tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Cost of Medical Care for Chronic Kidney Disease and Comorbidity among Enrollees in a Large HMO Population
Authors: David H Smith, Christina M Gullion, Gregory Nichols, Douglas Scott Keith, Jonathan Betz Brown
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (2004)

ABSTRCT. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) afflicts up to 20 million people in the United States, but little is known about their health care costs. The authors analyzed costs and resource use associated with CKD by using National Kidney Foundation staging definitions. Patients insured through a large health maintenance organization with a laboratory finding of CKD (defined as estimated GFR between 15 and 90 ml/min per 1.73 m<sup>2</sup> in 1996 followed by a second GFR below 90 at the next creatinine measurement occurring at least 90 d later) were followed from 1996 for up to 66 mo. The final cohort included 13,796 persons with CKD and their age- and gender-matched controls; 1741 in stage 2; 11,278 in stage 3; and 777 in stage 4. Depending on stage, cases had 1.9 to 2.5 times more prescriptions, 1.3 to 1.9 times more outpatient visits, were 1.6 to 2.2 times more likely to have had an inpatient stay, and had 1.8 to 3.1 more stays than did controls. Total per patient follow-up costs were [$total, (95% CI) cases and controls, respectively] $38,764 (95% CI, 37,033 to $40,496) and $16,212 (95% CI, $15,644 to $16,780) in stage 2; $33,144 (95% CI, $32,578 to $33,709) and $18,964 (95% CI, $18,730 to $19,197) in stage 3; and $41,928 (95% CI, $39,354 to $44,501) and $19,106 (95% CI, $18,212 to $20,000) in stage 4. Cases with no CKD-related comorbidities had costs double that of controls with no CKD-related comorbidities, and comorbidities related to CKD were more costly to manage than CKD alone. Future research in this area could be usefully directed toward analyzing the clinical and economic consequences of better managing or preventing comorbidities in patients with CKD.
A clinically relevant orthotopic xenograft model of ependymoma that maintains the genomic signature of the primary tumor and preserves cancer stem cells in vivo
Authors: L. Yu, P. A. Baxter, H. Voicu, S. Gurusiddappa, Y. Zhao, A. Adesina, T.-K. Man, Q. Shu, Y.-J. Zhang, X.-M. Zhao, J. M. Su, L. Perlaky, R. Dauser, M. Chintagumpala, C. C. Lau, S. M. Blaney, P. H. Rao, H.-c. E. Leung, X.-N. Li
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2010)

Limited availability of in vitro and in vivo model systems has hampered efforts to understand tumor biology and test novel therapies for ependymoma, the third most common malignant brain tumor that occurs in children. To develop clinically relevant animal models of ependymoma, we directly injected a fresh surgical specimen from a 9-year-old patient into the right cerebrum of RAG2/severe complex immune deficiency (SCID) mice. All five mice receiving the initial transplantation of the patient tumor developed intracerebral xenografts, which have since been serially subtransplanted in vivo in mouse brains for 4 generations and can be cryopreserved for long-term maintenance of tumorigenicity. The xenograft tumors shared nearly identical histopathological features with the original tumors, harbored 8 structural chromosomal abnormalities as detected with spectral karyotyping, maintained gene expression profiles resembling that of the original patient tumor with the preservation of multiple key genetic abnormalities commonly found in human ependymomas, and contained a small population (<2.2%) of CD133+ stem cells that can form neurospheres and display multipotent capabilities in vitro. The permanent cell line (BXD-1425EPN), which was derived from a passage II xenograft tumor and has been passaged in vitro more than 70 times, expressed similar differentiation markers of the xenograft tumors, maintained identical chromosomal abnormalities, and formed tumors in the brains of SCID mice. In conclusion, direct injection of primary ependymoma tumor cells played an important role in the generation of a clinically relevant mouse model IC-1425EPN and a novel cell line, BXD-1425EPN. This cell line and model will facilitate the biological studies and preclinical drug screenings for pediatric ependymomas.
A validated gene expression model of high-risk multiple myeloma is defined by deregulated expression of genes mapping to chromosome 1
Authors: John D. Shaughnessy, Fenghuang Zhan, Bart E. Burington, Yongsheng Huang, Simona Colla, Ichiro Hanamura, James P. Stewart, Bob Kordsmeier, Christopher Randolph, David R. Williams, Yan Xiao, Hongwei Xu, Joshua Epstein, Elias Anaissie, Somashekar G. Krishna, Michele Cottler-Fox, Klaus Hollmig, Abid Mohiuddin, Mauricio Pineda-Roman, Guido Tricot, Frits van Rhee, Jeffrey Sawyer, Yazan Alsayed, Ronald Walker, Maurizio Zangari, John Crowley, Bart Barlogie
Journal: Blood (2006)
Budesonide prolongs time to relapse in ileal and ileocaecal Crohn's disease. A placebo controlled one year study.
Authors: R Lofberg, P Rutgeerts, H Malchow, C Lamers, A Danielsson, G Olaison, D Jewell, O Ostergaard Thomsen, H Lorenz-Meyer, H Goebell, H Hodgson, T Persson, C Seidegard
Journal: Gut (1996)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the topical corticosteroid budesonide, given in an oral controlled release formulation for maintenance of remission in patients with ileal and ileocaecal Crohn9s disease (CD). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Out of 176 patients with active CD who had achieved remission (CD activity index score &lt; or = 150) after 10 weeks9 treatment with either budesonide or prednisolone, 90 were randomised to continue with once daily treatment of 6 mg budesonide, or 3 mg budesonide or placebo for up to 12 months in a double blind, multicentre trial. Time to symptomatic relapse was calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. Morning plasma cortisol was measured at clinic visits and a corticotropin stimulation test was performed after three months of treatment. RESULTS: Thirty two patients were allocated to the 6 mg budesonide group, 31 to the 3 mg group, and 27 to the placebo group. After three months, 19 per cent of the patients in the 6 mg group had relapsed, compared with 45 per cent in the 3 mg group and 44 per cent in the placebo group (p = 0.047). The corresponding results after 12 months was 59 per cent in the 6 mg budesonide group, 74 per cent in the 3 mg group, and 63 per cent in the placebo group (p = 0.44). The median time to relapse or discontinuation was 258 days in the 6 mg group, 139 days in the 3 mg group, and 92 days in the placebo group (p = 0.021). Mean morning plasma cortisol values increased from entry in all three groups with no statistically significant differences at 12 months. All 13 patients remaining in the placebo group after three months had a normal corticotropin stimulation response, compared with 18 of 23 patients in the 6 mg, and 19 of 21 in the 3 mg budesonide groups (p = 0.14). Acne and moon face were slightly more common in the budesonide groups. CONCLUSION: 6 mg budesonide once daily is significantly more efficacious than placebo in prolonging time to relapse in CD, and causes only minor systemic side effects.
Gallbladder disease and use of transdermal versus oral hormone replacement therapy in postmenopausal women: prospective cohort study
Authors: B. Liu, V. Beral, A. Balkwill, J. Green, S. Sweetland, G. Reeves
Journal: BMJ (2008)

Objective To determine whether transdermal compared with oral use of hormone replacement therapy reduces the risk of gallbladder disease in postmenopausal women. Design Prospective cohort study (Million Women Study). Setting Women registered with the National Health Service (NHS) in England and Scotland. Participants 1 001 391 postmenopausal women (mean age 56) recruited between 1996 and 2001 from NHS breast screening centres and followed by record linkage to routinely collected NHS hospital admission data for gallbladder disease. Main outcome measures Adjusted relative risk and standardised incidence rates of hospital admission for gallbladder disease or cholecystectomy according to use of hormone replacement therapy. Results During follow-up 19 889 women were admitted for gallbladder disease; 17 190 (86%) had a cholecystectomy. Compared with never users of hormone replacement therapy, current users were more likely to be admitted for gallbladder disease (relative risk 1.64, 95% confidence interval 1.58 to 1.69) but risks were substantially lower with transdermal therapy than with oral therapy (relative risk 1.17, 1.10 to 1.24 v 1.74, 1.68 to 1.80; heterogeneity P<0.001). Among women using oral therapy, equine oestrogens were associated with a slightly greater risk of gallbladder disease than estradiol (relative risk 1.79, 1.72 to 1.87 v 1.62, 1.54 to 1.70; heterogeneity P<0.001) and higher doses of oestrogen increased the risk more than lower doses: for equine oestrogens >0.625 mg, 1.91 (1.78 to 2.04) v ≤0.625 mg, 1.76 (1.68 to 1.84); heterogeneity P=0.02; estradiol >1 mg, 1.68 (1.59 to 1.77) v ≤1 mg, 1.44 (1.31 to 1.59); heterogeneity P=0.003. The risk of gallbladder disease decreased with time since stopping therapy (trend P=0.004). Results were similar taking cholecystectomy as the outcome. Standardised hospital admission rates per 100 women over five years for cholecystectomy were 1.1 in never users, 1.3 with transdermal therapy, and 2.0 with oral therapy. Conclusion Gallbladder disease is common in postmenopausal women and use of hormone replacement therapy increases the risk. Use of transdermal therapy rather than oral therapy over a five year period could avoid one cholecystectomy in every 140 users.
The clinical evaluation for detecting metastatic lung cancer. A meta-analysis.
Authors: G A Silvestri, B Littenberg, G L Colice
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (1995)

The objective of this study was to assess the performance of the clinical evaluation in detecting extrathoracic metastases compared with brain and abdomen CT and radionuclide bone scans in patients with newly diagnosed bronchogenic carcinoma. The included studies were selected using the MEDLARS database from 1977 through August 1992 as well as reference lists from published articles or abstracts. Studies eligible for consideration met six criteria. The most important criterion was that results of a clinical evaluation and a CT scan of the head or abdomen or a radionuclide bone scan, obtained during the initial evaluation of a patient with primary lung cancer, must be included. Data were categorized by the type of clinical evaluation performed and whether patients had a clinical evaluation suggesting metastases (positive) or not (negative). The negative predictive value (NPV) of the clinical evaluation was calculated in all studies. The sensitivity, specificity, and the positive predictive value (PPV) were calculated in studies including positive and negative clinical evaluation patients. Twenty-five studies are included in this analysis. A total of 3,089 imaging scans were obtained in the study patients after a clinical evaluation was performed. The mean NPV of the clinical evaluation for CT of the brain, abdomen, and radionuclide bone scan is 95, 94, and 89%, respectively. When an expanded clinical evaluation was performed, the NPV was even higher. The NPV was influenced by the prevalence of metastases, but still performed well in series with high prevalence rates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
LSC 2014 abstract - Evaluation of paraoxonase1 activity and its relationship to the severity of lung impairment in COPD
Authors: Balakrishnan Menon, Vikas Dogra, Gaki Nima
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2014)

Introduction:  The weakening of the antioxidant defense system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of COPD. Paraoxonase1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme which is localized in the lung and may provide protection from oxidative stress.   Aim:  To evaluate the levels of PON1 in patients of mild, moderate and severe COPD and also in healthy smoking and non-smoking subjects, and to find the association of PON1 with PFT parameters in these subjects.   Method:  The study was conducted over a period of 1 year. A total of 150 patients of COPD consisting of 30 patients each of mild, moderate and severe COPD were recruited. In addition 30 normal nonsmoking subjects and 30 healthy smokers were also recruited.   Results:  The levels of PON1 were lower in the patients of COPD as compared to controls. The mean level was 191.15±47.32KU/L in healthy nonsmoking subjects. The levels were seen to decrease as the severity of COPD increased. The mean level in Mild COPD was 152.21±59.33KU/L, Moderate COPD was 134.11±61.79KU/L and Severe COPD was 117.07±46.31KU/L. The level in healthy smoking subjects was 165.78±49.23KU/L. The differences in means were found to be highly significant on ANOVA (F=5.26, pl0.01). The mean values of FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC were also seen to decrease significantly with the increasing severity of COPD. A positive correlation was obtained between PON1 and FEV1(r=0.68, pl0.01), FVC(r=0.61, pl0.05) and FEV1/FVC (r=0.53, pl0.05).   Conclusion:  The levels of PON1 are significantly decreased in patients of COPD. This decrease is proportionate to the severity of the disease. There is also a significant direct relationship between pulmonary function and PON1.
From infants’ to children's appreciation of belief
Authors: Josef Perner, Johannes Roessler
Journal: Trends in Cognitive Sciences (2012)

Evidence is accumulating that infants are sensitive to people's false beliefs, whereas children pass the standard false belief test at around 4 years of age. Debate currently centres on the nature of early and late understanding. We defend the view that early sensitivity to false beliefs shown in 'online tasks' (where engagement with ongoing events reflects an expectation of what will happen without a judgement that it will happen) reflects implicit/unconscious social knowledge of lawful regularities. The traditional false belief task requires explicit consideration of the agent's subjective perspective on his reasons for action. This requires an intentional switch of perspectives not possible before 4 years of age as evidenced by correlations between the false belief task and many different perspective-taking tasks.
P615Comparative study between the effect of morphine and fentanyl on inflammatory process after open cardiac surgery:
Authors: S Sayed, SEHAM Moeen, HATEM Magharby, LAILA Mohamad, FATMA Askar
Journal: Cardiovascular Research (2014)

Background: Cardiac surgery aggravates a vital inflammatory response that endures into the postoperative period. Methods: We compared the effect of morphine and fentanyl as part of a balanced anesthetic technique on the inflammatory reaction the occurs in cardiac valve replacement surgeries after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: Patients are randomized to either morphine group (M) (n=15),received morphineIV(0.1mg/kg)at anesthesia induction and then(1-2mg/h) till end of surgery and arrival to the ICU or fentanyl group (F)(n=15),received fentanyl IV(5μg/kg)at anesthesia induction and then(1μg/kg/h)until end of surgery and arrival to the ICU. Serum concentrations of interleukins(IL-6 and IL-10) and expression of neutrophil surface adhesion molecules(CD11b,CD11c,andCD18)were measured immediately before the start of CPB(baseline)(T1),4 hrs post-CPB(T2),and 24 hrs after baseline measurements.Temperatures were measured on arrival to the ICU(Temp baseline),and every 2 hrs for the next 12hrs in the ICU(Temp1-Temp6).The increase in biomarkers were significantly attenuated in (M) compared to the (F) at 4hrs and 24hrs post-CPB(P<0.05). Results (Table1): The reduction in adhesion molecules expression was significantly more in the (M) than in the (F) at 4hrs and 24hrs post-CPB(P<0.05).The incidence of postoperative hyperthermia(body temperature>38.0°C)was significantly higher in (F).In (M)only one patient suffered from postoperative hyperthermia where in (F) even patients were suffered. Conclusion: We concluded that, the use of morphine when compared to fentanyl as a part of a balanced anesthetic technique in valve replacement surgery after CPB, can allow better hemodynamic stability, attenuates the release of interleukins, produce a greater reduction in adhesion molecule expression and reduce the incidence of postoperative hyperthermia without affecting the duration of tracheal intubation.
Use of a pre-printed oxygen prescription section on a drug chart to improve practice of oxygen prescription and monitoring
Authors: Feven Ataklte, John Wong, Bandipalyam Prathibha
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2011)

Background:  Oxygen can cause serious harm if not administered and monitored properly. By June 2009, the National Patient Safety Agency in the United Kingdom has received 281 reports of serious incidents (including deaths) related to poor oxygen administration ( NPSA website ). An oxygen audit was conducted at the William Harvey Hospital (WHH), in the United Kingdom, in 2009, after which a new drug chart with pre-printed oxygen prescription section was introduced in order to help improve oxygen prescription practice in the hospital.   Objective:  Determine whether the introduction of pre-printed oxygen prescription section on the drug chart at WHH improved oxygen prescription and monitoring practices.   Method:  Oxygen prescribing and monitoring practice were recorded from eight wards at WHH in December 2010. Data were collected using the British Thoracic Society “Oxygen Audit Collecting Sheet”. Results were compared with the 2009 WHH audit, done prior to the introduction of the new drug chart.   Result:  Forty-four out of 192 patients included in survey (23%) were on oxygen therapy. Fourteen of the 44 (32%) who were on oxygen had a valid prescription with recorded target saturation range (WHH 2009 audit: 10%, n=39).Three of the 19 patients (16%) who had some form of written instruction for oxygen had oxygen signed for on drug rounds (WHH 2009 audit: 27%).   Conclusion:  Our results showed that the new drug chart, with the pre-printed oxygen prescription and monitoring section, did improve the rate of oxygen prescription, but not monitoring practices. Future areas of work include raising awareness of health professionals that oxygen is a drug and requires prescription and monitoring.
Targeted Resequencing Identified Novel Variants in Candidate Genes Associated with Increased Risk of Atopic Dermatitis Complicated by Eczema Herpeticum
Authors: Li Gao, Lili Huang, Nicholas M. Rafaels, Rachel Lewis, Rasika A. Mathias, Lisa A. Beck, Donald Y. Leung, Kathleen C. Barnes
Journal: Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (2013)
FOXC1 Is a Potential Prognostic Biomarker with Functional Significance in Basal-like Breast Cancer
Authors: Partha S. Ray, Jinhua Wang, Ying Qu, Myung-Shin Sim, Jaime Shamonki, Sanjay P. Bagaria, Xing Ye, Bingya Liu, David Elashoff, Dave S. Hoon, Michael A. Walter, John W. Martens, Andrea L. Richardson, Armando E. Giuliano, Xiaojiang Cui
Journal: Cancer Research (2010)

Gene expression signatures for a basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) subtype have been associated with poor clinical outcomes, but a molecular basis for this disease remains unclear. Here, we report overexpression of the transcription factor FOXC1 as a consistent feature of BLBC compared with other molecular subtypes of breast cancer. Elevated FOXC1 expression predicted poor overall survival in BLBC (P = 0.0001), independently of other clinicopathologic prognostic factors including lymph node status, along with a higher incidence of brain metastasis (P = 0.02) and a shorter brain metastasis-free survival in lymph node-negative patients (P < 0.0001). Ectopic overexpression of FOXC1 in breast cancer cells increased cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas shRNA-mediated FOXC1 knockdown yielded opposite effects. Our findings identify FOXC1 as a theranostic biomarker that is specific for BLBC, offering not only a potential prognostic candidate but also a potential molecular therapeutic target in this breast cancer subtype.
Prevention of Cancer Cachexia by a Novel Nuclear Factor κB Inhibitor in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Kenji Kuroda, Yutaka Horiguchi, Jun Nakashima, Eiji Kikuchi, Kent Kanao, Akira Miyajima, Takashi Ohigashi, Kazuo Umezawa, Masaru Murai
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2005)

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the association between serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and cachexia in patients with prostate cancer and the inhibitory effect of a new nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) inhibitor, dehydroxymethylepoxyquinomicin (DHMEQ), on IL-6 production and cachexia in an animal model of hormone-refractory prostate cancer. Experimental Design: The association between serum IL-6 levels and variables of cachexia was evaluated in 98 patients with prostate cancer. The inhibitory effects of DHMEQ on IL-6 secretion and cachexia were investigated in in vitro and in vivo studies using JCA-1 cells derived from human prostate cancer. Results: Serum IL-6 levels were significantly elevated and cachexia developed in JCA-1 tumor-bearing mice as well as in prostate cancer patients with progressive disease. IL-6 secretion was significantly inhibited in JCA-1 cells exposed to DHMEQ. Intraperitoneal administration of DHMEQ (8 mg/kg) to tumor-bearing mice produced a significant amelioration of the reduction in body weight, epididymal fat weight, gastrocnemius muscle weight, hematocrit, and serum levels of triglyceride and albumin when compared with administration of DMSO or no treatment. DHMEQ caused a significant decrease of serum IL-6 level in JCA-1 tumor-bearing mice (all P &amp;lt; 0.05). Conclusions: These results suggested an association between serum IL-6 and cachexia in patients with prostate cancer and in JCA-1 tumor-bearing mice and that a new NF-κB inhibitor, DHMEQ, could prevent the development of cachexia in JCA-1 tumor-bearing mice presumably through the inhibition of IL-6 secretion. DHMEQ seems to show promise as a novel and unique anticachectic agent in hormone-refractory prostate cancer.