tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Bridging to survivorship in breast cancer: How BMI weighs in.
Authors: Janet L. Espirito, Brian Turnwald, Robyn K. Harrell, Debajyoti Bhowmik, Neelima Denduluri, Barry Don Brooks, J. Russell Hoverman, Roy A. Beveridge, Debra A. Patt
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

9605 Background: Obesity and depression complicate survivorship in early stage breast cancer (BC) by having a direct impact on survival and morbidity among patients (pts) who complete treatment (tx). The prevalence of obesity after BC tx in the community and concordance with BC tx type is poorly described, but important as we characterize risks of tx and optimize goals for survivorship care planning. Methods: We queried the electronic health record (EHR), iKnowMed, from a large network of community oncology practices for pts diagnosed with stage I-III BC from 2007-2010 with at least 5 office visits and follow up through 11-2012 for our retrospective study. We excluded pts who developed metastatic disease or died. We stratified pts by chemotherapy (CT) utilization (yes/no), hormone receptor (HR) status, age, and documented body mass index (BMI) at first office visit and annually. We evaluated changes in BMI characteristics by tx cohort. Results: We identified 8,506 pts with a documented BMI at first office visit and 1, 2, and 3 years (yrs) thereafter. 4369 (51% of the total) pts received adjuvant CT and 4137 (49%) did not. 6897 pts (81%) were HR positive. Baseline BMI between tx cohorts were similar, though the prevalence of overweight (31%) and overweight or obese (68%) is high. Percent change of BMI at 3 yrs varied significantly between T cohorts (p&lt;0.01) with greater rise among the cohorts who received CT in comparison to those who did not. Pts receiving CT were 46% more likely to have a 5 point or more increase in BMI at 3 yrs compared to pts that did not receive CT (OR 1.46, CI[1.08-1.96]). A stronger association for BMI increase of at least 0.5 points at 3 yrs (OR 1.53, CI [1.4-1.7]) was also observed amongst pts who received CT compared to those that did not. HR positive pts were less likely than HR negative or unknown pts to increase their BMI by at least 0.5 points (OR 0.84, p&lt;0.01), but there was no difference at detecting a difference of 5 points in BMI (OR 0.88, p=0.49). Conclusions: With 3 yrs of follow up, overweight and obese status is remarkably common among BC survivors in the community and appears to be more prevalent after CT tx. Determinants of obesity require further study and point to necessary intervention to improve the health of early stage BC pts.
Oxaliplatin/5FU/LV in the adjuvant treatment of stage II and stage III colon cancer: Efficacy results with a median follow-up of 4 years
Authors: A. de Gramont, C. Boni, M. Navarro, J. Tabernero, T. Hickish, C. Topham, A. Bonetti, P. Clingan, J. Marceau-Suissa, C. Lorenzato, T. André
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

3501 Background: MOSAIC trial was designed to demonstrate an increase in Disease Free Survival (DFS) in stage II and III colon cancer. Methods: 2246 patients with completely resected stage II (40%) or III (60%) colon cancer were randomly assigned to receive LV5FU2 or FOLFOX4 every 2 weeks for 12 cycles. Results: Final results of the study have been reported for the overall population, with a median follow-up (mFUP) of 3 years (Andre et Al, NEJM, 2004). With a mFUP of 4 years (48.6 months), a 24% reduction in the relative risk of relapse was observed with the FOLFOX4 combination in the overall population (p=0.0008). For stage III patients, the probability of remaining disease free at 4 years is 61.0% in the LV5FU2 arm and 69.7% in the FOLFOX4 arm, translating into a relative risk reduction of 25% in this subset of patients For stage II patients, 4-year DFS was 81.3% in the LV5FU2 arm versus 85.1% in the FOLFOX4 arm (relative risk reduction of 20%). In the overall population, 84.3% and 82.7% patients are still alive respectively in the FOLFOX4 and LV5FU2 arms. Follow-up is ongoing for a minimum of 5 years for each patient for final survival analysis. After mFUP of 4 years, about 3% (3.4%) of patients presented either with persisting localized paresthesias of moderate intensity (2.7%) or with paresthesias that may interfere with functional activities (0.7%). Conclusions: Based on these results, FOLFOX4 is now a standard treatment for patients with early stage colon cancer. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Length of hospital stay in community acquired pneumonia
Authors: Daniel Coutinho, Maria João Oliveira, Ana Raquel Marçôa, Maria Céu Brito, Teresa Shiang
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:  Community acquired pneumonia (CAP) is responsible for the hospitalisation of 3–5/1000 adults per year, representing a major impact on the utilization of health care resources.   Purpose:  To assess the predictors of length of stay (LOS) in patients with CAP.   Methods:  In a retrospective study, patients admitted to a pulmonology ward of a Portuguese tertiary hospital with primary diagnosis of CAP from January to October 2013 were included. Collected data included socio-demographic variables, smoking status, comorbidities, CURB65, laboratory and radiologic findings on admission, microbiologic findings and antibiotic treatment. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the influence of these variables on LOS.   Results:  One hundred and twenty patients were included (mean age 62.4±14.6 years; 82 male, 38 female). The median LOS was 10 days. Significant positive correlations were observed with age (p=0.001), diabetes (p=0.048), CURB65 score (p=0.012), multilobar involvement (p=0.016) and pleural effusion (p=0.031) on admission and modification of empirical antibiotic treatment (p   Conclusion:  The main predictors of LOS were modification of empirical antibiotic treatment and PaO2/FiO2 ratio on admission. Attention to comorbidities, laboratory and radiological findings on admission and early treatment outcome may prove to be effective when planning discharge for these patients.
Medical Group Practice in California.
Authors: E R Weinerman
Journal: JAMA (1952)

A 1950 study of group practice in California reveals 52 "true general medical groups" among 123 medical organizations surveyed, involving 634 full-time and 215 part-time physicians. The groups, in contrast to the national patterns, tend to be larger, younger and more urban. There is also a greater tendency toward unit hospital affiliation (30 groups) and operation of group prepayment plans (10 groups). In general similarity to the national scene, California groups are most frequently organized as private partnerships with a salary method of remuneration sometimes augmented by a share of net earnings. The range of medical and technical services offered varies widely with the size of the group. The combination of group prepayment, medical group practice, and coordinated medical-hospital centers seems to offer special opportunities for satisfactory practice and adequate medical care.
Bone marrow transplant recipients have defective MHC-unrestricted cytotoxic responses against cytomegalovirus in comparison with Epstein- Barr virus: the importance of target cell expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA1)
Authors: AS Duncombe, JE Grundy, P Oblakowski, HG Prentice, DJ Gottlieb, DM Roy, JE Reittie, C Bello-Fernandez, AV Hoffbrand, MK Brenner
Journal: Blood (1992)
Corynebacterium parvum as the Priming Agent in the Production of Tumor Necrosis Factor in the Mouse2
Authors: Saul Green, Areta Dobrjansky, Mary Ann Chiasson, Elizabeth Carswell, Morton K. Schwartz, Lloyd J. Old
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1977)

Conditions were defined for the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in outbred CO®-1 Swiss mice with the use of Corynebacterium parvum (CP) as the priming agent and Escherichia coli endotoxin as the eliciting agent. Mice treated with CP (1 mg/mouse) showed time- and dose-dependent hepatosplenomegaly and hypersensitivity to endotoxin lethality. Serum TNF (as determined in the standard Meth A assay) was elicited by 25 μg of iv endotoxin beginning at 4 days post CP. At 6 days post CP injection, mice reached a maximum hypersensitivity to endotoxin, and TNF was released by as little as 0.25 μg. However, even this amount of endotoxin resulted in death of the hypersensitive mice within 12 hours. The appearance of TNF in the serum was paralleled by the appearance of increasing amounts of NAD+ glycohydrolase, a microsomal enzyme, and lactate dehydrogenase, a cytosolic enzyme. The marked increase in microsomal, lysosomal, and cytosolic enzymes found in serum with TNF indicated extensive cell disruption. An assay based on the sensitivity of cultured mouse L-cells to cytolysis by TNF was used to titrate serum TNF after various doses of endotoxin. The results correlated well with those of the assay with Meth A in vivo. Release of TNF, as monitored with the L-cell assay, was maximal 90 minutes after iv injection of 1 μg of endotoxin. With the CP-endotoxin schedule that was optimal in CO®-1 mice, TNF production by other mouse strains differed significantly. Whereas AKR mice produced high levels of TNF, BALB/c, nu/nu, (C57BL/6 × DBA/2)F1 and C57BL/6 were poor producers under these conditions.
Diabetes care in England improves little, NAO report shows
Authors: Jacqui Wise
Journal: BMJ (2015)

Improvements in delivering care for adults with diabetes in England have stalled, a report from the National Audit Office shows.1

The auditor’s previous report on diabetes services, published in 2012, showed an improvement in delivering the nine key care processes that the NHS had identified as essential for patients with diabetes.2

However, in the latest report the percentage of registered patients with diabetes who received all nine recommended care processes (except eye screening, now reported separately) remained at the same level of 60%. The report also found considerable geographical variation, as percentages ranged from 30% to 76%.

The percentage of diabetes patients receiving all of the National Institute …
Not all that wheezes is asthma - videolaryngoscopy during bicycle ergometry in children and adolescents
Authors: Uros Krivec, Marina Praprotnik, Dusanka Lepej, Malena Aldeco, Ana Kotnik Pirs, Irena Hocevar Boltezar
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Background:   Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction is not uncommon in children and adolescents. Condition presents with distressing symptoms and is many times misdiagnosed as asthma. Our aim was to directly visualize the larynx during exercise in patients with the history of dyspnea and inspiratory stridor on exertion.   Methods:   We combined continuous flexible transnasal laryngoscopy with bicycle ergometry. Data from 37 consecutive patients were analysed; prior medical history and functional tests, larygeal endoscopic findings and ergometry results were assessed. Selected patients were further referred for laryngeal sensory testing.   Results:   All 37 subjects (22 female) completed the test. Their median age was 13.3 years (range 9-21 years). Seventeen were atopic, 18 were active athletes (mostly cyclists and swimmers with 6 and 3 subjects respectively). Exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction was diagnosed in 25 (60% female). Ten among them were atopics and the same number (40%) was treated for presumed asthma. Only one had moderate to severe bronchial hyperresposivness (p = 0.05), none had elevated exhaled nitric oxide (p = 0.03). No adverse reactions were recorded. Laryngeal sensory testing was performed in 22 subjects. Hypersensitivity was detected in 15, hyposensitivity in 1, 4 had normal results, 2 couldn9t tolerate the test.   Conclusions:   Flexible videolaryngoscopy during bicycle ergometry can be performed safely in children and adolescents. It is a valuable diagnostic tool for assessment of possible exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction. Altered laryngeal sensitivity for mechanical stimuli might explain exercise-induced dynamic upper airway obstruction.
Inmunophenotypic profiles of male breast cancer
Authors: T. Martin Gomez, B. Torio, I. Ruiz, F. Arranz, A. Arizcun
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2007)

21180 Background: Recently, inmunophenotypic characterization methods have allowed identification of female breast carcinomas into separate groups showing different behaviour and response to therapy: luminal A phenotype (RE +, HER2-neu - ), luminal B (RE +, HER2- neu + ), basal like (RE -, HER2-neu - ). In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to investigate the inmunophenotypic profile distribution of male breast cancer. Methods: all the male breast cancers were obtained from the files of the Departments of Pathology of Hospital Río Carrión in Palencia, Spain, since 1996. A total of 9 cases were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis and to characterize each tumour. The following CK immunohistochemistry was performed: 8/18 and 5 (Dako, Carpinteria, CA, USA) in a Dako autostainer. ER was interpreted as positive if &gt; 10% of the cells were staining. Normal skin and tonsils were used as positive controls for the CK and a known breast cancer for the ER immunohistochemistry. Results: five cases expressed RE and were HER2-neu negative, so they have a luminal-A phenotype. The four cases that expressed the luminal-B pehnotype expressed RE and HER2-neu; we demonstrated gene amplification of the HER-neu gene using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) in those cases. Respect the CKs profile, all cases were positive for CK 8/18 and negative with CK 5, vimentin and p63, characteristic of luminal-like CK expression profile, according wiht the literature. Conclusions: this is the first case series of male breast cancer patients that provides inmunophenotypic profile data on this rare disease in only one center in Spain. We comunicate that the vast majority of these tumours express the phenotype of luminal-like CKs. None of our patients were basal-like tumours. The percentage expression of Her-2 parallels the finding in female breast cancers and this should be analysed for its predictive significance, according to new specific biological treatments. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Pathologic complete remission of cytologically proven axillary node metastases may be a strong prognostic factor in HER2-positive breast cancer
Authors: M. Sakakibara, T. Nagashima, R. Nakamura, H. Fujimoto, M. Arai, M. Kadowaki, M. Miyazaki
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2007)

21149 Background: Preoperative chemotherapy has become one of the standard modes of treatment in patients with breast cancer, and pathologic complete remission (pCR) thus obtained has become an important prognostic factor. However, the number of cells in the main lesion is enormous and changes over time in a heterogeneous manner. Thus, time and individual differences in sensitivity influence the acquisition of pCR, and questions about the coincidence with the effects of metastatic lesions also remain. On the other hand, although pCR of axillary lymph node metastasis lesions with relatively lower numbers of the cells is considered one of the best surrogate prognostic markers, evaluation criteria have not yet been established because definitive preoperative diagnosis is difficult. In our department, preoperative axillary cytodiagnosis has been conducted in all surgical breast cancer cases. In this study, we investigated pCR of the axillary lymph nodes (ALN- pCR) in cytologically proven axillary node metastasis cases. Subjects and Methods: ALN-pCR, DFS, and OS were investigated in 52 surgical breast cancer cases (observation period: 15–52 months; medial level: 28 months) positive for cytological axillary metastasis and received preoperative chemotherapy (AC-Paclitaxel) during the period from 2002 to 2005. Results: ALN-pCR was found in 21 of 52 cases (40.4%). Rates of disease-free survival (DFS) at 36 months in ALN-pCR and non-ALN-pCR cases were 85.0% and 42.3% (P=0.031) and those of overall survival (OS; 48 months) were 100% and 87.9% (P=0.353), respectively. DFS (36 months) was very favorable 100% in ALN-pCR cases that obtained the effect of 1b or higher on evaluation of the main lesion effect and ALN-pCR cases with Her2-positive results on sub-type analysis. Conclusions: ALN-pCR of cytologically proven axillary node metastasis was indicated to be a prognostic factor in cases of breast cancer. Especially, its importance was demonstrated in HER2-positive breast cancer. From these findings, HER2-positive and cytologically axillary lymph node-positive cases were considered the best indications for preoperative chemotherapy. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Too paranoid to see progress: Social psychology is probably liberal, but it doesn't believe in progress
Authors: Bo Winegard, Benjamin Winegard, David C. Geary
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2015)

Abstract We agree with Duarte et al. that bias in social psychology is a serious problem that researchers should confront. However, we are skeptical that most social psychologists adhere to a liberal progress narrative. We suggest, instead, that most social psychologists are paranoid egalitarian meliorists (PEMs). We explain the term and suggest possible remedies to bias in social psychology.
Successful treatment of resistant germinal neoplasms with VP-16 and cisplatin: results of a Southeastern Cancer Study Group trial.
Authors: J D Hainsworth, S D Williams, L H Einhorn, R Birch, F A Greco
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (1985)

Between July 1979 and May 1982, we treated 45 male patients with refractory germinal neoplasms. All patients had previously received intensive cisplatin-containing combination chemotherapy regimens. Patients received salvage chemotherapy with VP-16 and cisplatin +/- bleomycin +/- doxorubicin. Of 44 evaluable patients, 19 (43%) achieved complete remissions with salvage chemotherapy, 12 (27%) had partial remissions, and nine (21%) had no response. Four patients (9%) were not evaluable for response due to early death or noncompliance but are considered treatment failures. Ten patients (23%) remain alive and continuously disease free 20 to 39 months (median, 29 months) after completion of therapy. Hematologic toxicity was severe, with one death related to sepsis. Bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis occurred in 17 patients with two fatalities. The addition of bleomycin and/or doxorubicin to this regimen increases toxicity and probably does not improve treatment results. Salvage chemotherapy with VP-16 and cisplatin offers potentially curative therapy to men with resistant germinal tumors.
Identification and validation of anti-TMEFF2-Auristatin E conjugated antibodies in the treatment of prostate cancer
Authors: D. A. Law, D. Afar, V. Bhaskar, E. Ibsen, R. Powers, D. Breinberg, M. Wong, R. Dubridge, V. Ramakrishnan, R. Murray
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2004)

2557 Background: Current treatments for advanced stage prostate cancer are largely ineffectual, resulting in high mortality and morbidity. Experimental strategies to fulfill this unmet medical need include the use of toxin-based antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) to specifically target cancer cells in vivo. Using gene expression profiling, TMEFF2 was identified as being selective to prostate cancer and was validated as a target suitable for an ADC approach using pre-clinical xenograft models in vivo. Methods: A panel of antibodies specific to TMEFF2 protein was generated. One antibody was selected on the basis of affinity and in vitro functionality as an ADC to undergo further analysis in vivo. Results: TMEFF2, a gene encoding a plasma membrane protein with 2 follistatin-like domains and one EGF-like domain, was found to exhibit a restricted normal tissue expression profile and was determined to be highly over-expressed in prostate cancer. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised against TMEFF2 was used in immunohistochemistry (IHC) of clinical specimens confirming significant TMEFF2 protein expression in 73% of primary prostate tumors. The exquisite tissue specificity of TMEFF2 followed by the over expression in prostate cancer, allowed for the use of an ADC based therapeutic strategy. We used an Auristatin-E conjugated anti-TMEFF2 mAb, Pr1-vcMMAE, to evaluate the effect on human prostate cancer xenograft tumors grown in male severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice. Treatment of SCID mice bearing LNCaP and CWR22 tumors, both of which express TMEFF2, with doses of 3 to 10 mg/kg of ADC resulted in significant and sustained tumor growth inhibition. No overt in vivo toxicity was observed with either murine or humanized ADC, despite significant cross-reactivity of anti-TMEFF2 mAb with murine TMEFF2 protein, indicating a high safety profile. Conclusions: The TMEFF2 protein exhibits the desired expression profile for an ADC target. Our data on significant tumor growth inhibition in the in vivo treatment models support humanized Pr1-vcMMAE as a novel therapeutic for the treatment of prostate cancer. Author Disclosure Employment or Leadership Consultant or Advisory Stock Ownership Honoraria Research Funding Expert Testimony Other Remuneration Protein Design Labs, Inc. Protein Design Labs, Inc. Protein Design Labs, Inc.
Comparative Rates of Dead Tumor Cell Removal From Brain, Muscle, Subcutaneous Tissue, and Peritoneal Cavity 2
Authors: A. R. V. Kumar, T. Hoshino, K. T. Wheeler, M. Barker, C. B. Wilson
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1974)

Two methods were used to compare the rates of dead cell removal from pieces of tumor implanted in brain, muscle, subcutaneous (sc) tissue, and peritoneal cavity of rats. The weight of implanted tumor pieces, rendered nonviable either by lethal irradiation or by several freeze-thaw cycles, was followed as a function of post-implantation time. A large initial weight increase occurred in tumors implanted in sc tissue and brain, but not in muscle. The subsequent weight reduction of implanted tumors indicated that the rate of dead tumor-cell removal was greatest in muscle, intermediate in sc tissue, and least in brain. The loss of 125l label from dead tumor pre- labeled with 1252125 -deoxy-5-iodouridine was followed during the postimplantation period by counting either the whole animal or the isolated DNA from excised tumor masses. Loss of the 125l label from tumor implants in situ and from extracted DNA failed to correlate with the removal of dead cells.