tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Type and quantity of data needed for an early estimate of transmissibility when an infectious disease emerges
Authors: N G Becker, D Wang, M Clements
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2010)

An early estimate of disease transmissibility is essential for a well-informed public health response to a newly emerged infectious disease. In this study, we ask what type and quantity of data are needed for useful estimation of the initial reproduction number (R). It is possible to estimate R from case incidence data alone when the growing incidence of cases displays a wave pattern, because the pattern provides information about the serial interval (the time elapsed between the onset of symptoms of a case and symptom onset in individuals infected by that case). When the mode of the serial interval distribution is small, 1.5 days or less, there is generally no informative wave pattern in the observed series of daily incidences. The precision of the estimate of R is then improved substantially by having some observations on the serial interval. For an infectious disease with characteristics such as those of influenza, an estimate of R able to inform plans to mitigate transmission is obtained when the cumulative incidence of cases reaches about 300 and about 10 observations on the serial interval are available.
Report calls for halt to “deeply flawed” emergency department closure programme
Authors: Gareth Iacobucci
Journal: BMJ (2015)

The downgrading of hospital emergency departments and acute care services in northwest London should be reversed, as it has damaged the care of patients and wasted money, an independent inquiry has found.

The reconfiguration of nine NHS hospitals across northwest London led to the closure of several emergency departments and other acute care services as part of the “Shaping a Healthier Future” programme launched in 2012. The reduction in acute care capacity was to be offset by extra investment in community based services.1

But the Independent Healthcare Commission for North West London, led by Michael Mansfield QC, concluded that the programme’s planning and implementation had been “deeply flawed” and advised that further changes should not go ahead.2

The commission said that the closure of two emergency departments …
Nebulised colistin for ventilator-associated pneumonia prevention
Authors: Marios Karvouniaris, Demosthenes Makris, Paris Zygoulis, Apostolos Triantaris, Stelios Xitsas, Konstantinos Mantzarlis, Efthimia Petinaki, Epaminondas Zakynthinos
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2015)

We evaluated whether prophylactic nebulised colistin could reduce ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting with prevalent multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. We used a single-centre, two-arm, randomised, open-label, controlled trial in a 12-bed ICU in the University Hospital of Larissa, Greece. Patient inclusion criteria included mechanical ventilation of &gt;48 h. The two arms consisted of prophylaxis with 500 000 U colistin (Col group) or normal saline (NS group), thrice daily, for the first 10 ICU days or until extubation. The primary outcome of the study was the 30-day VAP incidence. In total, 168 patients entered the study. VAP incidence was not different between Col and NS group patients (14 (16.7%) versus 25 (29.8%), respectively, p=0.07). Regarding the secondary outcomes, the intervention resulted in a lower VAP incidence density rate (11.4 versus 25.6, respectively, p&lt;0.01), and less Gram-negative bacteria-VAP (p=0.03) and MDR-VAP (p=0.04). Among VAP patients (n=39), prophylaxis with inhaled colistin improved ICU survival (p=0.016). There was no evidence of increased resistance to colistin or multidrug resistance. Our findings suggest that nebulised colistin had no significant effect on VAP incidence.
Five-Year Incidence, Progression, and Risk Factors for Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Fridbert Jonasson, Diana E. Fisher, Gudny Eiriksdottir, Sigurdur Sigurdsson, Ronald Klein, Lenore J. Launer, Tamara Harris, Vilmundur Gudnason, Mary Frances Cotch
Journal: Ophthalmology (2014)
ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure 2008‡
Authors: Kenneth Dickstein, Alain Cohen‐Solal, Gerasimos Filippatos, John J.V. McMurray, Piotr Ponikowski, Philip Alexander Poole‐Wilson, Anna Strömberg, Dirk J. van Veldhuisen, Dan Atar, Arno W. Hoes, Andre Keren, Alexandre Mebazaa, Markku Nieminen, Silvia Giuliana Priori, Karl Swedberg, Alec Vahanian, John Camm, Raffaele De Caterina, Veronica Dean, Kenneth Dickstein, Gerasimos Filippatos, Christian Funck‐Brentano, Irene Hellemans, Steen Dalby Kristensen, Keith McGregor, Udo Sechtem, Sigmund Silber, Michal Tendera, Petr Widimsky, Jose Luis Zamorano, Michal Tendera, Angelo Auricchio, Jeroen Bax, Michael Böhm, Ugo Corrà, Paolo della Bella, Perry M. Elliott, Ferenc Follath, Mihai Gheorghiade, Yonathan Hasin, Anders Hernborg, Tiny Jaarsma, Michel Komajda, Ran Kornowski, Massimo Piepoli, Bernard Prendergast, Luigi Tavazzi, Jean‐Luc Vachiery, Freek W. A. Verheugt, Jose Luis Zamorano, Faiez Zannad
Journal: European Journal of Heart Failure (2008)
Effect of Routine Sterile Gloving on Contamination Rates in Blood Culture
Authors: Nak-Hyun Kim, Moonsuk Kim, Shinwon Lee, Na Ra Yun, Kye-Hyung Kim, Sang Won Park, Hong Bin Kim, Nam-Joong Kim, Eui-Chong Kim, Wan Beom Park, Myoung-don Oh
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2011)

The effectiveness of sterile gloves in reducing blood culture contamination is uncertain, and some protocols recommend their use and others do not. This trial randomly assigned 64 medical housestaf...
Comprehensive Analysis Of The In Vitro Potency Of Ponatinib, and All Other Approved BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs), Against a Panel Of Single and Compound BCR-ABL Mutants
Authors: Joseph M Gozgit, Alexa Schrock, Tzu-Hsiu Chen, Tim Clackson, Victor M. Rivera
Journal: Blood (2013)
Pharmacokinetic study of gallocatechin-7-gallate from Pithecellobium clypearia Benth. in rats
Authors: Chao Li, Xiaowei Song, Junke Song, Xiaocong Pang, Zhe Wang, Ying Zhao, Wenwen Lian, Ailin Liu, Guanhua Du
Journal: Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B (2015)

The pharmacokinetic profile of gallocatechin-7-gallate (J10688) was studied in rats after intravenous administration. Male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats received 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg (i.v.) of J10688 and plasma drug concentrations were determined by a high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) method. The pharmacokinetic software Data Analysis System (Version 3.0) was used to calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. For different i.v. doses of J10688, the mean peak plasma concentration (C0) values ranged from 11.26 to 50.82 mg/L, and mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC0–t) values ranged from 1.75 to 11.80 (mg·h/L). J10688 lacked dose-dependent pharmacokinetic properties within doses between 1 and 10 mg/kg, based on the power model. The method developed in this study was sensitive, precise, and stable. The pharmacokinetic properties of J10688 in SD rats were shown to have rapid distribution and clearance values. These pharmacokinetic results may contribute to an improved understanding of the pharmacological actions of J10688.
Slow Conduction and Reentry in the Ventricular Conducting System
Authors: ANDREW L. WIT, PAUL F. CRANEFIELD, BRIAN F. HOFFMAN
Journal: Circulation Research (1972)

Closed loops of fibers of the ventricular conducting system of canine or bovine hearts were used to study circus movement of excitation. Action potentials were recorded at three sites with intracellular microelectrodes. Discrete segments were depressed by application of K + -rich agar or the entire loop was depressed by modified Tyrode's solution containing 15-17 mM K + and 1 to 5 x 10 -6 M epinephrine. The loops were 12-35 mm long and the effective conduction velocity was 0.02-0.08 m/sec. Impulses entering some loops traveled in one direction only, circling around the loop and returning to produce a second response at one or more sites (single circus movement). In other loops the impulse traveled around the circuit repeatedly (sustained circus movement). Circus movement around short loops requires a low conduction velocity and must be initiated by an impulse that travels around the loop in only one direction. Single circus movement can cause extrasystoles. Sustained circus movement can cause idioventricular rhythms and ventricular tachycardia.
Vaccine coverage of pre-school age children in France in 2000
Authors: D Antona, E Bussière, N. Guignon, G Badeyan, D Lévy-Bruhl
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2003)

This article presents results of the main measures on vaccine coverage carried out in France in children up to six years of age. Vaccine coverage is very high for diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and poliomyelitis, and satisfactory for vaccination against Haemophilus influen-zae b invasive infections. It will be necessary, however, to increase vaccine coverage against measles, mumps and rubella in infants and to ensure efficient catch up. Hepatitis B vaccine coverage is deficient in infants and could be improved when the vaccine is available in a combined form.
Survival Benefit of Surgery after Chemoradiotherapy for Stage III (N0–2) Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Is Dependent on Pathologic Nodal Response
Authors: Ellis Ziel, Gregory Hermann, Neilayan Sen, Philip Bonomi, Michael J. Liptay, Mary Jo Fidler, Marta Batus, William H. Warren, Gary Chmielewski, David J. Sher
Journal: Journal of Thoracic Oncology (2015)
Evaluation of Surveillance for Chlamydia trachomatis Infections in the United States, 1987 to 1991
Authors: L A Webster, J R Greenspan, A K Nakashima, R E Johnson
Journal: JAMA (1993)

Chlamydia is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen in the United States; however, no precise data on the prevalence and incidence of chlamydia infection are available because currently no comprehensive national surveillance system exists for chlamydia. Despite the absence of such a system, states do report numbers of male and female chlamydia cases to CDC on a quarterly basis.This report summarizes and reviews the chlamydia surveillance data received by CDC from 1987 through 1991.Summary data on cases of chlamydia reported to state health departments were sent quarterly to CDC in Atlanta, Georgia. The quarterly data from each state included total number of chlamydia cases by sex and by source of report (public, private).From 1987 through 1991, the number of states with legislation mandating reporting of chlamydia increased twofold. The reported chlamydia rate from those states also doubled during the same time period, from 91.4 cases per 100,000 population in 1987 to 197.5 cases per 100,000 population in 1991.This twofold increase in the rate of chlamydia reported to CDC did not represent a doubling in chlamydia prevalence or incidence during this time period. Instead, the increase resulted from the increase in the number of states with reporting laws and from the initial attempts of those states to identify and report diagnosed chlamydia infections.More accurate measures of the number of chlamydia infections and of trends in the chlamydia infection rate are needed to justify, develop, and evaluate public health programs to control chlamydia infections. An outline of possible surveillance activities for local communities is presented.
Differential response to pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: multidimensional profiling
Authors: Martijn A. Spruit, Ingrid M.L. Augustin, Lowie E. Vanfleteren, Daisy J.A. Janssen, Swetlana Gaffron, Herman-Jan Pennings, Frank Smeenk, Willem Pieters, Jan J.A.M. van den Bergh, Arent-Jan Michels, Miriam T.J. Groenen, Erica P.A. Rutten, Emiel F.M. Wouters, Frits M.E. Franssen
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2015)

The aim of the present study was to profile a multidimensional response to pulmonary rehabilitation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Dyspnoea, exercise performance, health status, mood status and problematic activities of daily life were assessed before and after a 40-session pulmonary rehabilitation programme in 2068 patients with COPD (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s of 49% predicted). Patients were ordered by their overall similarity concerning their multidimensional response profile, which comprises the overall response on MRC dyspnoea grade, 6MWD, cycle endurance time, Canadian Occupational Performance Measure performance and satisfaction scores, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale anxiety and depression, and St George's Respiratory Questionnaire total score, using a novel non-parametric regression technique. Patients were clustered into four groups with distinct multidimensional response profiles: n=378 (18.3%; “very good responder”), n=742 (35.9%; “good responder”), n=731 (35.4%; “moderate responder”), and n=217 (10.5%; “poor responder”). Patients in the “very good responder” cluster had higher symptoms of dyspnoea, number of hospitalisations &lt;12 months, worse exercise performance, worse performance and satisfaction scores for problematic activities of daily life, more symptoms of anxiety and depression, worse health status, and a higher proportion of patients following an inpatient PR programme compared to the other three clusters. A multidimensional response outcome needs to be considered to study the efficacy of pulmonary rehabilitation services in patients with COPD, as responses to regular outcomes are differential within patients with COPD.
Higher lifetime prevalence of respiratory diseases in panic disorder?
Authors: J Zandbergen, M Bright, H Pols, I Fernandez, C de Loof, E J Griez
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1991)

Current and past frequencies of respiratory diseases were assessed in 30 patients with panic disorder, 30 patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder, and 30 patients with eating disorders. Lifetime prevalence of respiratory disorders was significantly higher in patients with panic disorder (47%) than in patients with either obsessive-compulsive disorder (13%) or eating disorder (13%). Point prevalences showed no differences.
Inactivating Hfe Totally Abolishes Hepcidin Production and Further Aggravates Iron Overload In Bmp6-Deficient Mice
Authors: Chloe Latour, Celine Besson-Fournier, Nelly Rouquie, Léon Kautz, Patricia Aguilar-Martinez, Marie-Paule Roth, Helene Coppin
Journal: Blood (2013)
Circulating free DNA, new dynamic marker in nonsmall cell lung cancer patients?
Authors: Jordi Remon, Julie Gorham, Benjamin Besse, Jean-Paul Sculier
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2015)

cfDNA concentration might be a prognostic factor in NSCLC and could be a tool for detecting molecular alterations <http://ow.ly/TF8TC> Platinum-based doublet chemotherapy prolongs survival and improves quality of life as first-line treatment for non-selected and good performance status patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) [1]. However, the survival benefit is limited, even if this combination is the standard of care for decades, no clinically relevant predictive biomarkers have been discovered so far. The identification of surrogates for survival is an important topic for cancer therapy selection. Indeed, overall survival is still the best criterion for predicting treatment efficacy in lung cancer but it can, of course, not be used in clinical practice. In a recent systematic review of the literature, some intermediate criteria have been shown to be potentially useful predictors such as time to progression, progression-free survival, objective response, local control after radiotherapy, downstaging in locally advanced NSCLC, complete resection and pathological TNM (tumour, node, metastases) in resected NSCLC or circulating molecular markers or cells. Retrospective studies have suggested that carcinoembryonic antigen, cytokeratin 19 fragments, pro-gastrin-releasing peptide and, to a lesser extent, neuron specific enolase, cancer antigen 125 and cancer antigen 19-9, used as single criterion to assess overall survival, could be adequate intermediate criteria for survival in lung cancer patients [2]. The use of more sophisticated molecular markers developed thanks to recent progresses in molecular biology has also so far not been successful for that purpose even if high throughput techniques are used such as transcriptomic analyses assessing multiple miRNAs and mRNAs [3].
Coca-Cola funded group set up to promote “energy balance” is disbanded
Authors: Zosia Kmietowicz
Journal: BMJ (2015)

A group that was set up to promote debate about “energy balance” in an effort to combat obesity has closed down after it was found that its funder, Coca-Cola, had a hand in some of its decision making.

The Global Energy Balance Network was set up in 2014, but on 30 November a message on the network’s website (https://gebn.org) said that it was “discontinuing operations due to resource limitations,” with immediate effect.

James O Hill, professor of pediatrics and medicine and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado and who led the group, told The BMJ that a $1m (£0.7m; …
Liver Enzymes, the Metabolic Syndrome, and Incident Diabetes
Authors: Monica Nannipieri, Clicerio Gonzales, Simona Baldi, Rosalinda Posadas, Ken Williams, Steven M. Haffner, Michael P. Stern, Ele Ferrannini
Journal: Diabetes Care (2005)

To test the hypothesis that enzymes conventionally associated with liver dysfunction (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyltransferase [GGT], and alkaline phosphatase) may predict diabetes.From a population-based diabetes survey, we selected 1,441 men and women in whom serum enzyme levels were < or =3 SDs of the mean population value, alcohol intake was <250 g/week, and hepatitis B and C virus testing was negative. At follow-up (7 years), 94 subjects developed diabetes and 93 impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).At baseline, all four enzymes were related to most of the features of the metabolic syndrome. After controlling for sex, age, adiposity/fat distribution, alcohol intake, serum lipids, and blood pressure, higher alanine aminotransferase and GGT values were significantly (P < 0.01) associated with both IGT and diabetes, whereas alkaline phosphatase was associated with diabetes only (P = 0.0004) and aspartate aminotransferase with IGT only (P = 0.0001). Raised GGT alone was associated with all the features of the metabolic syndrome. Raised GGT was a significant predictor of either IGT or diabetes (odds ratio 1.62 [95% CI 1.08-2.42] top quartile vs. lower quartiles, P < 0.02) after controlling for sex, age, adiposity/fat distribution, alcohol consumption, fasting plasma insulin and proinsulin levels, and 2-h postglucose plasma glucose concentrations.Although mild elevations in liver enzymes are associated with features of the metabolic syndrome, only raised GGT is an independent predictor of deterioration of glucose tolerance to IGT or diabetes. As GGT signals oxidative stress, the association with diabetes may reflect both hepatic steatosis and enhanced oxidative stress.
Rise in semen quality between 1970 and 1990 in meta-analysis was non-significant
Authors: N. Keiding, N. E Skakkebaek
Journal: BMJ (1996)

students and not therefore classed.This is an exceptionally skewed population and not appropriate as a basis for drawing general conclusions.The authors' selective quotation from the world literature is unfortunate.They could have quoted papers from countries where there has been no decline in semen quality.Their reference to Carlsen et als paper is also selective.2Most serious reanalyses of the data in that paper suggest that no decline has occurred in the past 30 years.What is in dispute is why figures in the 20 years before that seem to have been higher.The factors that influence sperm quality are numerous, and the variability of specimens is considerable.Unless authors base their results on large studies and control for the many confounding variables then their contribution to our understanding of the problem is likely to be modest at best and in some cases misleading.
Goodpasture syndrome involving overlap with Wegener's granulomatosis and anti-glomerular basement membrane disease.
Authors: R Kalluri, K Meyers, A Mogyorosi, M P Madaio, E G Neilson
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1997)

A 68-year-old Caucasian woman presented to the hospital with nodular pulmonary infiltrates and acute renal failure. Wegener's granulomatosis was initially considered to be most likely because of the presence of increased serum levels of c-anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (c-ANCA). A consultation through the Internet after a renal biopsy demonstrated crescentic, necrotizing glomerulonephritis and linear deposits of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and complement C3, typical of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease. Hemodialysis was instituted; however, the patient suddenly developed a massive cerebral hemorrhage and died before full therapy could take effect. Postmortem analysis of the patient's sera revealed high titers of IgG against the alpha 3 NC1 domain of type IV collagen. Serologic evidence of both p-ANCA and anti-GBM antibodies are becoming more frequently recognized in the setting of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. The patient reported here had the unusual combination of c-ANCA antibodies with anti-GBM disease, and this association raises complex questions regarding the pathogenesis of this type of renal injury.
Body Mass Index and Bevacizumab-Based Therapy in Advanced Colorectal Cancer Patients: Evaluation of Clinical Outcome
Authors: A. Farolfi, E. Scarpi, A. Passardi, D. Tassinari, S. Tamberi, L. Cavanna, A. Fontana, C. Mucciarini, B. Vertogen, M. Valgiusti, A. Casadei Gardini, M. Valtancoli, S. Pini, G.L. Frassineti
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2014)