tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
S28 Liraglutide 3.0 Mg Reduces Severity Of Obstructive Sleep Apnoea And Body Weight In Obese Individuals With Moderate Or Severe Disease: Scale Sleep Apnoea Trial
Authors: A. Collier, A. Blackman, G. Foster, G. Zammit, R. Rosenberg, T. Wadden, L. Aronne, B. Claudius, T. Jensen, E. Mignot
Journal: Thorax (2014)

<h3>Aims/objectives</h3> This randomised, double-blind, parallel-group trial compared the effects of liraglutide 3.0 mg to placebo, both as adjunct to diet and exercise, on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity and body weight. <h3>Content</h3> Obese individuals (n = 359) without diabetes who had moderate or severe OSA and were unwilling/unable to use continuous positive airway pressure therapy were randomised 1:1 to liraglutide 3.0 mg or placebo for 32 weeks (baseline characteristics: 48.5 years, males 71.9%, apnoea–hypopnoea index [AHI] 49.2 events/h, body weight 117.6 kg, BMI 39.1 kg/m<sup>2</sup>, HbA<sub>1c</sub> 5.7%). <h3>Outcomes</h3> At end-of-trial, the reduction in AHI was significantly greater with liraglutide 3.0 mg than placebo (Table). Liraglutide 3.0 mg produced significantly greater weight loss compared with placebo (Table) and enabled more individuals to reach ≥5% and &gt;10% weight loss targets after 32 weeks (p &lt; 0.0001, both). Oxygen saturation, polysomnographic measures, HbA<sub>1c</sub> and systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 32 weeks are summarised (Table). Nausea and diarrhoea were the most common adverse events with liraglutide 3.0 mg (27% and 17% of individuals, respectively). <h3>Discussion</h3> Liraglutide 3.0 mg produced significantly greater reductions than placebo in AHI, body weight, SBP and HbA<sub>1c</sub> in obese individuals with moderate/severe OSA and was generally well tolerated.
Extradural granulocytic sarcoma of the spine: A unique case of long survival after local therapy
Authors: John K. C. Chan, W. H. Lau, Daisy Saw
Journal: American Journal of Hematology (1986)

Abstract A 13‐year‐old boy presented with progressive bilateral lower limb weakness due to exradural granulocytic sarcoma of the spine. After surgical decompression and radiotherapy, he remained in complete remission 6 years after initial diagnosis. The possible reasons for the favorable outcome of this unique case are discussed.
Sensitivity of the Aortic Dissection Detection Risk Score, a Novel Guideline-Based Tool for Identification of Acute Aortic Dissection at Initial Presentation
Authors: Adam M. Rogers, Luke K. Hermann, Anna M. Booher, Christoph A. Nienaber, David M. Williams, Ella A. Kazerooni, James B. Froehlich, Patrick T. O'Gara, Daniel G. Montgomery, Jeanna V. Cooper, Kevin M. Harris, Stuart Hutchison, Arturo Evangelista, Eric M. Isselbacher, Kim A. Eagle
Journal: Circulation (2011)

Background— In 2010, the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology released guidelines for the diagnosis and management of patients with thoracic aortic disease, which identified high-risk clinical features to assist in the early detection of acute aortic dissection. The sensitivity of these risk markers has not been validated. Methods and Results— We examined patients enrolled in the International Registry of Acute Aortic Dissection from 1996 to 2009. The number of patients with confirmed acute aortic dissection who presented with 1 or more of 12 proposed clinical risk markers was determined. An aortic dissection detection (ADD) risk score of 0 to 3 was calculated on the basis of the number of risk categories (high-risk predisposing conditions, high-risk pain features, high-risk examination features) in which patients met criteria. The ADD risk score was tested for sensitivity. Of 2538 patients with acute aortic dissection, 2430 (95.7%) were identified by 1 or more of 12 proposed clinical risk markers. With the use of the ADD risk score, 108 patients (4.3%) were identified as low risk (ADD score 0), 927 patients (36.5%) were intermediate risk (ADD score 1), and 1503 patients (59.2%) were high risk (ADD score 2 or 3). Among 108 patients with no clinical risk markers present (ADD score 0), 72 had chest x-rays recorded, of which 35 (48.6%) demonstrated a widened mediastinum. Conclusions— The clinical risk markers proposed in the 2010 thoracic aortic disease guidelines and their application as part of the ADD risk score comprise a highly sensitive clinical tool for the detection of acute aortic dissection.
Eotaxins may contribute to both accumulation and elimination of eosinophils in asthma
Authors: Carl Persson
Journal: Thorax (2012)

I read with interest the study by Coleman et al 1 on lumen eotaxins and eosinophils, and epithelial brushing eotaxins in chronic asthma. Authors conclude that eotaxin-2 and -3 may contribute to luminal migration of eosinophils.1 However, potential roles of such transepithelial cell traffic are not discussed. In a recent editorial, Rosenberg highlights the possibility that luminal migration of eosinophils importantly eliminates these cells from diseased bronchial tissues.2 (Coleman et al 1 cite an earlier review by Rosenberg et al , dealing …
Environmental and occupational factors affecting fertility and IVF success
Authors: Edward V. Younglai, Alison C. Holloway, Warren G. Foster
Journal: Human Reproduction Update (2004)

Reproductive function has been shown to be sensitive to changes in the physical, psychosocial and chemical environments. Although reproductive effects of occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals have been well documented in the literature, the potential effects of chemical contaminants at levels representative of contemporary exposures in the general population are much less certain. Evidence for adverse effects of exposure to environmental contaminants is more conclusive among the lower animals than for humans where considerable controversy remains. In addition to potential reproductive hazards of exposure to environmental contaminants, there is also evidence for adverse reproductive effects of the physical and psychosocial environments. In this review we focus on the difficulties involved in linking exposure to putative hazardous substances in environmental and occupational settings to adverse reproductive outcomes, especially success of IVF procedures. We highlight the plausibility of adverse events through animal and cell studies and the application of these results to the interpretation of human data. We consider both the male and female partners since it is essentially their combined contributions of gametes which may be affected by chemicals, which lead to successful outcomes.
Response as a predictor of survival in patients with recurrent glioblastoma treated with bevacizumab
Authors: M. Prados, T. Cloughesy, M. Samant, L. Fang, P. Y. Wen, T. Mikkelsen, D. Schiff, L. E. Abrey, W. K. A. Yung, N. Paleologos, M. K. Nicholas, R. Jensen, J. Vredenburgh, A. Das, H. S. Friedman
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2010)

Development of effective therapies for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and reliable, timely evaluation of their benefit are needed. Understanding the relationship between objective response (OR) and survival is important for determining whether OR can provide an early signal of treatment activity in clinical trials. We performed a landmark analysis to evaluate the association between OR and survival at 9, 18, and 26 weeks for 167 patients with recurrent GBM who participated in BRAIN, a phase II trial that evaluated efficacy of bevacizumab alone or in combination with irinotecan, using the Cox regression models adjusted for age, baseline Karnofsky performance score, first vs second relapse, and treatment arm. Hazard ratios (HRs) and P-values for survival between responders and nonresponders were calculated. Additional analyses were performed to test robustness, validity, fit, and accuracy of the models. The relationships between progression-free survival (PFS) and survival and between OR and PFS were also explored. There were 55 responders and 112 nonresponders across the 2 treatment arms in BRAIN. OR status at 9, 18, and 26 weeks was a statistically significant predictor of survival (HR ≤ 0.52, P < .01). PFS was also a statistically significant predictor of survival at each landmark (HR ≤ 0.25, P < .0001). The association between OR and PFS was not statistically significant, likely due to inadequate statistical power for the analysis. Clarifying the relationship of OR and survival is important for determining whether OR can be a reliable predictor of the benefit of a therapeutic agent in patients with recurrent GBM.
Medicine--where it seems to be. An American health care system
Authors: E. G. Dimond
Journal: JAMA (1977)

THE MORNING paper reports that fuel shortage is making the all-electric home a considerable liability to the pocket-book. The details, in brief, are that ten years ago the power and light companies endorsed vigorously—in fact, huckstered—the advantages of cheap, clean, efficient electrical power as the way of the future for the ideal home. Now, ten years later, these same companies have looked in their energy cupboard and found electricity is still a clean source of heating but not at all cheap; in fact, said the news article, electricity was found so very dear that the utility companies are urging home conversion to oil or coal.  This interesting example of inability to see the future, even when all signs were available a brief ten years earlier, readily is criticized by all of us as an example of an industry's lack of sensitivity to the public good and as an example of
Survival after laparoscopic surgery versus open surgery for colon cancer: long-term outcome of a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Mark Buunen, Ruben Veldkamp, Wim C J Hop, Esther Kuhry, Johannes Jeekel, Eva Haglind, Lars Påhlman, Miguel A Cuesta, Simon Msika, Mario Morino, Antonio Lacy, Hendrik J Bonjer
Journal: The Lancet Oncology (2008)
Election of Direct Representatives to the General Medical Council
Authors: J. H. Hemming
Journal: BMJ (1896)

<h3>ABSTRACT</h3> The lack of treatment options for COVID-19 has raised many concerns among populations worldwide, which has led to many attempts to find alternative options to prevent the transmission of the disease or to alleviate the progression of the infection, including focusing more on preventive measures (to prevent transmission to other individuals) and the use of natural products and herbal extracts to increase immunity and decrease the probability of getting infected. This study explored the knowledge of the population of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) about COVID-19 preventive measures and their belief about the consumption of herbal products for the prevention of COVID-19 infection. A total of 5,258 individuals participated in this study. Participants’ knowledge about the appropriate COVID-19 preventive measures in terms of handwashing procedures, self-quarantine and social distancing was moderate, with a mean score of 5.5 (SD: 1.7) out of 10 (representing around 55.0% of the total score). About 22.1% (n= 1,161) of the participants reported that they have used herbal products or nutritional supplements during the pandemic period, to protect themselves from the disease. Social media and the Internet (39.4%, n= 372) were the main motivators for the participants to try herbal products. Vitamin C was the most commonly used food supplement to increase immunity and reduces the chance of contracting COVID-19. Our study demonstrated that the general population in Saudi Arabia has a moderate level of knowledge about COVID-19 transmission and preventive measures. A considerable proportion of the population reported the use of herbal products or food supplements in order to protect themselves from the disease. Policymakers are suggested to provide further educational campaigns that increase population knowledge about the disease transmission routes and preventive measures. In addition, the use of herbal products should be evidence-based to ensure patient safety.
Diagnostics and frequency of work-exacerbated asthma among bakers
Authors: Marta Wiszniewska, Agnieszka Lipinska-Ojrzanowska, Ewa Nowakowska-Swirta, Patrycja Krawczyk-Szulc, Cezary Palczynski, Jolanta Walusiak-Skorupa
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

The term work-exacerbated asthma (WEA) refers to asthma that is worsened by workplace exposures. The aim of the study was to evaluate the frequency of WEA in bakers reporting work-related respiratory symptoms and the usefulness of allergologic tests in differentiating WEA and occupational asthma (OA).   Material and methods:  The study group included 393 bakers. In all subjects questionnaire, spirometry, SPT, evaluation of total and specific IgE level were performed. Recognition of OA was based on inhalative specific challenge test with evaluation of bronchial response or a threefold increase in non-specific bronchial hyperreactivity accompanied by increase sputum eosinophilia.   Results:  Occupational etiology of asthma was found in 44,5% bakers while WEA was recognized in 16% subjects. 60% subjects with OA and 50,8% with WEA had positive SPT to common allergens, while occupational SPT were found in 74,9% and 34,9% subjects respectively. Whereas specific IgE to flours were found in 61,7% patients with OA and 28,6% with WEA. In patients with OA the latency period was 11,2 years whereas in bakers with WEA 13,3 years. Additionally, OA frequently coexisted with occupational rhinitis (53,7%) while among bakers with WER rhinitis was found in 31,7% subjects.   Conclusions:  WEA can be diagnosed in 16% of bakers reporting allergic respiratory symptoms. The specific challenge test with occupational allergens should be performed among bakers with suspicion of work-related asthma, because assessment of sensitization (SPT to occupational allergens, evaluation of specific IgE) is not specific enough to differentiate occupational and work-exacerbated asthma.
High prevalence of anti-hepatitis B virus serological markers in patients with hepatitis C virus related chronic liver disease in Japan
Authors: H Marusawa, Y Osaki, T Kimura, K Ito, Y Yamashita, T Eguchi, M Kudo, Y Yamamoto, H Kojima, H Seno, F Moriyasu, T Chiba
Journal: Gut (1999)

BACKGROUND/AIMS Evidence is accumulating that hepatitis B virus (HBV) is present in patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen negative but have antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Furthermore, recent studies have shown that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) often possess HBV related serological markers. Data on the seroprevalence of HBV infection in patients with HCV related chronic liver disease were collected to evaluate the significance of the presence of antibodies to HBV. METHODS The prevalence of HBV related serological markers was analysed in a total of 2014 Japanese patients with HCV infection. The control group comprised 352 subjects without liver disorder. RESULTS A large number of patients (49.9%) with HCV related chronic liver disease including hepatocellular carcinoma were positive for anti-HBc. In addition, the prevalence of anti-HBc closely correlated with the clinical stage of the liver disease. There was no relation between a past history of blood transfusion and the prevalence of anti-HBc. Notably, anti-HBc was the only serological marker for HBV infection in a significant number of patients with HCV related chronic liver disease (24.1%). CONCLUSIONS Our data provide further evidence for the high prevalence of anti-HBc in patients with HCV related chronic liver disease, particularly those with hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that HBV infection, probably including latent infection, may play an important role in carcinogenesis in these patients.
Gray Matter Volume Abnormalities in ADHD: Voxel-Based Meta-Analysis Exploring the Effects of Age and Stimulant Medication
Authors: Tomohiro Nakao, Joaquim Radua, Katya Rubia, David Mataix-Cols
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2011)

This meta-analysis of brain imaging studies confirmed that gray matter volume deficits are less abnormal for patients taking stimulants and for adults with the disorder. The latter finding suggests that development may "catch up" as the patient ages.
Effects of the Finnish Alzheimer Disease Exercise Trial (FINALEX)
Authors: Kaisu H. Pitkälä, Minna M. Pöysti, Marja-Liisa Laakkonen, Reijo S. Tilvis, Niina Savikko, Hannu Kautiainen, Timo E. Strandberg
Journal: JAMA Internal Medicine (2013)

<h3>Importance</h3>Few rigorous clinical trials have investigated the effectiveness of exercise on the physical functioning of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD).<h3>Objectives</h3>To investigate the effects of intense and long-term exercise on the physical functioning and mobility of home-dwelling patients with AD and to explore its effects on the use and costs of health and social services.<h3>Design</h3>A randomized controlled trial.<h3>Setting and Participants</h3>A total of 210 home-dwelling patients with AD living with their spousal caregiver.<h3>Interventions</h3>The 3 trial arms included (1) group-based exercise (GE; 4-hour sessions with approximately 1-hour training) and (2) tailored home-based exercise (HE; 1-hour training), both twice a week for 1 year, and (3) a control group (CG) receiving the usual community care.<h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3>The Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the Short Physical Performance Battery, and information on the use and costs of social and health care services.<h3>Results</h3>All groups deteriorated in functioning during the year after randomization, but deterioration was significantly faster in the CG than in the HE or GE group at 6 (P = .003) and 12 (P = .015) months. The FIM changes at 12 months were −7.1 (95% CI, −3.7 to −10.5), −10.3 (95% CI, −6.7 to −13.9), and −14.4 (95% CI, −10.9 to −18.0) in the HE group, GE group, and CG, respectively. The HE and GE groups had significantly fewer falls than the CG during the follow-up year. The total costs of health and social services for the HE patient-caregiver dyads (in US dollars per dyad per year) were $25 112 (95% CI, $17 642 to $32 581) (P = .13 for comparison with the CG), $22 066 in the GE group ($15 931 to $28 199; P = .03 vs CG), and $34 121 ($24 559 to $43 681) in the CG.<h3>Conclusions and Relevance</h3>An intensive and long-term exercise program had beneficial effects on the physical functioning of patients with AD without increasing the total costs of health and social services or causing any significant adverse effects.<h3>Trial Registration</h3>anzctr.org.au Identifier: ACTRN12608000037303
Iron fortification adversely affects the gut microbiome, increases pathogen abundance and induces intestinal inflammation in Kenyan infants
Authors: Tanja Jaeggi, Guus A M Kortman, Diego Moretti, Christophe Chassard, Penny Holding, Alexandra Dostal, Jos Boekhorst, Harro M Timmerman, Dorine W Swinkels, Harold Tjalsma, Jane Njenga, Alice Mwangi, Jane Kvalsvig, Christophe Lacroix, Michael B Zimmermann
Journal: Gut (2014)

<h3>Background</h3> In-home iron fortification for infants in developing countries is recommended for control of anaemia, but low absorption typically results in &gt;80% of the iron passing into the colon. Iron is essential for growth and virulence of many pathogenic enterobacteria. We determined the effect of high and low dose in-home iron fortification on the infant gut microbiome and intestinal inflammation. <h3>Methods</h3> We performed two double-blind randomised controlled trials in 6-month-old Kenyan infants (n=115) consuming home-fortified maize porridge daily for 4 months. In the first, infants received a micronutrient powder (MNP) containing 2.5 mg iron as NaFeEDTA or the MNP without iron. In the second, they received a different MNP containing 12.5 mg iron as ferrous fumarate or the MNP without the iron. The primary outcome was gut microbiome composition analysed by 16S pyrosequencing and targeted real-time PCR (qPCR). Secondary outcomes included faecal calprotectin (marker of intestinal inflammation) and incidence of diarrhoea. We analysed the trials separately and combined. <h3>Results</h3> At baseline, 63% of the total microbial 16S rRNA could be assigned to <i>Bifidobacteriaceae</i> but there were high prevalences of pathogens, including <i>Salmonella Clostridium</i><i>difficile</i>, <i>Clostridium</i><i>perfringens</i>, and pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Using pyrosequencing, +FeMNPs increased enterobacteria, particularly <i>Escherichia</i>/<i>Shigella</i> (p=0.048), the enterobacteria/bifidobacteria ratio (p=0.020), and <i>Clostridium</i> (p=0.030). Most of these effects were confirmed using qPCR; for example, +FeMNPs increased pathogenic <i>E. coli</i> strains (p=0.029). +FeMNPs also increased faecal calprotectin (p=0.002). During the trial, 27.3% of infants in +12.5 mgFeMNP required treatment for diarrhoea versus 8.3% in −12.5 mgFeMNP (p=0.092). There were no study-related serious adverse events in either group. <h3>Conclusions</h3> In this setting, provision of iron-containing MNPs to weaning infants adversely affects the gut microbiome, increasing pathogen abundance and causing intestinal inflammation. <h3>Trial registration number</h3> NCT01111864.
Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase disease mimicks hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome
Authors: Ross T. Murphy, Jens Mogensen, Kate McGarry, Ajay Bahl, Alison Evans, Eyman Osman, Petros Syrris, Grainne Gorman, Michael Farrell, Janice L. Holton, Michael G. Hanna, Sian Hughes, Perry M. Elliott, Calum A. MacRae, William J. McKenna
Journal: Journal of the American College of Cardiology (2005)
Histamine production during the anti-allograft response. Demonstration of a new lymphokine enhancing histamine synthesis
Authors: M Dy, B Lebel, P Kamoun, J Hamburger
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1981)

Histamine production is greatly increased during culture of allograft recipient spleen cells in the presence of immunizing cells (secondary mixed leukocyte cultures [MLC]) as compared to that found in primary MLC (i.e., without previous allograft). This phenomenon appears after 24 h of culture and reaches its maximum at 48 h. Optimal increased histamine production is observed when MLC is performed with spleen cells removed from mice during rejection. This increased production of histamine during secondary MLC results from the action of a lymphokine: the histamine-producing cell stimulating factor (HCSF). This factor is released by T lymphocytes. Its production requires specific stimulation of the recipient lymphocytes because increase in histamine production during secondary MLC can be only observed when recipient cells are cultured with stimulating cells bearing at least one homology at K or D loci with immunizing cells. HCSF acts on a cell which is present in bone marrow, spleen, blood, and peritoneal cells but absent in thymus or lymph node cells. This target cell is found in the less-dense layer of a discontinuous Ficoll-gradient of bone marrow cells. HCSF is heat stable, destroyed by trypsin treatment, and has a molecular weight between 50,000 and 100,000. It acts on its target cells by increasing histidine decarboxylase activity.