tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Computed Tomography Scans Do Not Improve the Predictive Power of 1996 National Cancer Institute–Sponsored Working Group Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Response Criteria
Authors: Kristie A. Blum, Donn Young, Sarah Broering, Margaret S. Lucas, Beth Fischer, Thomas S. Lin, Michael R. Grever, John C. Byrd
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2007)

National Cancer Institute-sponsored Working Group (NCI-WG) response criteria for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) rely on physical examination, blood, and bone marrow evaluations. The widespread use of computed tomography (CT) scans has prompted many to advocate for the incorporation of this test into CLL response criteria.In a retrospective review of 82 CLL patients treated at the Ohio State University (Columbus, OH), we compared CT assessed response using non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) response definitions with NCI-WG response.Responses by NCI-WG criteria included five complete responses (CRs), 32 partial responses (PRs), 21 patients with stable disease (SD), 17 patients with progressive disease (PD), and seven patients not assessable (NA). Responses by NHL-CT criteria included three CRs, 12 unconfirmed CRs (CRus), 16 PRs, 26 with SD, four with PD, and 21 NA. Using NCI-WG criteria, progression-free survival (PFS) was 27.3 months for CR and 11.4 months for PR. With NHL-CT criteria, PFS was 18.4 months for CR, 11.7 months for CRu, and 14.5 months for PR. In multivariate analysis, both NCI-WG and NHL-CT response correlated with PFS (P = .009 and .001, respectively).Current NCI-WG CLL response criteria are a significant predictor of PFS in previously treated CLL patients, with no additional benefit from the inclusion of CT scans. Although retrospective, these results highlight the importance of prospective validation of CT scans before routine inclusion in CLL response criteria.
Genome of the long-living sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.)
Authors: Ray Ming, Robert VanBuren, Yanling Liu, Mei Yang, Yuepeng Han, Lei-Ting Li, Qiong Zhang, Min-Jeong Kim, Michael C Schatz, Michael Campbell, Jingping Li, John E Bowers, Haibao Tang, Eric Lyons, Ann A Ferguson, Giuseppe Narzisi, David R Nelson, Crysten E Blaby-Haas, Andrea R Gschwend, Yuannian Jiao, Joshua P Der, Fanchang Zeng, Jennifer Han, Xiang Jia Min, Karen A Hudson, Ratnesh Singh, Aleel K Grennan, Steven J Karpowicz, Jennifer R Watling, Kikukatsu Ito, Sharon A Robinson, Matthew E Hudson, Qingyi Yu, Todd C Mockler, Andrew Carroll, Yun Zheng, Ramanjulu Sunkar, Ruizong Jia, Nancy Chen, Jie Arro, Ching Man Wai, Eric Wafula, Ashley Spence, Yanni Han, Liming Xu, Jisen Zhang, Rhiannon Peery, Miranda J Haus, Wenwei Xiong, James A Walsh, Jun Wu, Ming-Li Wang, Yun J Zhu, Robert E Paull, Anne B Britt, Chunguang Du, Stephen R Downie, Mary A Schuler, Todd P Michael, Steve P Long, Donald R Ort, J William Schopf, David R Gang, Ning Jiang, Mark Yandell, Claude W dePamphilis, Sabeeha S Merchant, Andrew H Paterson, Bob B Buchanan, Shaohua Li, Jane Shen-Miller
Journal: Genome biology (2013)

Abstract Background Sacred lotus is a basal eudicot with agricultural, medicinal, cultural and religious importance. It was domesticated in Asia about 7,000 years ago, and cultivated for its rhizomes and seeds as a food crop. It is particularly noted for its 1,300-year seed longevity and exceptional water repellency, known as the lotus effect. The latter property is due to the nanoscopic closely packed protuberances of its self-cleaning leaf surface, which have been adapted for the manufacture of a self-cleaning industrial paint, Lotusan. Results The genome of the China Antique variety of the sacred lotus was sequenced with Illumina and 454 technologies, at respective depths of 101× and 5.2×. The final assembly has a contig N50 of 38.8 kbp and a scaffold N50 of 3.4 Mbp, and covers 86.5% of the estimated 929 Mbp total genome size. The genome notably lacks the paleo-triplication observed in other eudicots, but reveals a lineage-specific duplication. The genome has evidence of slow evolution, with a 30% slower nucleotide mutation rate than observed in grape. Comparisons of the available sequenced genomes suggest a minimum gene set for vascular plants of 4,223 genes. Strikingly, the sacred lotus has 16 COG2132 multi-copper oxidase family proteins with root-specific expression; these are involved in root meristem phosphate starvation, reflecting adaptation to limited nutrient availability in an aquatic environment. Conclusions The slow nucleotide substitution rate makes the sacred lotus a better resource than the current standard, grape, for reconstructing the pan-eudicot genome, and should therefore accelerate comparative analysis between eudicots and monocots.
Effectiveness of an inspiratory pressure-limited approach to mechanical ventilation in septic patients
Authors: Ignacio Martin-Loeches, Candelaria de Haro, R. Phillip Dellinger, Ricard Ferrer, Gary S. Phillips, Mitchell M. Levy, Antonio Artigas
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Severe sepsis is one of the most common causes of acute lung injury (ALI) and is associated with high mortality. The aim of the study was to see whether a protective strategy based approach with a plateau pressure <30 cmH(2)O was associated with lower mortality in septic patients with ALI in the Surviving Sepsis Campaign international database. A retrospective analysis of an international multicentric database of 15,022 septic patients from 165 intensive care units was used. Septic patients with ALI and mechanical ventilation (n=1,738) had more accompanying organ dysfunction and a higher mortality rate (48.3% versus 33.0%, p<0.001) than septic patients without ALI (n=13,284). In patients with ALI and mechanical ventilation, the use of inspiratory plateau pressures maintained at <30 cmH(2)O was associated with lower mortality by Chi-squared test (46.4% versus 55.1%, p<0.001) and by Kaplan-Meier and log-rank test (p<0.001). In a multivariable random-effects Cox regression, plateau pressure <30 cmH(2)O was significantly associated with lower mortality (hazard ratio 0.84, 95% CI 0.72-0.99; p=0.038). ALI in sepsis was associated with higher mortality, especially when an inspiratory pressure-limited mechanical ventilation approach was not implemented.
Stimulation of the chemotactic migration of human fibroblasts by transforming growth factor beta.
Authors: A E Postlethwaite, J Keski-Oja, H L Moses, A H Kang
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (1987)

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is a potent chemoattractant in vitro for human dermal fibroblasts. Intact disulfide and perhaps the dimeric structure of TGF-beta is essential for its ability to stimulate chemotactic migration of fibroblasts, since reduction with 2-ME results in a marked loss of its potency as a chemoattractant. Although epidermal growth factor (EGF) appears to be capable of modulating some effects of TGF-beta, it does not alter the chemotactic response of fibroblasts to TGF-beta. Specific polyvalent rabbit antibodies to homogeneously pure TGF-beta block its chemotactic activity but has no effect on the other chemoattractants tested (platelet-derived growth factor, fibronectin, and denatured type I collagen). Since TGF-beta is secreted by a variety of neoplastic and normal cells including platelets, monocytes/macrophages, and lymphocytes, it may play a critical role in vivo in embryogenesis, host response to tumors, and the repair response that follows damage to tissues by immune and nonimmune reactions.
A population-based study on the effect of temozolomide in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme
Authors: Pål A. Rønning, Eirik Helseth, Torstein R. Meling, Tom B. Johannesen
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2012)

The effect of temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) has been well documented in randomized controlled trials. Here we present our findings on the effect of TMZ added to RT at a population level. The Cancer Registry of Norway was searched for patients with a GBM diagnosis from January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2007. Subsequently, the prescriptions registered to these patients were obtained from the Norwegian Prescription Database. The data were analyzed according to era (pre-TMZ introduction or post-TMZ introduction) and according to treatment received. Furthermore, a matching procedure was utilized to reduce the bias between the RT + TMZ and RT alone treatments so that the effect of TMZ could be better scrutinized. We identified 1157 GBM patients. The median overall survival (OS), in months, was 8.3 (95% confidence interval: 7.6-9.0) and 10.1 (95% confidence interval: 9.1-11.0) in the pre-TMZ and TMZ eras, respectively (P < .001). By treatment, we found median OS for the control, RT alone, and RT + TMZ groups to be 2.5, 9.0, and 16.2 months, respectively (P < .001). Two-year survival was 0%, 4%, and 25%, respectively. The effect of age on TMZ effect was insignificant. In the matched group analysis, TMZ provided a 7.6-month OS benefit. Our population data reproduce the beneficial effect of TMZ from randomized controlled trials with a median OS of 16.2 months and 25% 2-year survival.
Beneficial Hemodynamic and Renal Effects of Adrenomedullin in an Ovine Model of Heart Failure
Authors: M. T. Rademaker, C. J. Charles, L. K. Lewis, T. G. Yandle, G. J. S. Cooper, D. H. Coy, A. M. Richards, M. G. Nicholls
Journal: Circulation (1997)

Background Adrenomedullin is a recently discovered endogenous peptide with hypotensive and natriuretic actions in normal animals. Circulating and ventricular adrenomedullin are elevated in congestive heart failure, suggesting a possible role in the pathophysiology of this disease. No studies have previously examined the effects of adrenomedullin in heart failure. Methods and Results Eight sheep with pacing-induced heart failure received human adrenomedullin(1-52) at 10 and 100 ng · kg −1 · min −1 IV for 90 minutes each. Compared with vehicle control data, adrenomedullin increased plasma cAMP (high dose, P &lt;.05) in association with dose-dependent falls in calculated peripheral resistance (13 mm Hg · L −1 · min −1 , P &lt;.001), mean arterial pressure (9 mm Hg, P &lt;.001), and left atrial pressure (5 mm Hg, P &lt;.001) and increases in cardiac output (0.5 L/min, P &lt;.001). Adrenomedullin increased urine sodium (threefold, P &lt;.05), creatinine ( P &lt;.05) and cAMP excretion ( P &lt;.01), creatinine clearance ( P &lt;.05), and renal production of cAMP ( P &lt;.05), whereas urine output was maintained during infusion and raised after infusion ( P &lt;.05). Adrenomedullin reduced plasma aldosterone levels ( P &lt;.05), whereas plasma atrial and brain natriuretic peptide concentrations were unchanged during infusion and rose after infusion ( P &lt;.01 and P &lt;.05, respectively). Plasma catecholamine, cortisol, renin, calcium, and glucose concentrations were not significantly altered. Conclusions Adrenomedullin reduced ventricular preload and afterload and improved cardiac output in sheep with congestive heart failure. Despite the clear fall in arterial pressure, adrenomedullin increased creatinine clearance and sodium excretion and maintained urine output. These results imply an important pathophysiological role for adrenomedullin in the regulation of pressure and volume in heart failure and raise the possibility of a new therapeutic approach to this disease.
FKBP52 deficiency–conferred uterine progesterone resistance is genetic background and pregnancy stage specific
Authors: Susanne Tranguch, Haibin Wang, Takiko Daikoku, Huirong Xie, David F. Smith, Sudhansu K. Dey
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2007)

Immunophilin FKBP52 serves as a cochaperone to govern normal progesterone (P(4)) receptor (PR) function. Using Fkbp52(-/-) mice, we show intriguing aspects of uterine P(4)/PR signaling during pregnancy. Implantation failure is the major phenotype found in these null females, which is conserved on both C57BL6/129 and CD1 backgrounds. However, P(4) supplementation rescued implantation and subsequent decidualization in CD1, but not C57BL6/129, null females. Surprisingly, experimentally induced decidualization in the absence of blastocysts failed in Fkbp52(-/-) mice on either background even with P(4) supplementation, suggesting that embryonic signals complement uterine signaling for this event. Another interesting finding was that while P(4) at higher than normal pregnancy levels conferred PR signaling sufficient for implantation in CD1 null females, these levels were inefficient in maintaining pregnancy to full term. However, elevating P(4) levels further restored PR signaling to a level optimal for successful term pregnancy with normal litter size. Collectively, the results show that the indispensability of FKBP52 in uterine P(4)/PR signaling is a function of genetic disparity and is pregnancy stage specific. Since there is evidence for a correlation between P(4) supplementation and reduced risks of P(4)-resistant recurrent miscarriages and remission of endometriosis, these findings have clinical implications for genetically diverse populations of women.
NHS quality accounts are failing to tell the whole story
Authors: A. O'Dowd
Journal: BMJ (2011)

Mandatory reports on the quality of services in the NHS in England are not telling the whole story to patients and need to be revised, a health policy think tank claims.

In its report, published on 6 January, the King’s Fund says that the first set of quality account reports from NHS organisations and independent sector bodies that provide NHS services show significant variation in quality and choice of information provided, making them of limited use.

In June last year acute and mental health trusts were required for the first time to publish quality accounts: annual reports of the quality of their services in 2009-10 and plans for improvement. These …
2013 classification criteria for systemic sclerosis: an American college of rheumatology/European league against rheumatism collaborative initiative
Authors: Frank van den Hoogen, Dinesh Khanna, Jaap Fransen, Sindhu R Johnson, Murray Baron, Alan Tyndall, Marco Matucci-Cerinic, Raymond P Naden, Thomas A Medsger, Patricia E Carreira, Gabriela Riemekasten, Philip J Clements, Christopher P Denton, Oliver Distler, Yannick Allanore, Daniel E Furst, Armando Gabrielli, Maureen D Mayes, Jacob M van Laar, James R Seibold, Laszlo Czirjak, Virginia D Steen, Murat Inanc, Otylia Kowal-Bielecka, Ulf Müller-Ladner, Gabriele Valentini, Douglas J Veale, Madelon C Vonk, Ulrich A Walker, Lorinda Chung, David H Collier, Mary Ellen Csuka, Barri J Fessler, Serena Guiducci, Ariane Herrick, Vivien M Hsu, Sergio Jimenez, Bashar Kahaleh, Peter A Merkel, Stanislav Sierakowski, Richard M Silver, Robert W Simms, John Varga, Janet E Pope
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2013)

<h3>Objective</h3> The 1980 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for systemic sclerosis (SSc) lack sensitivity for early SSc and limited cutaneous SSc. The present work, by a joint committee of the ACR and the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR), was undertaken for the purpose of developing new classification criteria for SSc. <h3>Methods</h3> Using consensus methods, 23 candidate items were arranged in a multicriteria additive point system with a threshold to classify cases as SSc. The classification system was reduced by clustering items and simplifying weights. The system was tested by (1) determining specificity and sensitivity in SSc cases and controls with scleroderma-like disorders, and (2) validating against the combined view of a group of experts on a set of cases with or without SSc. <h3>Results</h3> It was determined that skin thickening of the fingers extending proximal to the metacarpophalangeal joints is sufficient for the patient to be classified as having SSc; if that is not present, seven additive items apply, with varying weights for each: skin thickening of the fingers, fingertip lesions, telangiectasia, abnormal nailfold capillaries, interstitial lung disease or pulmonary arterial hypertension, Raynaud9s phenomenon, and SSc-related autoantibodies. Sensitivity and specificity in the validation sample were, respectively, 0.91 and 0.92 for the new classification criteria and 0.75 and 0.72 for the 1980 ACR classification criteria. All selected cases were classified in accordance with consensus-based expert opinion. All cases classified as SSc according to the 1980 ACR criteria were classified as SSc with the new criteria, and several additional cases were now considered to be SSc. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The ACR/EULAR classification criteria for SSc performed better than the 1980 ACR criteria for SSc and should allow for more patients to be classified correctly as having the disease.
High Mutagen Sensitivity in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Predicts Poor Overall and Disease-Specific Survival in Patients with Stage III Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy
Authors: Joe Y. Chang, Ritsuko Komaki, Ryohei Sasaki, Zhongxing Liao, Craig W. Stevens, Charles Lu, Frank V. Fossella, Pamela K. Allen, James D. Cox, Margaret R. Spitz, Xifeng Wu
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2005)

To investigate whether the bleomycin sensitivity assay, an in vitro peripheral blood lymphocyte assay, can predict outcome in patients with inoperable stage III non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with definitive radiotherapy and chemotherapy.We identified 102 patients with inoperable stage III NSCLC cell lung cancer treated with definitive radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The patients' pretreatment peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures were treated with the radiomimetic mutagen bleomycin. An index of bleomycin sensitivity was determined by counting the number of chromatid breaks in 50 metaphases. The correlation between bleomycin sensitivity (expressed as mean breaks per cell) and clinical outcome was analyzed.High bleomycin sensitivity (defined as a mean of >1.02 chromatid breaks/cell, representing the third quartile of bleomycin sensitivity) predicted poor disease-specific survival and overall survival. The 6-year disease-specific survival was 27% in patients with high bleomycin sensitivity compared with 46% in patients without such sensitivity (P = 0.0094). The association remained statistically significant when adjusted for smoking status, age, and radiation dose. The 6-year overall survival was 19% for patients with high bleomycin sensitivity and 29% for those without (P = 0.0193). There was a trend toward worse local regional control and worse disease-free survival among patients with high bleomycin sensitivity. There was no difference between the two groups in distant metastasis-free survival or radiation treatment-related complications.High bleomycin sensitivity correlated with poor overall survival and disease-specific survival in these patients with stage III NSCLC treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Bleomycin sensitivity may function as a biomarker for poor clinical outcome for this group of patients.
Aspirin Effects on Mortality and Morbidity in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Aaron Kassoff
Journal: JAMA (1992)

<h3>Objectives.</h3> —This report presents information on the effects of aspirin on mortality, the occurrence of cardiovascular events, and the incidence of kidney disease in the patients enrolled in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS). <h3>Study Design.</h3> —This multicenter, randomized clinical trial of aspirin vs placebo was sponsored by the National Eye Institute. <h3>Patients.</h3> —Patients (N=3711) were enrolled in 22 clinical centers between April 1980 and July 1985. Men and women between the ages of 18 and 70 years with a clinical diagnosis of diabetes mellitus were eligible. Approximately 30% of all patients were considered to have type I diabetes mellitus, 31% type II, and in 39% type I or II could not be determined definitely. <h3>Intervention.</h3> —Patients were randomly assigned to aspirin or placebo (two 325-mg tablets once per day). <h3>Main Outcome Measures.</h3> —Mortality from all causes was specified as the primary outcome measure for assessing the systemic effects of aspirin. Other outcome variables included cause-specific mortality and cardiovascular events. <h3>Results.</h3> —The estimate of relative risk for total mortality for aspirin-treated patients compared with placebo-treated patients for the entire study period was 0.91 (99% confidence interval, 0.75 to 1.11). Larger differences were noted for the occurrence of fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarction; the estimate of relative risk was 0.83 for the entire follow-up period (99% confidence interval, 0.66 to 1.04). <h3>Conclusions.</h3> —The effects of aspirin on any of the cardiovascular events considered in the ETDRS were not substantially different from the effects observed in other studies that included mainly nondiabetic persons. Furthermore, there was no evidence of harmful effects of aspirin. Aspirin has been recommended previously for persons at risk for cardiovascular disease. The ETDRS results support application of this recommendation to those persons with diabetes at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. (<i>JAMA</i>. 1992;268:1292-1300)
Favorable Prognosis for Patients 12 to 18 Months of Age With Stage 4 Nonamplified <i>MYCN</i> Neuroblastoma: A Children's Cancer Group Study
Authors: Mary Lou Schmidt, Ashutosh Lal, Robert C. Seeger, John M. Maris, Hiroyuki Shimada, Maura O'Leary, Robert B. Gerbing, Katherine K. Matthay
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

The long-term survival of children between age 12 and 24 months with stage 4 neuroblastoma and nonamplified MYCN (MYCN-NA) has not been defined previously.Survival for stage 4 MYCN-NA neuroblastoma patients enrolled onto Children's Cancer Group (CCG) protocols 321P2 (1986 to 1991) and 3891 (1991 to 1996) was analyzed. Treatment consisted of intensive alkylator-based induction chemotherapy with or without autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) with or without 13 cis-retinoic acid. Survival was analyzed by age strata less than 12, 12 to 18, 18 to 24, and more than 24 months at diagnosis. Patients younger than 12 months were treated on the moderate-intensity CCG protocol 3881.Forty-three patients with stage 4 MYCN-NA disease enrolled onto CCG-321P2 (n = 17) or CCG-3891 (n = 26) were between 12 and 24 months of age at diagnosis. After a median follow-up of 94 months (range, 4 to 140 months), the 6-year event-free survival (EFS) for the 12- to 18-month age group was superior to that of the 18- to 24-month age group (74% +/- 8% v 31% +/- 12%; P = .008). The EFS for children older than 24 months with stage 4 MYCN-NA neuroblastoma was 23% +/- 3%, and for children younger than 12 months was 92% +/- 3%.Children diagnosed with stage 4 MYCN-NA neuroblastoma in the second year of life form a transitional group between infants and older children in terms of prognosis. Patients between 12 and 18 months of age have significantly better long-term survival than that of older children treated with intensive chemotherapy with or without ABMT. These patients may not benefit from additional intensification of therapy beyond that provided in earlier clinical trials and may even maintain this high survival rate with less intensive therapy.
Extensive Metastases in Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome
Authors: U. Yun Ryo
Journal: JAMA (1978)

A 27-year-old woman with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome since age 11 years was hospitalized with a sudden onset of weakness of the right extremity, an expressive aphasia, and a three-month history of back pain. Liver and wholebody scintigrams demonstrated multiple metastatic disease; the brain scintigraphic study was compatible with infarction of the left hemisphere. Postmortem examination two weeks after these studies showed extensive metastases in bone, liver, brain, lung, and left ovary. The source of the metastases was a malignant change from Peutz-Jeghers polyps. (<i>JAMA</i>239:2268-2269, 1978)