosis of tuberculosis.   Results   88 patients with mediastinal lymphadenopathy, who had tuberculosis suspected as either their main or as part of the differential diagnosis, underwent cervical mediastinoscopy between January 2009 and January 2011. Tuberculosis was confirmed on the basis of acid fast bacillus seen on microscopy or from cultures in 16 patients. 2 of these patients had non-caseating granulomas on histology, 13 had caseating granulomas and 1 patient had non-diagnostic tissue obtained.  Of the 88 patients with suspected tuberculosis 28 patients had non-caseating granulomas seen on histology, 31 patients had caseating granulomas, 4 had undifferentiated granulomas, 11 were seen to have malignant cells and 14 had normal, reactive, anthracotic, amyloid or non-diagnostic tissue identified on histology.   Conclusion   These results highlight that when tuberculosis is part of the differential diagnosis of a patient with mediastinal lymphadenopathy 35.2% of these patients will have this diagnosis confirmed on histology and 18.2% will have this confirmed on the basis microscopy or culture from tissue obtained from cervical mediastinoscopy.
IL-7–producing stromal cells are critical for lymph node remodeling
Authors: Lucas Onder, Priyanka Narang, Elke Scandella, Qian Chai, Maria Iolyeva, Kerim Hoorweg, Cornelia Halin, Ellen Richie, Paul Kaye, Jürgen Westermann, Tom Cupedo, Mark Coles, Burkhard Ludewig
Journal: Blood (2012)