tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Acupuncture for Pain and Dysfunction After Neck Dissection: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: David G. Pfister, Barrie R. Cassileth, Gary E. Deng, K. Simon Yeung, Jennifer S. Lee, Donald Garrity, Angel Cronin, Nancy Lee, Dennis Kraus, Ashok R. Shaha, Jatin Shah, Andrew J. Vickers
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2010)

To determine whether acupuncture reduces pain and dysfunction in patients with cancer with a history of neck dissection. The secondary objective is to determine whether acupuncture relieves dry mouth in this population.Patients at a tertiary cancer center with chronic pain or dysfunction attributed to neck dissection were randomly assigned to weekly acupuncture versus usual care (eg, physical therapy, analgesia, and/or anti-inflammatory drugs, per patient preference or physician recommendation) for 4 weeks. The Constant-Murley score, a composite measure of pain, function, and activities of daily living, was the primary outcome measure. Xerostomia, a secondary end point, was assessed using the Xerostomia Inventory.Fifty-eight evaluable patients were accrued and randomly assigned from 2004 to 2007 (28 and 30 patients on acupuncture and control arms, respectively). Constant-Murley scores improved more in the acupuncture group (adjusted difference between groups = 11.2; 95% CI, 3.0 to 19.3; P = .008). Acupuncture produced greater improvement in reported xerostomia (adjusted difference in Xerostomia Inventory = -5.8; 95% CI, -0.9 to -10.7; P = .02).Significant reductions in pain, dysfunction, and xerostomia were observed in patients receiving acupuncture versus usual care. Although further study is needed, these data support the potential role of acupuncture in addressing post-neck dissection pain and dysfunction, as well as xerostomia.
Positive serum hepatitis B e antigen is associated with higher risk of early recurrence and poorer survival in patients after curative resection of hepatitis B-related hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Hui-Chuan Sun, Wei Zhang, Lun-Xiu Qin, Bo-Heng Zhang, Qing-Hai Ye, Lu Wang, Ning Ren, Peng-Yuan Zhuang, Xiao-Dong Zhu, Jia Fan, Zhao-You Tang
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2007)
MBDA: what is it good for?
Authors: Yusuf Yazici, Christopher J Swearingen
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

We read with interest the paper by Hambardzumyan et al 1 studying the predictive value of multibiomarker disease activity (MBDA) score in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for radiographic progression (RP) using the SWEFOT study data. In review, the SWEFOT trial enrolled individuals who had active RA with average DAS28 scores of above 52; 235 subjects in the SWEFOT trial were included in the current analysis. The authors state that when MBDA score at baseline was low (n=5) or moderate (n=29), only one patient had RP, defined as an increase by more than 5 points in the Van der Heijde-modified Sharp score (SHS) over 1 year. When baseline MBDA score was high, 42 out of 201 patients (21%) had a 5-points worsening of SHS at 1 year. While the specificity and positive predictive value of MBDA to predict RP were …
ModuleMiner - improved computational detection of cis-regulatory modules: are there different modes of gene regulation in embryonic development and adult tissues?
Authors: Peter Van Loo, Stein Aerts, Bernard Thienpont, Bart De Moor, Yves Moreau, Peter Marynen
Journal: Genome biology (2008)

Abstract We present ModuleMiner, a novel algorithm for computationally detecting cis -regulatory modules (CRMs) in a set of co-expressed genes. ModuleMiner outperforms other methods for CRM detection on benchmark data, and successfully detects CRMs in tissue-specific microarray clusters and in embryonic development gene sets. Interestingly, CRM predictions for differentiated tissues exhibit strong enrichment close to the transcription start site, whereas CRM predictions for embryonic development gene sets are depleted in this region.
Changing patterns of hospital admission for asthma, 1981-97
Authors: D S Morrison
Journal: Thorax (2001)

Background-Hospital admission rates for asthma have stopped rising in several countries.The aim of this study was to use linked hospital admission data to explore recent trends in asthma admissions in Scotland.Methods-Linked Scottish Morbidity Records (SMR1) for asthma (ICD-9 493 and ICD-10 J45-6) from 1981 to 1997 were used to describe rates of first admissions and readmissions by age and sex.As a measure of resource use, annual trends in bed days used were also explored by age and sex.Results-There were 160 039 hospital admissions for asthma by 82 421 individuals in Scotland during the study period.The overall hospital admission rate increased by 122% (from 106.7 to 236.7 per 100 000 population) but this varied by sex, age, and admission type.First admissions rose by 70% from 73.2 per 100 000 in 1986 to 124.8 per 100 000 in 1997 while readmissions fell.Children (<15 years) experienced a decline in overall admissions after 1992 due to falls in both new admissions and readmissions.By 1997 the ratio of female to male admissions was 0.57 in children, but 1.50 above 14 years of age.Mean lengths of stay fell from 10.7 days to 3.7 days between 1981 and 1997 and bed days used showed little change except for a decline after 1992 in children.Conclusions-After a period of increasing hospitalisation for asthma in Scotland, rates of admission among children have begun to fall but among adults admissions continue to rise.
LONG-TERM RESULTS IN THE TREATMENT OF EARLY SYPHILIS
Authors: PAUL PADGET
Journal: JAMA (1941)

The final evaluation of any system for the treatment of patients with early syphilis must, in the nature of the disease, depend on long term post-treatment observation of a large group of patients. This principle has long been recognized, especially by those who of necessity have attempted the evaluation of modern treatment methods on the basis of a few patients followed for long periods, and larger series in which the period of observation was shorter.1These previous authors have not purposely limited themselves; simply because of the time intervals involved, no large group of patients followed for long periods after modern treatment for early syphilis has heretofore been available. It is now possible partially to supply this deficiency.  THE MATERIAL  From among the patients with early syphilis who had been admitted to the syphilis division it was possible to find 551 who had been completely reexamined five or more
Multiple Primary Sporadic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the Adult: An Underestimated Entity
Authors: Daniela Gasparotto, Sabrina Rossi, Italo Bearzi, Claudio Doglioni, Alessandra Marzotto, Jason L. Hornick, Alessandra Grizzo, Chiara Sartor, Alessandra Mandolesi, Raf Sciot, Maria Debiec-Rychter, Angelo Paolo Dei Tos, Roberta Maestro
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2008)

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are commonly regarded as solitary tumors. The occurrence of multiple lesions is considered an extraordinary event restricted to pediatric GISTs and rare hereditary conditions. Beyond these well-defined situations, the presentation of multiple synchronous lesions is commonly viewed as the result of the metastatic spreading of a single primary GIST. Based on this axiom, patients with multifocal disease are classified as advanced stage and treated as such. Whether, indeed, the detection of several lesions in sporadic adult GIST patients may be suggestive of phenomena of tumor multiplicity still needs to be clarified.From a multicentric series of 442 consecutive cases, 26 of which with advanced disease, we selected 5 patients who presented up to three distinct GIST nodules. Five additional cases with similar characteristics were also contributed by two other institutions. The clonal relationship between the synchronous lesions was assessed by comparing KIT/PDGFRA mutation and microsatellite pattern.An independent origin of the synchronous lesions was established in 6 of 10 cases. Notably, in one patient, one lesion arose in the peritoneum, which is ordinarily regarded as a site of metastasis.Our data indicate that a significant fraction of GIST patients with multifocal presentation are actually affected by multiple primary tumors, suggesting that mesenchymal GIST precursor cells of these individuals are somehow primed to transformation. Thus, in the presence of multifocal GIST manifestations, an accurate characterization of the different tumor sites should be undertaken for a proper patient staging and therapy planning.
Late Side Effects of Short-Course Preoperative Radiotherapy Combined With Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: Increased Bowel Dysfunction in Irradiated Patients—A Dutch Colorectal Cancer Group Study
Authors: K.C.M.J. Peeters, C.J.H. van de Velde, J.W.H. Leer, H. Martijn, J.M.C. Junggeburt, E. Klein Kranenbarg, W.H. Steup, T. Wiggers, H.J. Rutten, C.A.M. Marijnen
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

Preoperative short-term radiotherapy improves local control in patients treated with total mesorectal excision (TME). This study was performed to assess the presence and magnitude of long-term side effects of preoperative 5 x 5 Gy radiotherapy and TME. Also, hospital treatment was recorded for diseases possibly related to late side effects of rectal cancer treatment.Long-term morbidity was assessed in patients from the prospective randomized TME trial, which investigated the efficacy of 5 x 5 Gy before TME surgery for mobile rectal cancer. Dutch patients without recurrent disease were sent a questionnaire.Results were obtained from 597 patients, with a median follow-up of 5.1 years. Stoma function, urinary function, and hospital treatment rates did not differ significantly between the treatment arms. However, irradiated patients, compared with nonirradiated patients, reported increased rates of fecal incontinence (62% v 38%, respectively; P < .001), pad wearing as a result of incontinence (56% v 33%, respectively; P < .001), anal blood loss (11% v 3%, respectively; P = .004), and mucus loss (27% v 15%, respectively; P = .005). Satisfaction with bowel function was significantly lower and the impact of bowel dysfunction on daily activities was greater in irradiated patients compared with patients who underwent TME alone.Although preoperative short-term radiotherapy for rectal cancer results in increased local control, there is more long-term bowel dysfunction in irradiated patients than in patients who undergo TME alone. Rectal cancer patients should be informed on late morbidity of both radiotherapy and TME. Future strategies should be aimed at selecting patients for radiotherapy who are at high risk for local failure.
Cellular factor XIII and peptidylarginine deiminase-catalysed citrullination in rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: B Roth, F Wollheim, P Stenberg
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2010)

Antibodies against citrullinated proteins (ACPA) have been reported in the order of 70% of all cases with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The authors and other groups have also shown that approximately one third of the ACPA-positive RA-cases carry antibodies against the calcium-dependent thiol-enzyme which catalyses citrullination, namely peptidylarginine deiminase (PAD). These patients seem to suffer from a more severe form of RA. The presence of two distinct subsets of RA based on presence or …
METHYLPHENIDATE INTERVIEWS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY
Authors: GEORGE A. ROGERS
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1960)

1. The use of oral methylphenidate to potentiate interviews in 16 office psychotherapy patients was studied for a period of one year. Results indicate that in patients with fixed neurotic processes it can speed the therapeutic progress. 2. The drug gave no physical complications in 16 healthy subjects in doses that were two to four times that ordinarily prescribed. Dosages ranged from 40 to 80 mg. orally per dose.
COPD as a disease of children: hype or hope for better understanding?
Authors: D. M Mannino
Journal: Thorax (2009)

> “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6

I have three children, two of whom are adults, and the third of whom is now taller than me. These children, despite sharing similar genes, are all very different in their personalities, demeanours, likes and dislikes. I am convinced that almost all of the traits they now have as adults, or near adults, are pretty much what they emerged from the womb with. Other parents I have discussed this observation with have similar stories—it may be that most of what affects us in adulthood has been established before we start grade school.

Almost all of the epidemiological studies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have focused on risk factors in adulthood such as cigarette smoking, occupational exposures, exposures to biomass smoke and respiratory infections.1 2 3 4 COPD is clearly a disease that manifests itself in adulthood with a peak onset of incidence in the fifth …
Assessment of Dry Weight in Hemodialysis
Authors: JACK Q. JAEGER, RAVINDRA L. MEHTA
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1999)

Abstract. Fluid balance is an integral component of hemodialysis treatments to prevent under- or overhydration, both of which have been demonstrated to have significant effects on intradialytic morbidity and long-term cardiovascular complications. Fluid removal is usually achieved by ultrafiltration to achieve a clinically derived value for “dry weight.” Unfortunately, there is no standard measure of dry weight and as a consequence it is difficult to ascertain adequacy of fluid removal for an individual patient. Additionally, there is a lack of information on the effect of ultrafiltration on fluid shifts in the extracellular and intracellular fluid spaces. It is evident that a better understanding of both interdialytic fluid status and fluid changes during hemodialysis is required to develop a precise measure of fluid balance. This article describes the current status of dry weight estimation and reviews emerging techniques for evaluation of fluid shifts. Additionally, it explores the need for a marker of adequacy for fluid removal.
Genetic Etiology and Clinical Consequences of Complete and Incomplete Achromatopsia
Authors: Alberta A.H.J. Thiadens, Niki W.R. Slingerland, Susanne Roosing, Mary J. van Schooneveld, Janneke J.C. van Lith-Verhoeven, Norka van Moll-Ramirez, L. Ingeborgh van den Born, Carel B. Hoyng, Frans P.M. Cremers, Caroline C.W. Klaver
Journal: Ophthalmology (2009)
Biochemical markers of cardiac dysfunction predict mortality in acute exacerbations of COPD
Authors: C. L. Chang, S. C. Robinson, G. D. Mills, G. D. Sullivan, N. C. Karalus, J. D. McLachlan, R. J. Hancox
Journal: Thorax (2011)

<h3>Background</h3> Retrospective studies suggest that plasma levels of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin T are often elevated in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and are associated with increased mortality. These cardiac biomarkers were investigated in an unselected cohort of patients admitted to hospital with exacerbations of COPD. <h3>Methods</h3> Consecutive patients with physician-diagnosed COPD exacerbation but without clinical evidence of acute cardiac disease admitted to a public hospital over a 1 year period were studied prospectively. NT-proBNP and troponin T were measured on admission. The primary end point was all-cause mortality at 30 days. <h3>Results</h3> Elevated NT-proBNP (&gt;220 pmol/l) was present in 65/244 patients (27.5%) and significantly predicted 30-day mortality (OR 9.0, 95% CI 3.1 to 26.2, p&lt;0.001). Elevated troponin T (&gt;0.03 μg/l) was found in 40/241 patients (16.6%) and also predicted 30-day mortality (OR 6.3, 95% CI 2.4 to 16.5, p&lt;0.001). These associations persisted after adjusting for other clinical and laboratory predictors of mortality (arterial CO<sub>2</sub> pressure (Paco<sub>2</sub>), body mass index and CURB65 score). NT-proBNP and troponin T levels appeared to have additive associations with mortality: 30-day mortality among patients with abnormalities of both NT-proBNP and troponin T was 15-fold higher than among patients with normal values. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Elevated levels of NT-proBNP and troponin T are strong predictors of early mortality among patients admitted to hospital with acute exacerbations of COPD independently of other known prognostic indicators. The pathophysiological basis for this is unknown, but indicates that cardiac involvement in exacerbations of COPD may be an important determinant of prognosis.
lmmunobiology of Heterotransplanted Human Tumors in Nude Mice2
Authors: M. Eric Gershwin, Richard M. Ikeda, Thomas G. Kawakami, Robert B. Owens
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1977)

The immunobiology of heterotransplanted human tumors was investigated following transplantation into nude mice of human bronchogenic, colon, rectal, ovarian, gastric, endometrial, vaginal, bladder, renal, esophageal, embryonic cell, pancreatic, and breast carcinoma, as well as fibrosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, malignant melanoma, astrocytoma, Wilms' tumor, endometrial hyperplasia, and hydatidiform mole. Several of these tumors were passaged up to 15 generations. During these passages no changes in latency period for tumor development or in histology were noted. There were significant differences between several tumors in the minimum number of cells required for successful transplantation; such differences were independent of the basic biologic aggressiveness of the individual tumors. Nude mice that received transplants of fibrosarcoma and endometrial carcinoma had increased serum lgM and numbers of spleen cells and complement receptor lymphocytes. No such changes were noted for mice that received transplants of malignant melanoma. In contrast, there were no apparent differences in the responses of nude mice, who were given transplants of human tumors, to the T-cell mitogens concanavalin A or phytohemagglutinin or in the number of θ-bearing spleen cells. The success rate for transplantation was significantly improved when explants, rather than single-cell suspensions, were performed. Tumors transplanted to nude mice derived from strictly homozygous matings behaved like tumors transplanted to mice born of heterozygous mothers. Finally, despite the dramatic size of subcutaneous tumor nodules, there were no examples of invasion or distant metastases.
Abstract 13389: Early Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Inhibition Stimulates Neutrophil Infiltration and Delays Neutrophil Apoptosis Post-Myocardial Infarction in Mice
Authors: Rugmani P Iyer, Nicolle L Patterson, Gregg B Fields, Merry L Lindsey
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) increases in the first week post-MI, and targeted deletion of the MMP-9 gene attenuates cardiac remodeling post-myocardial infarction (MI), but whether MMP-9 inhibition early post-MI is effective therapeutic strategy has not been evaluated. Adult male C57BL/6J mice (3-6 months old, n=80) were subjected to coronary artery ligation. Saline or MMP-9 inhibitor (MMP-9i; 0.03 μg/day) was delivered at 3 h post-MI, and the mice were sacrificed at days 1 or 7 post-MI. Infarct area was similar in the saline (57±1%) and MMP-9i (55±1%) groups (p=0.22), indicating equal initial injury. The 7 day post-MI survival rates showed no significant difference between saline and MMP-9i groups (p=0.54). MMP-9 inhibition resulted in a 31±1% reduction in MMP-9 activity at day 1 post-MI (p&lt;0.05 vs. saline). Surprisingly, MMP-9 inhibition worsened LV function at day 7 post-MI, as shown by ejection fractions of 13±1% for saline vs. 8±1% for MMP-9i (p&lt;0.05). Of 84 inflammatory genes examined in the day 7 infarct, 15 pro-inflammatory genes were increased and one decreased in the MMP-9i group (all p&lt;0.05 vs. saline). Because MMP-9i showed increased inflammation at day 7, we measured neutrophil numbers. The saline group showed increased neutrophils at day 1, with numbers declining by day 7 due to induction of apoptosis. In MMP-9i, neutrophils were 2-fold higher at day 1 and persisted at day 7 for an 18-fold difference from saline, indicating prolonged neutrophil presence. Isolated blood neutrophils stimulated with active MMP-9 showed increased levels of pro-apoptotic markers Bcl and Bax compared to unstimulated control (both p&lt;0.05). Interestingly, neutrophils stimulated with active MMP-9 and treated with MMP-9i showed increased levels of anti-apoptotic markers Mcl and Xiap (both p&lt;0.05) compared to MMP-9 treated cells. This suggests that prolonged neutrophil presence with the MMP-9 inhibition was due to a dramatic reduction in neutrophil apoptosis. In conclusion, MMP-9 inhibition starting immediately post-MI decreased neutrophil apoptosis leading to increased inflammation and resulting in exacerbated LV dysfunction. Cat: 515 - Apoptosis and Necrosis
Ventilatory and cerebral hemodynamic responses to hypoxia, hypercapnia and hypocapnia during 5 days at 4350 m
Authors: Samuel Verges, Thomas Rupp, François Esteve, Carsten Lundby, Pierre Bouzat, Stéphane Perrey, Paul Robach, Patrick Levy
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

This study investigated changes in cerebral near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), cerebrovascular and ventilatory responses to hypoxia and CO 2  during prolonged high altitude exposure.  At sea level and at day 1 and 5 at 4350 m, 11 healthy subjects were exposed during 10-min periods to i) normoxia (end-tidal O 2  partial pressure (PetO 2 ) = 100 mmHg), ii) isocapnic hypoxia (PetO 2 =55 mmHg), iii) hypercapnia (PetCO 2  +5 and +12 mmHg) and iv) hypocapnia (PetCO 2  -15 mmHg). The following parameters were measured during each period: pre-frontal oxygenation index (TOI), oxy- (HbO 2 ), deoxy- and total hemoglobin (HbTot) changes with NIRS, blood velocity in the middle cerebral artery (MCAv) with transcranial Doppler and ventilation.  Smaller pre-frontal deoxygenation (HbO 2  and TOI) and larger HbTot in response to isocapnic hypoxia were observed at altitude compared to sea level (at day 5: HbO 2  0.6±1.1 vs. 1.8±1.3 µmol• mmHg -1 , HbTot 1.4±1.3 vs. 0.7±1.1 µmol• mmHg -1 ). The hypoxic MCAv and ventilatory responses were enhanced at altitude. Pre-frontal oxygenation increased less in response to hypercapnia at altitude compared to sea level (at day 5: TOI 0.3±0.2 vs. 0.5±0.3 %• mmHg -1 ). The hypercapnic MCAv and ventilatory responses were increased and decreased, respectively, at altitude. Hemodynamic responses to hypocapnia did not change at altitude.  These data show that altitude exposure induces a better preservation of cerebral oxygenation in response to hypoxia but reduced cerebral oxygenation during hypercapnia. Changes in hypoxic and hypercapnic NIRS responses provide complementary insights to MCAv and ventilatory adaptations. Their relevance for altitude acclimatization remains to be clarified.