tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Osteosarcoma Relapse After Combined Modality Therapy: An Analysis of Unselected Patients in the Cooperative Osteosarcoma Study Group (COSS)
Authors: Beate Kempf-Bielack, Stefan S. Bielack, Heribert Jürgens, Detlev Branscheid, Wolfgang E. Berdel, G. Ulrich Exner, Ulrich Göbel, Knut Helmke, Gernot Jundt, Hartmut Kabisch, Mathias Kevric, Thomas Klingebiel, Rainer Kotz, Rainer Maas, Rudolf Schwarz, Michael Semik, Jörn Treuner, Andreas Zoubek, Kurt Winkler
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2005)

Purpose To evaluate the impact of patient, tumor, and treatment-related factors on outcome in unselected patients with recurrent osteosarcoma. Patients and Methods Five hundred seventy-six consecutive patients who had achieved a first complete surgical remission (CR) during combined-modality therapy on neoadjuvant Cooperative Osteosarcoma Study Group (COSS) protocols and then developed recurrent osteosarcoma were analyzed (median time from biopsy to relapse, 1.6 years; range, 0.1 to 14.3 years). There were 501 patients with metastases, 44 with local recurrences, and 31 with both. Metastases involved lungs (469 patients), bones (90 patients), and/or other sites (54 patients). Results After a median follow-up of 1.2 years for all patients and 4.2 years for survivors, actuarial overall survival (OS) rates at 2, 5, and 10 years were 0.38, 0.23, and 0.18, respectively. Five-year OS was 0.39 for 339 patients with and 0.00 for 229 patients without a second surgical CR (P &lt; .0001). A long time to relapse, a solitary lesion, and, in the case of pulmonary metastases, unilateral disease and the absence of pleural disruption, were of positive prognostic value in uni- and multivariate analyses, as were a second surgical CR and the use of second-line chemotherapy. Radiotherapy was associated with moderately prolonged survival in patients without a second CR. The very limited prognostic differences associated with the use of second-line chemotherapy appeared to be more pronounced with polychemotherapy. Conclusion Time to relapse and tumor burden correlate with postrelapse outcome in osteosarcoma. Complete surgery is an essential component of curative second-line therapy. Chemotherapy, particularly chemotherapy with more than one agent, may contribute to limited improvements in outcome.
Influence of Dendritic Conductances on the Input-Output Properties of Neurons
Authors: Alex Reyes
Journal: Annual Review of Neuroscience (2001)

▪ Abstract A fundamental problem in neuroscience is understanding how a neuron transduces synaptic input into action potentials. The dendrites form the substrate for consolidating thousands of synaptic inputs and are the first stage for signal processing in the neuron. Traditionally, dendrites are viewed as passive structures whose main function is to funnel synaptic input into the soma. However, dendrites contain a wide variety of voltage- and time-dependent ion channels. When activated, the currents through these channels can alter the amplitude and time course of the synaptic input and under certain conditions even evoke all-or-none regenerative potentials. The synaptic input that ultimately reaches the soma is likely to be a highly transformed version of the original signal. Thus, a key step in understanding the relationship between synaptic input and neuronal firing is to elucidate the signal processing that occurs in the dendrites.
Cryptic species in marine polychaete and their independent introduction from North America to Europe
Authors: R. Bastrop, K. Jurss, C. Sturmbauer
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (1998)

The vast body of ballast water carried across oceans by freight ships represents a major source for the introduction of foreign species into marine ecosystems. The worm Marenzelleria viridis, originally found only in North America, appeared in estuaries of the North Sea in 1979 and 6 years later also in the Baltic, where it has developed into a major faunal element. Two competing hypotheses are discussed here: either both populations owe their presence to a single introductory event in the North Sea, or each population originated from a separate introduction. Our phylogeographic analysis of Baltic, North Sea and American Marenzelleria, based on mitochondrial 16S rDNA sequences (326-bp segment) of 98 individuals from 17 localities on the North American, North Sea, and Baltic coasts not only favors the two-event hypothesis, but also separates the locations of origin for the introductions. Eighteen mitochondrial genotypes were identified altogether. In agreement with allozyme data, three lineages were identified: genotypes assigned to the same lineage differed from each other by up to 5 point mutations, and those assigned to different lineages differed by up to 17. The existence of three morphologically indistinguishable, and thus cryptic, species is therefore suggested. The individuals from the Baltic Sea probably originated from the Atlantic coast of the United States between Chesapeake Bay and Georgia, and the North Sea populations may stem from the U.S. coast region north of Chesapeake Bay to Nova Scotia. Despite their similar morphologies, the two European Marenzelleria species may differ ecologically with respect to their preference for habitat salinity. Assuming that transport via ballast water occurs quite frequently, we hypothesize that both European cryptic species of Marenzelleria may originally have been introduced to both the North Sea and the Baltic Sea but that neither of them was able to proliferate in both water bodies owing to their differential physiological performances at high and low salinities.
Treatment of pyogenic liver abscess: Prospective randomized comparison of catheter drainage and needle aspiration
Authors: Simon C.H. Yu, Simon S.M. Ho, Wan Y. Lau, Deacons T.K. Yeung, Edmund H.Y. Yuen, Paul S.F. Lee, Constantine Metreweli
Journal: Hepatology (2004)

This study aims to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of continuous catheter drainage versus intermittent needle aspiration in the percutaneous treatment of pyogenic liver abscesses. Over a 5-year period, 64 consecutive patients with pyogenic liver abscess were treated with intravenous antibiotics (ampicillin, cefuroxime, and metronidazole) and randomized into two percutaneous treatment groups: continuous catheter drainage (with an 8F multi-sidehole pigtail catheter); and intermittent needle aspiration (18G disposable trocar needle). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups regarding patient demographics, underlying coexisting disease, abscess size, abscess number, number of loculation of abscess, the presenting clinical symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, and pretreatment liver function test. Although not statistically significant, the duration of intravenous antibiotics treatment before percutaneous treatment was longer with the catheter group, and the change of antibiotics after the sensitivity test was more frequent with the needle group. The needle group was associated with a higher treatment success rate, a shorter duration of hospital stay, and a lower mortality rate, although this did not reach statistical significance. In conclusion, this study suggests that intermittent needle aspiration is probably as effective as continuous catheter drainage for the treatment of pyogenic liver abscess, although further proof with a large-scale study is necessary. Due to the additional advantages of procedure simplicity, patient comfort, and reduced price, needle aspiration deserves to be considered as a first-line drainage approach.
Comparative effects of dietary nucleoside-nucleotide mixture and its components on endotoxin induced bacterial translocation and small intestinal injury in protein deficient mice.
Authors: A A Adjei, K Yamauchi, Y C Chan, M Konishi, S Yamamoto
Journal: Gut (1996)

BACKGROUND--Nucleoside-nucleotide mixture has been shown to improve gut morphology and reduce the incidence of bacterial translocation in protein deficient mice. AIMS--To compare the reparative effect of nucleoside-nucleotide mixture and their individual components on maintenance of gut integrity and bacterial translocation based on their differential metabolism and utilisation. METHODS--ICR (CD-1) mice were randomised into eight groups of 10 animals each and fed 20% casein diet (control), protein free diet, or protein free diet supplemented with 3 M cytidine, uridine, thymidine, inosine, guanosine monophosphate, or nucleoside-nucleotide mixture for four weeks. On the fourth week, each mouse was injected lipopolysaccharide intraperitoneally (50 micrograms/500 microliters) and the incidence of bacterial translocation, caecal bacterial populations, and the ileal histology, noted 48 hours later. RESULTS--The death rate in the control group was 40% compared with 10% in the nucleoside-nucleotide mixture and 20% each in the individual components groups, respectively. Bacterial translocation to the mesenteric lymph node did occur in 100% of the surviving mice fed the control diet in comparison with 44% (nucleoside-nucleotide), 50% (cytidine), 75% (thymidine), 75% (uridine), 63% (inosine), and 63% (guanosine monophosphate). Histologically, the damage to the gut was more distinct in the protein free diet group. Villous height, crypt depth, and wall thickness in the nucleoside-nucleotide mixture group mean (SEM) (5.01 (0.34); 0.87 (0.14); 0.33 (0.10)), were respectively, higher compared with the protein free diet (3.34 (0.34); 0.61 (0.03); 0.18 (0.04)) group. In the cytidine group, crypt depth (0.86) (0.08)), and wall thickness (0.30 (0.002)) were higher. The same measurements in the components groups tended to be higher than the protein free diet group. Caecal bacterial populations were, however, similar in all groups. CONCLUSIONS--These results suggest that dietary nucleosides and nucleotides are essential nutrients for intestinal repair; nucleotides or cytidine provide a better response.
International REgistry to assess medical Practice with lOngitudinal obseRvation for Treatment of Heart Failure (REPORT‐HF): rationale for and design of a global registry
Authors: Gerasimos Filippatos, Sadiya Sana Khan, Andrew P. Ambrosy, John G.F. Cleland, Sean P. Collins, Carolyn S.P. Lam, Christiane E. Angermann, Georg Ertl, Ulf Dahlström, Dayi Hu, Kenneth Dickstein, Sergio V. Perrone, Mathieu Ghadanfar, Georgina Bermann, Adele Noe, Anja Schweizer, Thomas Maier, Mihai Gheorghiade
Journal: European Journal of Heart Failure (2015)
Beyond scoring: a modern histological assessment of chronic hepatitis should include tissue angiogenesis
Authors: Maria Guido, Marco Pizzi, David Sacerdoti, Luciano Giacomelli, Massimo Rugge, Massimo Bolognesi
Journal: Gut (2014)

We read with great interest the leading article by Rosselli et al 1 which offers a contemporary perspective to the clinical issue of interpreting progression (and regression) of chronic liver diseases (CLDs).

We fully agree with the view that the histological scoring of fibrosis is a reductive approach to the assessment of CLDs, as it does not fully reflect the complex events involved in the progression to cirrhosis. As suggested by Rosselli et al , a more insightful morphological analysis of liver biopsy should consider other important factors contributing to disease progression/regression, and possibly to cancer development. Angiogenesis represents one of such key factors.

Liver angiogenesis is a pathophysiological process characterised by changes in the phenotype of sinusoidal endothelial cells, which assume the features of capillary endothelial cells. This process, …
Bromocriptine restores tolerance in estrogen-treated mice
Authors: Elena Peeva, Christine Grimaldi, Linda Spatz, Betty Diamond
Journal: Journal of Clinical Investigation (2000)

Estrogen can modulate autoimmunity in certain models of systemic lupus erythematosus. Recently, we have shown that it can mediate survival and activation of anti-DNA B cells in a mouse transgenic for the heavy chain of a pathogenic anti-DNA antibody. To identify whether estrogen effects reflect increased prolactin secretion, we characterized B-cell autoreactivity in transgenic mice given both bromocriptine (an inhibitor of prolactin secretion) and estradiol. Treatment of mice with estradiol plus bromocriptine led to reduced titers of anti-DNA antibodies and diminished IgG deposition in kidneys compared with treatment with estradiol alone. However, mice treated with estradiol plus bromocriptine showed an expansion of transgene-expressing B cells and enhanced Bcl-2 expression, similar to those of estradiol-treated mice. We identified anergic high-affinity anti-DNA B cells in mice treated with estradiol plus bromocriptine, and we showed by molecular analysis of anti-DNA hybridomas that their B cells derive from a naive repertoire. Thus, the estradiol-induced breakdown in B-cell tolerance can be abrogated by bromocriptine, which induces anergy in the high-affinity DNA-reactive B cells. These studies demonstrate that some of the effects of estrogen on naive autoreactive B cells require the presence of prolactin and, thus, suggest potential therapeutic interventions in lupus.
Internationalisation of high-impact gastroenterology journals, 1970-2005
Authors: P. A Hart, J. A Ibdah, J. B Marshall
Journal: Gut (2007)

disease is likely to be more exposed to the luminal antigens and to be in closer contact with the immune system. 4Notably, the non- caseous epithelioid granuloma was frequently identified in the biopsy specimens taken from PPs.Such minimal Crohn's disease lesions may originate from PPs and may be related to gutassociated lymphoid tissues underlying the FAE.It has been postulated that M cells are related to the pathogenesis of Crohn's disease through their function as a portal of entry for potentially pathogenic agents. 4 In fact, M cells were detected exclusively in the FAE on electron microscopy.It is difficult to obtain M cells by conventional endoscopic biopsy, because they are located on the domes but not in the villi of PPs. 3 4 Therefore, magnifying endoscopy is useful to clearly recognise the FAE of the domes.
Muscle strength and cross-sectional area in man: a comparison of strength-trained and untrained subjects.
Authors: R. J. Maughan, J. S. Watson, J. Weir
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (1984)

This study has examined muscle strength and cross-sectional area in a group of 35 healthy untrained male subjects and 8 subjects who had been engaged in a strenuous weight-training programme. The maximum voluntary knee extension force which could be produced by the untrained subjects was 742 +/- 100 N (mean +/- SD). The trained subjects could produce a significantly (p less than 0.001) greater force (992 +/- 162 N). Cross-sectional area of the knee-extensor muscle group was 81.6 +/- 11.8 cm2 in the untrained subjects and 104.1 +/- 12.3 cm2 in the trained subjects (p less than 0.001). In the untrained subjects, a significant correlation existed between strength and muscle cross-sectional area (r = 0.56, p less than 0.001). In the same group of subjects, there was a significant inverse relationship between muscle cross-sectional area and the ratio of strength to cross-sectional area (r = 0.55, p less than 0.001). The mean ratio of strength to cross-sectional area was 9.20 +/- 1.29 for the untrained group whereas for the trained group this ratio was 9.53 +/- 1.01. It is suggested that the inverse relationship between strength per unit cross-sectional area and cross-sectional area results in part from an increased angle of pennation in the larger muscles.
Supportive Interaction Between Cell Survival Signaling and Angiocompetent Factors Enhances Donor Cell Survival and Promotes Angiomyogenesis for Cardiac Repair
Authors: Shujia Jiang, Husnain Kh. Haider, Niagara M. Idris, Asmat Salim, Muhammad Ashraf
Journal: Circulation Research (2006)

Akt is a major cell survival and angiogenic mediator downstream of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1)/Tie-2 signaling pathway. We hypothesize that transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) co-overexpressing Ang-1 and Akt lead to better prognosis. Ang-1 and Akt genes were adenovirally transduced into MSCs from male Fischer rats. Cytoprotective effects of transgene overexpression in vitro were assessed by exposure of cells to 8 hours of anoxia. TUNEL and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase showed that MSCs co-overexpressing Ang-1 and Akt (MAAs) were more resistant to anoxia as compared with the nontransduced MSCs or those transduced with Ang-1 or Akt alone. For in vivo studies, after permanent coronary artery occlusion, animals were grouped (n=20/group) to receive intramyocardial injections of 70 microL of basal medium without cells (group 1) or containing 3x10(6) nontransduced MSCs (group 2) or MAAs (group 3). Four animals per group were euthanized on 4, 7, and 14 days after cell transplantation for molecular studies. Extensive survival of MAAs was observed in group 3, which continued to co-overexpress transgenes in rat heart at 2 weeks after cell transplantation. Immunohistology at 4 weeks revealed myogenic differentiation of donor cells at the site of cell graft. Blood vessel density was highest in the infarct and periinfarct regions in group 3 (P<0.05). Echocardiography at 4 weeks showed that heart function indices were significantly improved in group 3 (P<0.05), including ejection fraction and fractional shortening as compared with groups 1 and 2. We conclude that supportive interaction between Ang-1 and Akt during MSC transplantation gave better prognosis via enhanced cell survival, improved angiomyogenesis, and restored global cardiac function.
Degenerative changes in aortic root allografts placed in the right ventricular outflow tract of growing puppies.
Authors: U G Jeong, A A Khan, G Fine, G M Folger, L Gonzalez-Lavin
Journal: Thorax (1976)

Differently prepared aortic root allografts were implanted in the right ventricular outflow tract of growing puppies to determine the site of origin and progress of degenerative changes in these conduits. The three preparations assessed were as follows: group A, fresh and sterile grafts; group B, antibiotic sterilized grafts in nutrient medium; and group C, beta-propiolactone sterilized grafts. Although calcification of the aortic wall occurred in all groups, the aortic leaflets were minimally affected. A correlation between viability and lack of calcification and between viability and long-term function is emphasized.
Principles of periodontology
Authors: Andrew Dentino, Seokwoo Lee, Jason Mailhot, Arthur F. Hefti
Journal: Periodontology 2000 (2012)

Abstract Periodontal diseases are among the most common diseases affecting humans. Dental biofilm is a contributor to the etiology of most periodontal diseases. It is also widely accepted that immunological and inflammatory responses to biofilm components are manifested by signs and symptoms of periodontal disease. The outcome of such interaction is modulated by risk factors (modifiers), either inherent (genetic) or acquired (environmental), significantly affecting the initiation and progression of different periodontal disease phenotypes. While definitive genetic determinants responsible for either susceptibility or resistance to periodontal disease have yet to be identified, many factors affecting the pathogenesis have been described, including smoking, diabetes, obesity, medications, and nutrition. Currently, periodontal diseases are classified based upon clinical disease traits using radiographs and clinical examination. Advances in genomics, molecular biology, and personalized medicine may result in new guidelines for unambiguous disease definition and diagnosis in the future. Recent studies have implied relationships between periodontal diseases and systemic conditions. Answering critical questions regarding host‐parasite interactions in periodontal diseases may provide new insight in the pathogenesis of other biomedical disorders. Therapeutic efforts have focused on the microbial nature of the infection, as active treatment centers on biofilm disruption by non‐surgical mechanical debridement with antimicrobial and sometimes anti‐inflammatory adjuncts. The surgical treatment aims at gaining access to periodontal lesions and correcting unfavorable gingival/osseous contours to achieve a periodontal architecture that will provide for more effective oral hygiene and periodontal maintenance. In addition, advances in tissue engineering have provided innovative means to regenerate/repair periodontal defects, based upon principles of guided tissue regeneration and utilization of growth factors/biologic mediators. To maintain periodontal stability, these treatments need to be supplemented with long‐term maintenance (supportive periodontal therapy) programs.
Assessing the Impact of Pulmonary Rehabilitation on Functional Status in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Louis Laviolette, Jean Bourbeau, Sarah Bernard, Yves Lacasse, Véronique Pepin, Marie-Josée Breton, Marc Baltzan, Michel Rouleau, François Maltais
Journal: Thorax (2007)

Rationale - The optimal way of assessing the impact of pulmonary rehabilitation on functional status in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently unknown. The minimal clinically important difference for the constant workrate cycling exercise also needs to be investigated to facilitate its interpretation. Objective – Evaluate the changes in the 6-minute walking test and in the constant workrate cycle endurance test immediately following and 1-year after pulmonary rehabilitation, along with the importance of these changes in term of health status in patients with COPD. Methods - Patients with COPD (age: 65  8 years, mean  SD; FEV1: 45  15 % predicted) were recruited from a multicenter prospective cohort study and were evaluated at baseline, immediately after a pulmonary rehabilitation program (n=157) and at 1 year (n=106). The 6-min walking test and the cycle endurance test were performed at each evaluation. Health status was evaluated with the St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire. Measurements and Main Results - Following pulmonary rehabilitation, cycle endurance time increased (198  352s, p&lt;0.0001) and stayed over baseline values at 1 year (p&lt;0.0001). The 6-minute walking distance also showed improvements following rehabilitation (25  52m, p&lt;0.0001) but returned to baseline values at the 1 year follow-up. Changes in cycle endurance time were more closely associated with changes in health status than those of the 6-min walking test. A 100-200s improvement in the cycle endurance time was associated with clinically meaningful changes in the St. Georges Respiratory Questionnaire scores. conclusions - The cycle endurance test was more responsive that the 6-min walking test to detect improvement in exercise tolerance following pulmonary rehabilitation and was also better correlated with improvements in health status. An improvement in the cycle endurance time ranging from 100-200s appeared to be clinically meaningful.