tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Coughs and wheezes spread diseases: but what about the environment?
Authors: A Bush
Journal: Thorax (2006)

Interactions between viral infections, wheezing, atopy and asthma in children

One disagreeable part of growing up is the inevitable encounters with respiratory viruses which, in about half the population, will have led to at least one wheezing episode before school age. For many the symptoms of wheeze are trivial and require no or only intermittent treatment but, for others, winter in particular turns into a nightmare of recurrent hospital admissions punctuated by brief periods of perfect health before the next viral infection takes hold. All concerned feel powerless in both prevention and treatment; for many families it is inevitable that they use childcare facilities, a fertile virological breeding ground. In any case, the possible protective effects of viral infections against later asthma (below) should give pause for thought before removing the child from the creche. Although there is some evidence that intermittent high dose inhaled corticosteroids1 or oral montelukast2–4 may be adequate treatment, many children with viral associated wheeze end up being prescribed several courses of oral prednisolone each winter. The treatment of severe preschool viral induced symptoms is among the most taxing and least rewarding challenges in childhood wheezing disorders.

The hypothesis generating paper by Murray et al in this month’s Thorax raises some hope for a potential new preventive approach.5 This group has extended previous work in adult asthmatics6—in which they showed an apparent synergy between viral infection, and allergen sensitization and exposure—into a group of unselected children with asthma, the youngest of whom were 3 years old. In a multivariate analysis they showed that children admitted to hospital with an asthma exacerbation (but not stable asthmatics or non-asthmatic controls) were significantly more likely to be infected with a respiratory virus and to have been exposed to an allergen to which they …
Comparison of High-Dose and Low-Dose Insulin by Continuous Intravenous Infusion in the Treatment of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Children
Authors: George A Burghen, James N Etteldorf, Joseph N Fisher, Abbas Q Kitabchi
Journal: Diabetes Care (1980)

We studied the efficacy of low-dose (0.1 U/kg/h) and high-dose (1.0 U/kg/h) insulin, given randomly to children with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) by continuous intravenous infusion without a loading dose. Plasma glucose reached 250 mg/dl in 3.4 ± 0.4 h with the high-dose insulin group compared with 5.4 ± 0.5 h with the low-dose insulin group (P &amp;lt; 0.01). During the first 12 h of therapy, plasma glucose fell below 100 mg/dl in 2 of 16 in the low-dose compared with 12 of 16 in the high-dose patients. The decrement of ketone bodies, cortisol, and glucagon was similar in both groups. The number of hours required for HCO3– ≥ 15 meq/l and arterial blood pH ≥ 7.30 were not significantly different in the two groups. Hypokalemia (K &amp;lt; 3.4 meq/L) occurred in 3 of 16 low-dose and 10 of 16 high-dose patients. The data show that low-dose insulin, with a slower rate of glucose decrease, is as effective as a high dose for the treatment of DKA in children with less incidence of hypokalemia and decreased potential for hypoglycemia.
Cure of Mammary Carcinomas in Her-2 Transgenic Mice through Sequential Stimulation of Innate (Neoadjuvant Interleukin-12) and Adaptive (DNA Vaccine Electroporation) Immunity
Authors: Michela Spadaro, Elena Ambrosino, Manuela Iezzi, Emma Di Carlo, Pamela Sacchetti, Claudia Curcio, Augusto Amici, Wei-Zen Wei, Piero Musiani, Pier-Luigi Lollini, Federica Cavallo, Guido Forni
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract Purpose: Whereas neoadjuvant therapy is emerging as a treatment option in early primary breast cancer, no data are available on the use of antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory agents in a neoadjuvant setting. In a model of Her-2 spontaneous mammary cancer, we investigated the efficacy of neoadjuvant interleukin 12 (IL-12) followed by “immune-surgery” of the residual tumor. Experimental Design: Female BALB/c mice transgenic for the rat Her-2 oncogene inexorably develop invasive carcinomas in all their mammary glands by the 23rd week of age. Mice with multifocal in situ carcinomas received four weekly i.p. injections of 100 ng IL-12 followed by a 3-week rest. This course was given four times. A few mice additionally received DNA plasmids encoding portions of the Her-2 receptor electroporated through transcutaneous electric pulses. Results: The protection elicited by IL-12 in combination with two DNA vaccine electroporations kept 63% of mice tumor-free. Complete protection of all 1-year-old mice was achieved when IL-12-treated mice received four vaccine electroporations. Pathologic findings, in vitro tests, and the results from immunization of both IFN-γ and immunoglobulin gene knockout transgenic mice and of adoptive transfer experiments all show that IL-12 augments the B- and T-cell response elicited by vaccination and slightly decreases the number of regulatory T cells. In addition, IL-12 strongly inhibits tumor angiogenesis. Conclusions: In Her-2 transgenic mice, IL-12 impairs tumor progression and triggers innate immunity so markedly that DNA vaccination becomes effective at late points in time when it is ineffective on its own.
Setting the stage for CFTR modulator studies in infants
Authors: Peter J F M Merkus
Journal: Thorax (2014)

Because irreversible damage to the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung is already observed in infancy, a need has arisen to assess and monitor lung function early in life. Infant lung function testing (ILFT) is non-invasive, does not require radiation or anaesthesia and can be repeated frequently; therefore, development, standardisation and validation of techniques, protocols and equipment have received priority. Thanks to the hard work of many researchers across the globe during the last few decades, we are now able to study and compare development of lung function in the youngest during health and disease.1Through standardisation, and the use of appropriate reference populations, we can now collate data from different centres to find reliable answers to basic questions on developmental physiology1 ,2 and to study lung function growth in chronic lung disease.3–5

The study by Nguyen et al 6 illustrates the value of such collaboration. Rather than competing with one another, the 6 CF centres of The London CF Collaboration (LCFC) shared protocols for treatment and follow-up. As a result, a relatively large group of infants with CF treated, diagnosed through NewBorn Screening (NBS) according to a standardised regimen could be analysed in relatively short period of time. ILFT was assessed in one specialised centre with sufficient experience and capacity to carry out longitudinal ILFT measurements. Moreover, healthy controls of about the same age were measured as well, serving as an adequate control group.

Lung function was below average …
Clinicopathologic features of early lesions of primary cutaneous follicle center lymphoma, diffuse type: Implications for early diagnosis and treatment
Authors: Andrea Gulia, Andrea Saggini, Thomas Wiesner, Regina Fink-Puches, Zsolt Argenyi, Gerardo Ferrara, Cornelia S.L. Müller, Esmeralda Vale, Lorenzo Cerroni
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2011)
Classification of Chemotherapeutic Agents Based on Their Differential<i>In vitro</i>Effects on Dendritic Cells
Authors: Hiroaki Tanaka, Hironori Matsushima, Norikatsu Mizumoto, Akira Takashima
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Despite the crucial roles dendritic cells (DC) play in host immunity against cancer, the pharmacologic effects of many chemotherapeutic agents have remained mostly unknown. We recently developed a DC biosensor clone by engineering the stable murine DC line XS106 to express the yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) gene under the control of interleukin (IL)-1beta promoter. In this study, the resulting XS106 pIL1-YFP DC clone was used to screen 54 anticancer drugs. Each drug was tested at five concentrations (0.1-10 micromol/L) for its effects on YFP expression, cell viability, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor-dependent growth. Our unbiased systematic screening unveiled a striking heterogeneity among the tested anticancer drugs in their effects on the three functional variables. Interestingly, 15 drugs induced significant YFP expression at subcytotoxic concentrations and were thus categorized as "DC-stimulatory" anticancer drugs. These drugs were subsequently found to induce at least one of the characteristic maturational changes in mouse bone marrow-derived DCs. For example, vinblastine, a prototypic drug of this class, induced the production of IL-1beta, IL-6, and IL-12, increased surface expression of CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC class II, and augmented T cell-stimulatory capacity of DCs. Not only do these results illustrate the differential pharmacologic effects of commonly used chemotherapeutic agents on DCs, they may also provide a conceptual framework for rationale-based selection and combination of anticancer drugs for clinical application.
Lives in the Balance: Women With Cancer and the Right to Fertility Care
Authors: Clarisa R. Gracia, Jacqueline S. Jeruss
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2013)

reproductive risks of cancer treatment and fertility preservation options available pursued assisted reproductive techniques. Moreover, at a time when young patients are forced to confront a life-threatening cancer diagnosis, the opportunity to discuss fertility preservation, related to the future restoration of health, allows patients to feel hopeful about their survival and life after cancer. Withholding available information and existingmedicaltechnologiesfromwomenisindirectoppositiontothegoal ofprotectingpatientautonomy.Educatingoncologiststoaddressfertility concerns and add this skill set to their care of young patients furthers the objective of caring for the whole patient and not the cancer alone. This advanceinoncologicpractice,whichextendstosurvivorshipattheoutset
What are the symptoms and diseases for which a child / adolescent visits a primary care physician in India? Result of a 1- day point prevalence study in 65,979 patients from India
Authors: Sapna Madas, Komalkirti Apte, Monica Barne, Satish Bhosale, Jaideep Gogtay, Sushmeeta Chhowala, Sundeep Salvi
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2013)

We aimed to study the symptoms and disease profile patterns for which children and adolescents visit a primary care physician in India using a 1-day point-prevalence cross-sectional study design, in 880 cities and towns. Methods: 13,225 practicing general practitioners (GPs), general physicians (Gen Ps) and pediatricians (Ps) were randomly selected based on a proportionate random sampling. They completed a questionnaire based on the validated ICD-10 classification, wherein they captured age, gender, symptoms and diseases of all patients who visited them on the study day. Data was collected, cleaned and entered in Epi Info software. Simple descriptive analysis was performed. Results: 7400 doctors (64.3% GPs, 18.7% GenPs, 17.0% Ps) consented and provided clean data of a total of 65,979 children ≤ 18 years (M: F 57.2%, 42.8%). Fever was the most common symptom present in 49.1% children. 61.3% presented with respiratory symptoms (40.3% cough, 24.5% rhinitis, 9.9% sore throat, 11.3% wheeze and 6.0% breathlessness), 30% had gastrointestinal symptoms, 9.4% had skin related symptoms and 6% had anemia. The most common diagnoses were URTI 9.9%, LRTI 6.8%, ear ache/infections 5.2% and asthma 3.9%. Asthma & LRTI was reported to be more common in non-metropolitan cities than metropolitan cities across all age groups (OR: 1.29, p
Seasonal variations of immunochemical and gaiac faecal occult blood tests
Authors: L. Guittet, E. Guillaume, V. Bouvier, G. Launoy
Journal: Gut (2010)

In their article recently published in Gut , Grazzini et al observed that accuracy of the OC Sensor immunochemical faecal occult blood test (FOBT) depends on the season.1 They found a decrease in positivity rates in the summer compared with winter (table 1). This decrease, probably related to …
Glycerol as a chemical chaperone enhances radiation-induced apoptosis in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells.
Authors: Ken Ohnishi, Ichiro Ota, Katsunari Yane, Akihisa Takahashi, Kazue Yuki, Mie Emoto, Hiroshi Hosoi, Takeo Ohnishi
Journal: Molecular Cancer (2002)

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, which is one of the most aggressive, malignant tumors in humans, results in an extremely poor prognosis despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The present study was designed to evaluate therapeutic effects of radiation by glycerol on p53-mutant anaplastic thyroid carcinoma cells (8305c cells). To examine the effectiveness of glycerol in radiation induced lethality for anaplastic thyroid carcinoma 8305c cells, we performed colony formation assay and apoptosis analysis. Apoptosis was analyzed with Hoechst 33342 staining and DNA ladder formation assay. 8305c cells became radiosensitive when glycerol was added to culture medium before X-ray irradiation. Apoptosis was induced by X-rays in the presence of glycerol. However, there was little apoptosis induced by X-ray irradiation or glycerol alone. The binding activity of whole cell extracts to bax promoter region was induced by X-rays in the presence of glycerol but not by X-rays alone. These findings suggest that glycerol is effective against radiotherapy of p53-mutant thyroid carcinomas.
Correlation of biochemical response to interferon alfa with histological improvement in hepatitis C: A meta-analysis of diagnostic test characteristics
Authors: P A Bonis, J P Ioannidis, J C Cappelleri, M M Kaplan, J Lau
Journal: Hepatology (1997)

The current goal of interferon treatment for chronic hepatitis C is to normalize alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and to eradicate detectable viral RNA. Many patients do not achieve this objective during treatment, and most do not sustain these outcomes after interferon is discontinued. However, biochemical or virological responses to interferon may not reflect accurately the histological consequences of therapy. The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which the biochemical measures reflect the histological outcomes in the treatment of hepatitis C with interferon alfa using a meta-analysis of diagnostic test characteristics. The data sources were English and non-English language studies retrieved from Medline (from 1966 to December 1995). The study selection included studies in which interferon alfa was used for treatment of chronic hepatitis C with liver biopsies performed before and after therapy. Data on histological and biochemical outcomes were extracted independently by two reviewers. Two separate criteria were used for defining histological response. When strict definitions of histological improvement were considered, histology improved in 28% (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 17%-43%) of patients after interferon treatment. The sensitivity and specificity of the ALT for determining histological change were 70% (95% CI, 56%-81%) and 66% (95% CI, 56%-75%), respectively. As many as 17% (95% CI, 9%-30%) of subjects with an abnormal ALT at the end of therapy may have improved histologically after interferon therapy. When less stringent definitions of histological improvement were considered, 62% (95% CI, 51%-72%) improved after therapy. The sensitivity and specificity of the ALT for determining histological change were 55% (95% CI, 44%-65%) and 75% (95% CI, 67%-81%), respectively. As many as 51% (95% CI, 38%-64%) may have improved, despite failure to normalize ALT. A substantial number of patients may improve histologically after interferon therapy. The significance of histological changes observed after interferon therapy must be weighed against the limitations of liver biopsy and the uncertain natural history of hepatitis C. Nevertheless, the ALT does not always reflect liver histology accurately after interferon alfa treatment and may underestimate histological improvement.
Balance Training Reduces Falls Risk in Older Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Steven Morrison, Sheri R. Colberg, Mira Mariano, Henri K. Parson, Arthur I. Vinik
Journal: Diabetes Care (2010)

OBJECTIVE This study assessed the effects of balance/strength training on falls risk and posture in older individuals with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Sixteen individuals with type 2 diabetes and 21 age-matched control subjects (aged 50–75 years) participated. Postural stability and falls risk was assessed before and after a 6-week exercise program. RESULTS Diabetic individuals had significantly higher falls risk score compared with control subjects. The diabetic group also exhibited evidence of mild-to-moderate neuropathy, slower reaction times, and increased postural sway. Following exercise, the diabetic group showed significant improvements in leg strength, faster reaction times, decreased sway, and, consequently, reduced falls risk. CONCLUSIONS Older individuals with diabetes had impaired balance, slower reactions, and consequently a higher falls risk than age-matched control subjects. However, all these variables improved after resistance/balance training. Together these results demonstrate that structured exercise has wide-spread positive effects on physiological function for older individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Detection of HIV-1 and HCV Infections among Antibody-Negative Blood Donors by Nucleic Acid–Amplification Testing
Authors: Susan L. Stramer, Simone A. Glynn, Steven H. Kleinman, D. Michael Strong, Sally Caglioti, David J. Wright, Roger Y. Dodd, Michael P. Busch
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2004)

Testing of blood donors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA by means of nucleic acid amplification was introduced in the United States as an investigational screening test in mid-1999 to identify donations made during the window period before seroconversion.We analyzed all antibody-nonreactive donations that were confirmed to be positive for HIV-1 and HCV RNA on nucleic acid-amplification testing of "minipools" (pools of 16 to 24 donations) by the main blood-collection programs in the United States during the first three years of nucleic acid screening.Among 37,164,054 units screened, 12 were confirmed to be positive for HIV-1 RNA--or 1 in 3.1 million donations--only 2 of which were detected by HIV-1 p24 antigen testing. For HCV, of 39,721,404 units screened, 170 were confirmed to be positive for HCV RNA, or 1 in 230,000 donations (or 1 in 270,000 on the basis of 139 donations confirmed to be positive for HCV RNA with the use of a more sensitive HCV-antibody test). The respective rates of positive HCV and HIV-1 nucleic acid-amplification tests were 3.3 and 4.1 times as high among first-time donors as among donors who gave blood repeatedly. Follow-up studies of 67 HCV RNA-positive donors demonstrated that seroconversion occurred a median of 35 days after the index donation, followed by a low rate of resolution of viremia; three cases of long-term immunologically silent HCV infection were documented.Minipool nucleic acid-amplification testing has helped prevent the transmission of approximately 5 HIV-1 infections and 56 HCV infections annually and has reduced the residual risk of transfusion-transmitted HIV-1 and HCV to approximately 1 in 2 million blood units.
Treatment of Skin Fissures
Authors: J. R. Mason
Journal: BMJ (1969)

Management of Acute SalicylatePoisoning SIR,-Unexpected sudden death has been a recognized feature of acute salicylate poisoning, and it still occurs.An early acidosis is the cause.Would not a blood pH done in casualty probably be life-saving ?The result can be obtained in 15 minutes- far quicker than the plasma-salicylate level.-I am, etc.,
Interval Cancers in Prostate Cancer Screening: Comparing 2- and 4-Year Screening Intervals in the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer, Gothenburg and Rotterdam
Authors: M. J. Roobol, A. Grenabo, F. H. Schroder, J. Hugosson
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2007)

The incidence of prostate cancer has increased substantially since it became common practice to screen asymptomatic men for the disease. The European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) was initiated in 1993 to determine how prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening affects prostate cancer mortality. Variations in the screening algorithm, such as the interval between screening rounds, likely influence the morbidity, mortality, and quality of life of the screened population. We compared the number and characteristics of interval cancers, defined as those diagnosed during the screening interval but not detected by screening, in men in the screening arm of the ERSPC who were aged 55–65 years at the time of the first screening and were participating through two centers of the ERSPC: Gothenburg (2-year screening interval, n = 4202) and Rotterdam (4-year screening interval, n = 13301). All participants who were diagnosed with prostate cancer through December 31, 2005, but at most 10 years after the initial screening were ascertained by linkage with the national cancer registries. A potentially life-threatening (aggressive) interval cancer was defined as one with at least one of the following characteristics at diagnosis: stage M1 or N1, plasma PSA concentration greater than 20.0 ng/mL, or Gleason score greater than 7. We used Mantel Cox regression to assess differences between rates of interval cancers and aggressive interval cancers at the two centers. All statistical tests were two-sided. The 10-year cumulative incidence of all prostate cancers in Rotterdam versus Gothenburg was 1118 (8.41%) versus 552 (13.14%) ( P <.001), the cumulative incidence of interval cancer was 57 (0.43%) versus 31 (0.74%) ( P = .51), and the cumulative incidence of aggressive interval cancer was 15 (0.11%) versus 5 (0.12%) ( P = .72). The rate of interval cancer, especially aggressive interval cancer, was low in this study. The 2-year screening interval had higher detection rates than the 4-year interval but did not lead to lower rates of interval and aggressive interval prostate cancers.