tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Exercise capacity and extent of resection as predictors of surgical risk in lung cancer
Authors: M.H. Brutsche, A. Spiliopoulos, C.T. Bolliger, M. Licker, J-G. Frey, J-M. Tschopp
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2000)

Lung resection remains the most effective treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, there is no consensus about reliable operative risk assessment in these patients. The aim of this study was to identify predictors of postoperative complications and death after lung resection for NSCLC. In this prospective trial, 125 of 142 (88%) consecutive NSCLC patients from 1990 to August 1997 had complete data sets. All underwent functional assessment including spirometry and cardiopulmonary exercise tests and lung resection via thoracotomy. Complications occurred in 31 of 125 (25%) patients including 2 (1.6%) deaths. On logistic regression analysis, only maximal oxygen uptake (V9O2,max) x kg body weight(-1) expressed as a percentage of the predicted value (p&lt;0.0001) and the estimated extent of lung tissue resection (p=0.02) were independent predictors of postoperative complications. Six of seven patients with a V9O2,max x kg body weight(-1) of &lt;60% pred, but only eight of 65 with values &gt;90% pred, exhibited postoperative complications. Maximal oxygen uptake and the estimated extent of lung tissue resection are independent predictors of postoperative complications. These simple parameters should be integrated into the preoperative decision analysis for operability in patients undergoing lung resection for lung cancer.
Endothelial-cell permeability and protein kinase C in pre-eclampsia
Authors: Hermann Haller, Albrecht Hempel, Volker Homuth, Anja Mandelkow, Andreas Busjahn, Christian Maasch, Marek Drab, Carsten Lindschau, Axel Jüpner, Klaus Vetter, Joachim Dudenhausen, Friedrich C Luft
Journal: The Lancet (1998)
Elective correction of intracardiac lesions resulting from penetrating wounds of the heart.
Authors: S Morgan, G Maturana, J Urzua, R Franck, J Dubernet
Journal: Thorax (1979)

Controversy exists regarding the timing and technique of total correction of traumatic intracardiac lesions. Five patients with penetrating wounds of the heart received emergency treatment aimed at securing normal haemodynamics. No attempt was made to identify intracardiac lesions at this stage. Cineangiography two months to seven years later showed aorto-right ventricular fistulae in all patients, associated in two with aortic cusp laceration and in one with an aorto-left atrial fistula. The surgical approach for aorto-right ventricular fistula was through the right ventricle or aorta. Valvar injuries were treated by plastic reconstruction. All patients showed good clinical results when seen four to 11 years later. Traumatic intracardiac lesions in patients with stable haemodynamics after initial treatment should be operated on electively. The aortic approach is preferable for aorto-right ventricular fistulae. Conservative plastic repair of valvar injuries achieves long-term competence thus avoiding prosthetic replacement.
6 Phase II, multi-centre, dose-escalating study of LB80380 (ANA380) in hepatitis B patients with lamivudine-resistant YMDD mutant HBV
Authors: C.L. Lai, K.H. Han, S.K. Yoon, S.H. Um, M.F. Yuen, H.S. Kim, H.R. Kim, H.C. Chung, C.R. Kim, P. Hsyu, D. Averett, S. Worland, J. Kim
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2006)
A Randomized Trial of Glutamine and Antioxidants in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Daren Heyland, John Muscedere, Paul E. Wischmeyer, Deborah Cook, Gwynne Jones, Martin Albert, Gunnar Elke, Mette M. Berger, Andrew G. Day
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2013)

Critically ill patients have considerable oxidative stress. Glutamine and antioxidant supplementation may offer therapeutic benefit, although current data are conflicting.In this blinded 2-by-2 factorial trial, we randomly assigned 1223 critically ill adults in 40 intensive care units (ICUs) in Canada, the United States, and Europe who had multiorgan failure and were receiving mechanical ventilation to receive supplements of glutamine, antioxidants, both, or placebo. Supplements were started within 24 hours after admission to the ICU and were provided both intravenously and enterally. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. Because of the interim-analysis plan, a P value of less than 0.044 at the final analysis was considered to indicate statistical significance.There was a trend toward increased mortality at 28 days among patients who received glutamine as compared with those who did not receive glutamine (32.4% vs. 27.2%; adjusted odds ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00 to 1.64; P=0.05). In-hospital mortality and mortality at 6 months were significantly higher among those who received glutamine than among those who did not. Glutamine had no effect on rates of organ failure or infectious complications. Antioxidants had no effect on 28-day mortality (30.8%, vs. 28.8% with no antioxidants; adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.86 to 1.40; P=0.48) or any other secondary end point. There were no differences among the groups with respect to serious adverse events (P=0.83).Early provision of glutamine or antioxidants did not improve clinical outcomes, and glutamine was associated with an increase in mortality among critically ill patients with multiorgan failure. (Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00133978.).
Altered Respiratory Tissue Mechanics in Asymptomatic Wheezy Infants
Authors: GRAHAM L. HALL, ZOLTÁN HANTOS, PETER D. SLY
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2001)

Low-frequency forced oscillation (LFOT) and raised volume rapid thoracic compression (RVRTC) techniques were used to measure airways and respiratory tissue mechanics and forced expiratory volumes in 24 asymptomatic infants with recurrent wheeze. Total respiratory impedance spectra (Zrs) (0.5 to 20 Hz) were obtained (n = 22) and a model containing airway (resistance [Raw] and inertance [Iaw]) and constant-phase tissue (tissue damping [G] and tissue elastance [H]) compartments fitted to Zrs. Forced expiratory volumes (FEV(0.5)) were determined (n = 16). Standardized variants (Z scores) were calculated for comparison to a healthy population (Hall et al., Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2000;162:1397-1402). Wheezy infants had elevated H (Z scores: 0.61 +/- 0.20; p = 0.007) but not Raw (0.14 +/- 0.25; p > 0.2), G (0.41 +/- 0.21; p = 0.066), or FEV(0.5) (-0.25 +/- 0.25; p > 0.2) compared with healthy infants. Infants younger than 1 yr of age were not significantly different from normals, whereas lung function from infants older than 1 yr had deviated from normal infants, with Z scores of 0.58 +/- 0.2 (p = 0.018), 0.79 +/- 0.31 (p = 0.032), 1.06 +/- 0.25 (p = 0.002), and -0.94 +/- 0.22 (p = 0.007) for Raw, G, H, and FEV(0.5) respectively. We conclude that asymptomatic infants with recurrent wheeze have altered lung function. The abnormalities were more pronounced in respiratory tissue mechanics than in airway mechanics or forced volumes, highlighting the value of techniques capable of partitioning lung function into airway and respiratory tissue components.
Why is language well designed for communication?
Authors: Jean-Louis Dessalles
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2008)

Abstract Selection through iterated learning explains no more than other non-functional accounts, such as Universal Grammar (UG), why language is so well designed for communicative efficiency. It does not predict several distinctive features of language, such as central embedding, large lexicons, or the lack of iconicity, which seem to serve communication purposes at the expense of learnability.
Fractionated Administration of Irinotecan and Cisplatin in Japanese Patients With Extensive-Stage–Disease Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Nagio Takigawa, Katsuyuki Kiura, Masahiro Tabata, Mitsune Tanimoto
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

We read with great interest the recent article by Hanna et al, 1 in which they reported irinotecan and cisplatin (IP) regimen was not superior to the etoposide and cisplatin (EP) regimen for extensive-stage-disease (ED) small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), even though Noda et al 2 clearly showed the superiority of IP regimen over EP regimen.We previously fractionated the schedule of IP to obtain the synergistic effect of the two drugs and to reduce toxicities. 3The recommended doses of irinotecan and cisplatin on days 1 and 8 were determined to be 50 mg/m 2 and 60 mg/m 2 , respectively.However, the phase II study for ED SCLC was stopped early because of poor outcomes in the interim analysis. 4Despite the small number of patients in our study, the median survival time and 1-year survival rates were similar to those reported in the study by Hanna et al (Table 1).The delivered doses of irinotecan and cisplatin in their study were 1.8 times and 0.7 times as much as those of our study, respectively (Table 1).In comparison to the study by Noda et al, we should have modified fractionated administration by escalating the dose of irinotecan and reducing that of cisplatin to improve the outcomes.However, both irinotecan and cisplatin in the Hanna et al study showed more dose intensity than that reported in the Noda et al study.Hanna et al suggested that IP might therefore be a better regimen for Japanese patients.We considered fractionated administrations of IP to be inferior to the original schedules of IP (cisplatin on day 1 and irinotecan on days 1, 8, and 15) for not only American but also Japanese patients with ED SCLC based on the findings of our study.Another explanation for the negative results of the Hanna et al study might be due to salvage chemotherapy.More patients on the IP arm received subsequent treatment with etoposide (47.2% v 22.6%) whereas more patients on the EP arm received subsequent treatment with topoisomerase I inhibitors including irinotecan or topotecan (33% v 24.1%). 1 Noda et al did not describe the use of salvage chemotherapy, which might have affected the survival difference in both arms.Because chemotherapy with fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irino-tecan (FOLFIRI), followed by fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), had almost the same efficacy as that with FOLFOX followed by FOLFIRI in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer, 5 IP followed by EP might therefore have had the same efficacy as EP followed by IP in the treatment of ED SCLC.To achieve a prolonged survival, the administration of all three active cytotoxic drugs (cisplatin, irinotecan, and etoposide) during the treatment course may thus be necessary.
The yak genome and adaptation to life at high altitude
Authors: Qiang Qiu, Guojie Zhang, Tao Ma, Wubin Qian, Junyi Wang, Zhiqiang Ye, Changchang Cao, Quanjun Hu, Jaebum Kim, Denis M Larkin, Loretta Auvil, Boris Capitanu, Jian Ma, Harris A Lewin, Xiaoju Qian, Yongshan Lang, Ran Zhou, Lizhong Wang, Kun Wang, Jinquan Xia, Shengguang Liao, Shengkai Pan, Xu Lu, Haolong Hou, Yan Wang, Xuetao Zang, Ye Yin, Hui Ma, Jian Zhang, Zhaofeng Wang, Yingmei Zhang, Dawei Zhang, Takahiro Yonezawa, Masami Hasegawa, Yang Zhong, Wenbin Liu, Yan Zhang, Zhiyong Huang, Shengxiang Zhang, Ruijun Long, Huanming Yang, Jian Wang, Johannes A Lenstra, David N Cooper, Yi Wu, Jun Wang, Peng Shi, Jian Wang, Jianquan Liu
Journal: Nature Genetics (2012)

Jianquan Liu and colleagues report the draft genome sequence of the domestic yak, Bos grunniens. Their comparative analyses with low-altitude cattle provide insights into high-altitude adaptation in the yak. Domestic yaks (Bos grunniens) provide meat and other necessities for Tibetans living at high altitude on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and in adjacent regions. Comparison between yak and the closely related low-altitude cattle (Bos taurus) is informative in studying animal adaptation to high altitude. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of a female domestic yak generated using Illumina-based technology at 65-fold coverage. Genomic comparisons between yak and cattle identify an expansion in yak of gene families related to sensory perception and energy metabolism, as well as an enrichment of protein domains involved in sensing the extracellular environment and hypoxic stress. Positively selected and rapidly evolving genes in the yak lineage are also found to be significantly enriched in functional categories and pathways related to hypoxia and nutrition metabolism. These findings may have important implications for understanding adaptation to high altitude in other animal species and for hypoxia-related diseases in humans.
Comparison of nanoduct versus macroduct sweat test for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in the newborn screening programme in Switzerland
Authors: Juerg Barben, Corina S. Rueegg, Sabina Gallati, Claudia E. Kuehni, Matthias Baumgartner, Toni Torresani, Martin H. Schoeni
Journal: European Respiratory Journal (2012)

Background:  Newborn screening (NBS) for cystic fibrosis (CF), based on immuno-reactive trypsinogen (IRT) and 7 CFTR mutations, was introduced in Switzerland on January 1 st  2011. In the pilot phase, we compared the performance of two sweat test methods for diagnosing CF in the NBS.   Methods:  All children with a positive screening result were referred to a CF center for confirmatory (diagnostic) testing with: a) the Nanoduct sweat test (conductivity); and b) the Macroduct test (chloride). If sweat test results were positive, borderline or inconclusive, an extensive DNA analysis was performed.   Results:  Within one year, 84 children were screened positive. In 30 children the diagnosis of CF could be confirmed, 53 had normal investigations, and 1 child was not yet fully investigated. All details of the investigations were available for 76 children. The children were seen in a CF center at a median age of 24 days. The Macroduct was attempted in 64 children, the Nanoduct in 71 children. A reliable test result was available in 66% (42/64) for the Macroduct and 79% (56/71) for the Nanoduct. In 37 children both sweat tests could be performed; in 19 only the Nanoduct and in 5 only the Macroduct was feasible. In 8 children none of the two sweat tests could be performed, and confirmation or exclusion of CF was based on extensive DNA analysis alone.   Conclusions:  In this pilot study, the Nanoduct sweat test showed a better feasibility for use in newborns compared to the Macroduct test, mainly because it needs a lower sweat volume. Analysis of a larger dataset will allow to compare sensitivity and specificity of the two tests for the final CF diagnosis.
Mek1 Alters Epidermal Growth and Differentiation
Authors: Florence A. Scholl, Phillip A. Dumesic, Paul A. Khavari
Journal: Cancer Research (2004)

Abstract The highly homologous kinases, Mek1 and Mek2, act downstream of Ras and Raf to activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinases. In epidermis, Ras and Raf promote hyperplasia; however, they act on multiple Mek-independent effectors, and the extent to which Meks can mediate these effects is unknown. To address this, we expressed inducible Meks in transgenic murine and human epidermis. Both Mek1 and Mek2 triggered ERK phosphorylation. Only Mek1, however, recapitulated Ras/Raf effects in increasing proliferation and integrin expression while suppressing differentiation, which are impacts characteristic of epidermal neoplasia. Furthermore, a kinase-dead Mek1 mutant incapable of phosphorylating ERK proteins retained ability to mediate Mek1-driven epidermal proliferation. Mek1 is thus sufficient to promote the proliferative epithelial phenotype in a manner independent of intact kinase function.
Rich interactions and poor theories
Authors: Orlando M. Lourenço
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2004)

Carpendale &amp; Lewis's (C&amp;L's) critique of traditional accounts of “theory of mind” is well taken, but the alternative theory they propose is premature at its best, unconvincing at its worst. The proposed theory is ad hoc and confirmatory in its findings; vague and generic in its claims; and unjustified and unnecessary in its (putative) novelty.
Unimolecular Dual Incretins Maximize Metabolic Benefits in Rodents, Monkeys, and Humans
Authors: Brian Finan, Tao Ma, Nickki Ottaway, Timo D. Müller, Kirk M. Habegger, Kristy M. Heppner, Henriette Kirchner, Jenna Holland, Jazzminn Hembree, Christine Raver, Sarah H. Lockie, David L. Smiley, Vasily Gelfanov, Bin Yang, Susanna Hofmann, Dennis Bruemmer, Daniel J. Drucker, Paul T. Pfluger, Diego Perez-Tilve, Jaswant Gidda, Louis Vignati, Lianshan Zhang, Jonathan B. Hauptman, Michele Lau, Mathieu Brecheisen, Sabine Uhles, William Riboulet, Emmanuelle Hainaut, Elena Sebokova, Karin Conde-Knape, Anish Konkar, Richard D. DiMarchi, Matthias H. Tschöp
Journal: Science Translational Medicine (2013)

Compared to best-in-class GLP-1 mono-agonists, unimolecular co-agonists of GLP-1 and GIP with optimized pharmacokinetics enhance glycemic and metabolic benefits in mammals.
Outpatient Management of Severe COPD
Authors: Dennis E. Niewoehner
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2010)

A 67-year-old man presents with progressive dyspnea. He has smoked cigarettes since he was 15 years of age. Worsening breathlessness forced him to retire as a laborer. His physical examination is notable for distant breath sounds on auscultation, with a prolonged expiratory phase. Spirometry reveals severe airflow obstruction (ratio of forced expiratory volume in first second [FEV1] to forced vital capacity, 0.43; FEV1, 34% of the predicted value). How should this case be managed?
Vulnerability to malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS infection and disease. Part II: determinants operating at environmental and institutional level
Authors: Imelda Bates, Caroline Fenton, Janet Gruber, David Lalloo, Antonieta Medina Lara, S Bertel Squire, Sally Theobald, Rachael Thomson, Rachel Tolhurst
Journal: The Lancet Infectious Diseases (2004)
Acute-on-chronic liver failure
Authors: Tae Yeob Kim, Dong Joon Kim
Journal: Clinical and Molecular Hepatology (2013)

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is an increasingly recognized distinct disease entity encompassing an acute deterioration of liver function in patients with chronic liver disease. Although there are no widely accepted diagnostic criteria for ACLF, the Asia.Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) and the American Association for the Study of Liver Disease and the European Association for the Study of the Liver (AASLD/EASL) consensus definitions are commonly used. It is obvious that the APASL and the AASLD/EASL definitions are based on fundamentally different features. Two different definitions in two different parts of the world hamper the comparability of studies. Recently, the EASL-Chronic Liver Failure Consortium proposed new diagnostic criteria for ACLF based on analyses of patients with organ failure. There are areas of uncertainty in defining ACLF, such as heterogeneity of ACLF, ambiguity in qualifying underlying liver disease, argument for infection or sepsis as a precipitating event, etc. Although the exact pathogenesis of ACLF remains to be elucidated, alteration of host response to injury, infection, and unregulated inflammation play important roles. The predisposition, infection/inflammation, response, organ failure (PIRO) concept used for sepsis might be useful in describing the pathophysiology and clinical categories for ACLF. Treatment strategies are limited to organ support but better understanding of the pathophysiology is likely to lead to discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic strategies in the future. Keywords: Liver failure; Acute-on-chronic liver failure; Liver cirrhosis
A prospective clinical trial of open-label etanercept for the treatment of hidradenitis suppurativa
Authors: Robert A. Lee, Erica Dommasch, James Treat, Joslyn Sciacca-Kirby, Samuel Chachkin, Jennifer Williams, Daniel B. Shin, James J. Leyden, Carmela Vittorio, Joel M. Gelfand
Journal: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (2009)
Long term results of treatment of vascular malformations of the gastrointestinal tract by neodymium Yag laser photocoagulation.
Authors: P Rutgeerts, F Van Gompel, K Geboes, G Vantrappen, L Broeckaert, G Coremans
Journal: Gut (1985)

The effect of Yag laser photocoagulation on the course of bleeding of gastrointestinal vascular malformations was studied in 59 patients, with a total of 482 lesions. The lesions were located in the upper gastrointestinal tract alone in 25 patients, in the lower tract alone in 31 patients and in both the lower and the upper gastrointestinal tract in three patients. In the month before laser therapy the number of bleeding episodes averaged 1.09 +/- 0.6 (SD) per patient (n = 57) and the transfusion requirements 2.4 +/- 2.6 red blood cells units per patient, while in the month after treatment the bleeding incidence averaged 0.16 +/- 0.5 and the transfusion requirements 0.21 +/- 0.8 (both p less than 0.001). Long term results were analysed considering for each patient an equally long pretreatment and follow up period. After a mean follow up period of 11.5 months (1-48 months), 17 of the 57 patients available for follow up rebled. The reduction of the bleeding rate was statistically significant at one, six, 12, and 18 months of follow up, while transfusion rate was significantly decreased at one, six, and 12 months. The results were disappointing in patients with Osler-Weber-Rendu (n = 4) and in patients with angiomas associated with Von Willebrand's disease (n = 3), who all rebled. In angiodysplasia the treatment was successful in 82% of the 49 patients. The more numerous the lesions, the less effective the reduction in bleeding rate by laser treatment was. Histological studies showed that the haemostatic effect of Yag laser photocoagulation was obtained by destruction of the lesion. Rebleeding was due to lesions missed at the first treatment, incompletely treated lesions and recurrence of new lesions. In two patients a free caecal perforation necessitated a right hemicolectomy. In both patients numerous or very large lesions had been treated in the caecum.
Bmi1 regulates memory CD4 T cell survival via repression of the <i>Noxa</i> gene
Authors: Masakatsu Yamashita, Makoto Kuwahara, Akane Suzuki, Kiyoshi Hirahara, Ryo Shinnaksu, Hiroyuki Hosokawa, Akihiro Hasegawa, Shinichiro Motohashi, Atsushi Iwama, Toshinori Nakayama
Journal: The Journal of Experimental Medicine (2008)

The maintenance of memory T cells is central to the establishment of immunological memory, although molecular details of the process are poorly understood. In the absence of the polycomb group (PcG) gene Bmi1, the number of memory CD4+ T helper (Th)1/Th2 cells was reduced significantly. Enhanced cell death of Bmi1−/− memory Th2 cells was observed both in vivo and in vitro. Among various proapoptotic genes that are regulated by Bmi1, the expression of proapoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa was increased in Bmi1−/− effector Th1/Th2 cells. The generation of memory Th2 cells was restored by the deletion of Noxa, but not by Ink4a and Arf. Direct binding of Bmi1 to the Noxa gene locus was accompanied by histone H3-K27 methylation. The recruitment of other PcG gene products and Dnmt1 to the Noxa gene was highly dependent on the expression of Bmi1. In addition, Bmi1 was required for DNA CpG methylation of the Noxa gene. Moreover, memory Th2-dependent airway inflammation was attenuated substantially in the absence of Bmi1. Thus, Bmi1 controls memory CD4+ Th1/Th2 cell survival and function through the direct repression of the Noxa gene.