tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Consensus statement on inert gas washout measurement: at the threshold of clinical use
Authors: Sven M. Schulzke, Urs Frey
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

Inert gas washout tests including single breath washout (SBW) and multiple breath washout (MBW) have been used for several decades across a wide age range spanning from early infancy to late adulthood. In the past, these lung function tests were typically applied in research settings, assessing lung volume and ventilation distribution in order to gain insight into presence, severity and progression of a multitude of diseases, such as chronic lung disease of infancy [1–4], cystic fibrosis [5–9], asthma [10–12] and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [13–15]. Importantly, inert gas washout detects poor ventilation distribution in the presence of normal spirometry [16]. Until recently, inert gas washout testing was characterised by highly specific and at times incompletely validated hardware environments, customised software for data acquisition and analysis, and a general lack of consensus on criteria for processing and quality control of washouts across age groups. Thus, comparison and generalisability of study results from different laboratories testing patients with different diseases at different ages was extremely difficult. In this issue of the European Respiratory Journal , an international expert group of the European Respiratory Society (ERS) and American Thoracic Society (ATS) takes an important step forward towards overcoming some of the most demanding issues, by publishing a comprehensive statement on inert gas washout measurements [17].

The consensus statement represents an enormous collaborative effort. It is relevant to manufacturers, researchers, …
Chondromodulin-I maintains cardiac valvular function by preventing angiogenesis
Authors: Masatoyo Yoshioka, Shinsuke Yuasa, Keisuke Matsumura, Kensuke Kimura, Takayuki Shiomi, Naritaka Kimura, Chisa Shukunami, Yasunori Okada, Makio Mukai, Hankei Shin, Ryohei Yozu, Masataka Sata, Satoshi Ogawa, Yuji Hiraki, Keiichi Fukuda
Journal: Nature Medicine (2006)
Abstract SY37-03: Targeting developmental pathways in colon cancer cells and stem cells
Authors: Frederic J. de Sauvage
Journal: Cancer Research (2012)

Abstract The small intestine epithelium renews every 2 to 5 days, making it one of the most regenerative mammalian tissues. Genetic inducible fate mapping studies have identified two principal epithelial stem cell pools in this tissue. One pool consists of columnar Lgr5-expressing cells that cycle rapidly and are present predominantly at the crypt base. The other pool consists of Bmi1-expressing cells that largely reside above the crypt base. In the absence of Lgr5-expressing cells, progeny production by Bmi1-expressing cells increased, indicating that Bmi1-expressing stem cells compensate for the loss of Lgr5-expressing cells. Interestingly, both stem cell compartments can serve as cell of origin for the development of colorectal cancer in mice. The Pathways that regulate self-renewal, commitment as well as the interplay between these two populations remain to be clearly defined but are likely to involve Wnt Notch Hedgehog. The Notch, Wnt and Hedgehog signaling pathways play critical roles during embryonic development. These factors modulate proliferation or differentiation of numerous cell types and are also involved in the regulation of the self-renewal and/or differentiation of embryonic and adult stem cells. It is however becoming increasingly clear that these pathways are involved in tumorigenesis when reactivated in adult tissues through mutations or overexpression of pathway components. Aberrant reactivation of the Hedgehog (Hh) pathway in adult tissues can lead for example to the development of cancers such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and medulloblastoma is often the result of inactivating mutations in PATCHED (PTCH) or activating SMOOTHENED (SMO) mutations. Notch1 mutations are found in most T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias and activation of the Wnt pathway, often through APC (adenomatous polyposis coli) gene mutations, is observed in a majority of colon adenocarcinomas. However all 3 pathways play a role in normal gut homeostasis and may be involved in some aspect of colon tumorigenesis. In addition to the development of agents targeting these pathways in tumors where they are mutated we will discuss the effect on inhibiting Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog signaling on stem cells in the normal intestine and in tumors. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr SY37-03. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-SY37-03
International Comparison of Health Resource Utilization in Subjects With Diabetes
Authors: Scott W. Klarenbach, Philip Jacobs
Journal: Diabetes Care (2003)

OBJECTIVE—To compare health resource utilization in patients with diabetes between the U.S. and Canada. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We combined measures of health care utilization, personal, demographic, health status, functional status, and comorbid conditions from the current National Health Interview Survey (U.S.) and the National Public Health Survey (Canada). A binary logistic regression analysis was used to examine how country of residence influences the probability of accessing health care resources in adult Caucasian subjects after controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS—Subjects from Canada (n = 521) were more likely to have contact with a general physician (odds ratio [OR] 4.01, 95% CI 2.26–7.14), eye specialists (1.46, 1.08–1. 98), and any physician (3.02, 1.03–8.84) in the past year than their American counterparts (n = 825) but were less likely to have had contact with other medical specialists (0.33, 0.24–0.46). Subjects in Canada were also more likely to have been hospitalized overnight (1.79, 1.17–2.75) or to have contact with a health care professional in the previous 12 months (3.35, 1.01–12.81). CONCLUSIONS—Significant disparities exist in health service utilization for adult Caucasian individuals with diabetes in Canada versus the U.S. after controlling for various confounders. From what is known regarding optimal treatment of diabetes, those with diabetes in the U.S. have a greater chance of not receiving recommended care.
Comparison of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery With Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-Eluting Stents for Unprotected Left Main Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Michael S. Lee, Nikhil Kapoor, Faizi Jamal, Lawrence Czer, Joseph Aragon, James Forrester, Saibal Kar, Suhail Dohad, Robert Kass, Neal Eigler, Alfredo Trento, Prediman K. Shah, Raj R. Makkar
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2006)
A systematic, large-scale resequencing screen of X-chromosome coding exons in mental retardation
Authors: Patrick S Tarpey, Raffaella Smith, Erin Pleasance, Annabel Whibley, Sarah Edkins, Claire Hardy, Sarah O'Meara, Calli Latimer, Ed Dicks, Andrew Menzies, Phil Stephens, Matt Blow, Chris Greenman, Yali Xue, Chris Tyler-Smith, Deborah Thompson, Kristian Gray, Jenny Andrews, Syd Barthorpe, Gemma Buck, Jennifer Cole, Rebecca Dunmore, David Jones, Mark Maddison, Tatiana Mironenko, Rachel Turner, Kelly Turrell, Jennifer Varian, Sofie West, Sara Widaa, Paul Wray, Jon Teague, Adam Butler, Andrew Jenkinson, Mingming Jia, David Richardson, Rebecca Shepherd, Richard Wooster, M Isabel Tejada, Francisco Martinez, Gemma Carvill, Rene Goliath, Arjan P M de Brouwer, Hans van Bokhoven, Hilde Van Esch, Jamel Chelly, Martine Raynaud, Hans-Hilger Ropers, Fatima E Abidi, Anand K Srivastava, James Cox, Ying Luo, Uma Mallya, Jenny Moon, Josef Parnau, Shehla Mohammed, John L Tolmie, Cheryl Shoubridge, Mark Corbett, Alison Gardner, Eric Haan, Sinitdhorn Rujirabanjerd, Marie Shaw, Lucianne Vandeleur, Tod Fullston, Douglas F Easton, Jackie Boyle, Michael Partington, Anna Hackett, Michael Field, Cindy Skinner, Roger E Stevenson, Martin Bobrow, Gillian Turner, Charles E Schwartz, Jozef Gecz, F Lucy Raymond, P Andrew Futreal, Michael R Stratton
Journal: Nature Genetics (2009)
A combination of etanercept and methotrexate for the treatment of refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a pilot study
Authors: H Schmeling
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2001)

To study the efficacy of combination therapy with etanercept and methotrexate in patients with refractory juvenile idiopathic arthritis.Seven children with active juvenile idiopathic arthritis refractory to at least combination therapy with methotrexate and sulfasalazine or cyclosporin A were studied. Concomitant treatment, consisting of non-steroidal drugs, corticosteroids, and methotrexate, remained unchanged.Six patients continued the treatment for at least 24 weeks. In the child with systemic arthritis, etanercept was stopped because of persisting spiking fever, joint pain, and rash. In the remaining children an immediate significant decrease in joint pain (p<0.05), disappearance of morning stiffness, and regression of joint swelling (p<0.05) were observed. Improvement was apparent after two injections. An immediate significant (p<0.05) decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, and interleukin 6 was observed. Side effects consisted of mild reactions at the injection site in two children.In this observational study, etanercept in combination with methotrexate was well tolerated and highly effective in treating juvenile polyarthritis but not in the patient with systemic arthritis. Combination treatment appears to be feasible in terms of toxicity and may enhance efficiency.
Xenotransplantation: Problems and Prospects
Authors: Fritz H. Bach
Journal: Annual Review of Medicine (1998)

Research in xenotransplantation has increased enormously in the last eight years. As the shortage of allogeneic organs has intensified, the possibility of using organs from pigs has become more attractive. Current data suggest that hyperacute rejection can be overcome in a clinically acceptable manner. However, additional likely rejection factors, probably related to endothelial cell activation, are being identified that likely lead to delayed xenograft rejection, a phenomenon that can occur in the absence of T lymphocytes. Reviewed here are various genetic engineering approaches that might help overcome these rejection factors, resulting eventually in a multi-transgene donor pig. Other concerns and current controversies in the field are also discussed.
Diabetes and Advanced Glycoxidation End Products
Authors: Amy G. Huebschmann, Judith G. Regensteiner, Helen Vlassara, Jane E.B. Reusch
Journal: Diabetes Care (2006)

The incidence of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes, is increasing at an alarming rate assuming epidemic proportions (1). Worldwide, 124 million people had diabetes by 1997, although an estimated 221 million people will have diabetes by the year 2010 (1).
Court rules that NHS must pay for overseas treatment
Authors: C. Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2003)

A High Court judge last week opened the way for NHS patients who face “undue delay” on hospital waiting lists to have their operation in another European Union member state and claim reimbursement from the NHS.

Mr Justice Munby ruled that “if treatment in this country under the NHS is unduly delayed, then an NHS patient is entitled as a matter of European law to travel to another member state, there to be treated on terms requiring the NHS to reimburse the cost of that treatment.”

But he ruled that Yvonne …
Characterization of 67 Mitochondrial tRNA Gene Rearrangements in the Hymenoptera Suggests That Mitochondrial tRNA Gene Position Is Selectively Neutral
Authors: M. Dowton, S. L. Cameron, J. I. Dowavic, A. D. Austin, M. F. Whiting
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2009)

We present entire sequences of two hymenopteran mitochondrial genomes and the major portion of three others. We combined these data with nine previously sequenced hymenopteran mitochondrial genomes. This allowed us to infer and analyze the evolution of the 67 mitochondrial gene rearrangements so far found in this order. All of these involve tRNA genes, whereas four also involve larger (protein-coding or ribosomal RNA) genes. We find that the vast majority of mitochondrial gene rearrangements are independently derived. A maximum of four of these rearrangements represent shared, derived organizations, whereas three are convergently derived. The remaining mitochondrial gene rearrangements represent new mitochondrial genome organizations. These data are consistent with the proposal that there are an enormous number of alternative mitochondrial genome organizations possible and that mitochondrial genome organization is, for the most part, selectively neutral. Nevertheless, some mitochondrial genes appear less mobile than others. Genes close to the noncoding region are generally more mobile but only marginally so. Some mitochondrial genes rearrange in a pattern consistent with the duplication/random loss model, but more mitochondrial genes move in a pattern inconsistent with this model. An increased rate of mitochondrial gene rearrangement is not tightly associated with the evolution of parasitism. Although parasitic lineages tend to have more mitochondrial gene rearrangements than nonparasitic lineages, there are exceptions (e.g., Orussus and Schlettererius). It is likely that only a small proportion of the total number of mitochondrial gene rearrangements that have occurred during the evolution of the Hymenoptera have been sampled in the present study.
TNF biosynthesis in gut associated immunopathologies
Authors: F BALKWILL
Journal: Gut (1999)

We addressed the impact of deleting TNF AU-rich elements (ARE) from the mouse genome on the regulation of TNF biosynthesis and the physiology of the host.Absence of the ARE aVected mechanisms responsible for TNF mRNA destabilization and translational repression in hemopoietic and stromal cells.In stimulated conditions, TNF ARE were required both for the alleviation and reinforcement of message destabilization and translational silencing.Moreover, the mutant mRNA was no longer responsive to translational modulation by the p38 and JNK kinases, demonstrating that TNF ARE are targets for these signals.Development of two specific pathologies in mutant mice, i.e., chronic inflammatory arthritis and Crohn'slike inflammatory bowel disease, suggests that defective function of ARE may be etiopathogenic for the development of analogous human pathologies.
Declining Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Osaka, Japan, from 1990 to 2003
Authors: Hideo Tanaka, Yasuharu Imai, Naoki Hiramatsu, Yuri Ito, Kazuho Imanaka, Masahide Oshita, Taizo Hijioka, Kazuhiro Katayama, Iwao Yabuuchi, Harumasa Yoshihara, Atsuo Inoue, Michio Kato, Tetsuo Takehara, Shinji Tamura, Akinori Kasahara, Norio Hayashi, Hideaki Tsukuma
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2008)

Background: Japan has the highest incidence rate of primary liver cancer attributed to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among developed countries. Molecular clock analysis of HCV sequences revealed that the spread of HCV took place earlier in Japan than in other countries. This might influence recent temporal trends in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence. Objective: To characterize the contribution of HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to recent changes in HCC incidence in Osaka, Japan. Design: Population-based survey. Setting: Osaka Cancer Registry and 10 hospitals in Osaka. Participants: 63 862 patients with HCC that was diagnosed between 1981 and 2003 in Osaka Prefecture, including 5253 HCV-seropositive patients with HCC that was diagnosed between 1990 and 2003 at 10 hospitals. Measurements: Incidence of HCC and estimated incidence rate of HCV-related HCC, measured by multiplying the prevalence of anti-HCV by the corresponding HCC incidence rate. Results: Between 1981 and 2003, peak incidence of HCC among men age 50 to 59 years, 60 to 69 years, and 70 to 79 years occurred in 1986, 1995, and 2000, respectively, with marked downward trends thereafter (average annual change, −7.9, −22.3, and −12.4 per 100 000 persons, respectively). Similar trends were observed in women. Estimated sex- and age-specific incidence of HCV-related HCC (per 100 000 persons) decreased from 255 to 92 cases at the maximum in men age 60 to 69 years and from 61 to 34 cases in women age 60 to 69 years, whereas estimated incidence of non-HCV–related HCC did not change between 1990 and 2003. Limitation: Infection was determined only by HCV seropositivity. Conclusion: The incidence of HCC in Osaka started to decrease by 2000, mainly because of decreased HCV-related HCC.
What Are Terminally Ill Cancer Patients Told About Their Expected Deaths? A Study of Cancer Physicians’ Self-Reports of Prognosis Disclosure
Authors: Christopher K. Daugherty, Fay J. Hlubocky
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008)

Purpose Little is known about how physicians discuss prognosis with terminally ill cancer patients. Thus, we sought to obtain cancer physicians’ self-reports of their prognosis communication practices. Methods A survey seeking self-reports regarding prognosis communication with their terminally ill cancer patients was mailed to a systematic sample of medical oncologists in the United States. Results Of 1,137 physicians, 729 completed and returned surveys (64% response rate). Median age of respondents was 51 years (range, 33 to 80 years); 82% were men. Respondents had practiced cancer care for a median of 18 years (range, 1.5 to 50 years) and reported seeing a median of 60 patients per week (range, 0 to 250 patients per week). Although 98% said their usual practice is to tell terminally ill patients that they will die, 48% specifically described communicating terminal prognoses to patients only when specific preferences for prognosis information were expressed. Forty-three percent said they always or usually communicate a medical estimate of time as to when death is likely to occur, and 57% reported sometimes, rarely, or never giving a time frame. Seventy-three percent said prognosis communication education was either absent or inadequate during their training, and 96% believed it should be part of cancer care training. Conclusion Medical oncologists report routinely informing their terminally ill patients that they will die. However, they are divided in describing themselves as either always discussing a terminal prognosis or doing so if it is consistent with their patients’ preferences for prognostic information. Most medical oncologists say they do not routinely communicate an estimated survival time to their patients.
Critical Care Bed Growth in the United States. A Comparison of Regional and National Trends
Authors: David J. Wallace, Derek C. Angus, Christopher W. Seymour, Amber E. Barnato, Jeremy M. Kahn
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2014)

Rationale: Although the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the United States is increasing, it is unknown whether this trend is consistent across all regions.Objectives: We sought to better characterize regional variation in ICU bed changes over time and identify regional characteristics associated with these changes.Methods: We used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the U.S. Census to summarize the numbers of hospitals, hospital beds, ICU beds, and ICU occupancy at the level of Dartmouth Atlas hospital referral region from 2000 to 2009. We categorized regions into quartiles of bed change over the study interval and examined the relationship between change categories, regional characteristics, and population characteristics over time.Measurements and Main Results: From 2000 to 2009 the national number of ICU beds increased 15%, from 67,579 to 77,809, mirroring population. However, there was substantial regional variation in absolute changes (median, +16 ICU beds; interquartile range, −3 to +51) and population-adjusted changes (median, +0.9 ICU beds per 100,000; interquartile range, −3.8 to +5.9), with 25.0% of regions accounting for 74.8% of overall growth. At baseline, regions with increasing numbers of ICU beds had larger populations, lower ICU beds per 100,000 capita, higher average ICU occupancy, and greater market competition as measured by the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (P < 0.001 for all comparisons).Conclusions: National trends in ICU bed growth are not uniformly reflected at the regional level, with most growth occurring in a small number of highly populated regions.
Diastasis of the pubic symphysis peculiar to horse riders: modern aspects of pelvic pommel injuries
Authors: K J Mulhall, Y Khan, A Ahmed, D O'Farrell, T E Burke, M Moloney
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2002)

Diastasis of the pubic symphysis is a well documented injury typically associated with high energy trauma. Three cases in horse riders are here described, emphasising the appropriate modern investigation, including computed tomography, and orthopaedic and urological management.
Pirfenidone in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: H Taniguchi, M Ebina, Y Kondoh, T Ogura, A Azuma, M Suga, Y Taguchi, H Takahashi, K Nakata, A Sato, M Takeuchi, G Raghu, S Kudoh, T Nukiwa
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2010)

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease without proven effective therapy. A multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised phase III clinical trial was conducted in Japanese patients with well-defined IPF to determine the efficacy and safety of pirfenidone, a novel antifibrotic oral agent, over 52 weeks. Of 275 patients randomised (high-dose, 1,800 mg x day(-1); low-dose, 1,200 mg x day(-1); or placebo groups in the ratio 2:1:2), 267 patients were evaluated for the efficacy of pirfenidone. Prior to unblinding, the primary end-point was revised; the change in vital capacity (VC) was assessed at week 52. Secondary end-points included the progression-free survival (PFS) time. Significant differences were observed in VC decline (primary end-point) between the placebo group (-0.16 L) and the high-dose group (-0.09 L) (p = 0.0416); differences between the two groups (p = 0.0280) were also observed in the PFS (the secondary end-point). Although photosensitivity, a well-established side-effect of pirfenidone, was the major adverse event in this study, it was mild in severity in most of the patients. Pirfenidone was relatively well tolerated in patients with IPF. Treatment with pirfenidone may decrease the rate of decline in VC and may increase the PFS time over 52 weeks. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.