tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Illness Identity in Adolescents and Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes: Introducing the Illness Identity Questionnaire
Authors: Leen Oris, Jessica Rassart, Sofie Prikken, Margaux Verschueren, Liesbet Goubert, Philip Moons, Cynthia A. Berg, Ilse Weets, Koen Luyckx
Journal: Diabetes Care (2016)

OBJECTIVE The current study examined the utility of a new self-report questionnaire, the Illness Identity Questionnaire (IIQ), which assesses the concept of illness identity, or the degree to which type 1 diabetes is integrated into one’s identity. Four illness identity dimensions (engulfment, rejection, acceptance, and enrichment) were validated in adolescents and emerging adults with type 1 diabetes. Associations with psychological and diabetes-specific functioning were assessed. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A sample of 575 adolescents and emerging adults (14–25 years of age) with type 1 diabetes completed questionnaires on illness identity, psychological functioning, diabetes-related problems, and treatment adherence. Physicians were contacted to collect HbA1c values from patients’ medical records. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the IIQ. Path analysis with structural equation modeling was used to examine associations between illness identity and psychological and diabetes-specific functioning. RESULTS CFA indicated that the IIQ has a clear factor structure, meaningfully differentiating four illness identity dimensions. Rejection was related to worse treatment adherence and higher HbA1c values. Engulfment was related to less adaptive psychological functioning and more diabetes-related problems. Acceptance was related to more adaptive psychological functioning, fewer diabetes-related problems, and better treatment adherence. Enrichment was related to more adaptive psychological functioning. CONCLUSIONS The present findings underscore the importance of the concept of illness identity. A valid and reliable measure, the IIQ, is introduced to measure four illness identity dimensions in individuals with type 1 diabetes. These four illness identity dimensions were uniquely related to psychological and diabetes-specific functioning.
Social prescribing could help alleviate pressure on GPs
Authors: Ingrid Torjesen
Journal: BMJ (2016)

Social prescribing could help reduce pressure on health and care services by referring patients seeking help for non-medical issues to community based non-clinical services, says a report published by the Social Prescribing Network, a group dedicated to supporting social prescribing at local and national levels.1

It says that around 20% of patients consult GPs for problems that are primarily social rather than medical, and dealing with these needs is important because social and economic factors affect health outcomes.

However, many of these patients’ needs are not …
STEM-15LONG NONCODING RNA REGULATION OF THE CANCER STEM CELL PHENOTYPE IN GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME
Authors: Uswa Shahzad, Jenny Wang, Christopher Li, Megan Wu, James Rutka, Sunit Das
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2015)

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common primary malignant brain tumor in adults, with a two-year survival rate of less than 25%. The recurrence of GBM has been attributed to the presence of glioma stem cells (GSC), which are thought to play a central role in tumor development and progression. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been suggested to play a role in maintaining pluripotency, self-renewal, and differentiation in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We hypothesized that lncRNAs functionally contribute to GBM development and tumor propagation by maintaining the cancer stem cell phenotype in glioblastoma. Initially, an in silico “nearest-neighbor” approach was employed to identify 112 lncRNA candidates that were close to the transcription factors that have been implicated in regulating self-renewal and pluripotency of ESCs or iPSCs, as well as factors that have been used to reprogram GSCs. Based on further in silico analyses and in vitro studies, we have identified three novel long noncoding RNAs, lincSox2, lincPOU5F1, and lincCTNNB1 that show differential expression in stem vs. differentiated normal human fetal neural stem cells (NSCs) and GSCs. The expression of lincSox2 and lincPOU5F1 significantly decreased in differentiated human NSCs compared to controls, and were significantly increased in differentiated GSCs compared to control GSCs. In comparison, the expression of lincCTNNB1 was increased in all differentiated cells, compared to their corresponding stem cell controls. Further knockdown experiments followed by in vivo studies will provide insight into functional relevance of these candidates in maintaining “stemness” in GSCs. Based on in silico and in vitro studies, we have identified two novel long noncoding RNAs that show differential expression in stem vs. differentiated NSCs and GSCs, and may functionally contribute to glioma biology by regulating the cancer stem cell phenotype. However, further characterization is needed to fully understand the role of lncRNAs in glioblastoma multiforme.
OP0102-HPR Cross-Cultural Validity of the Animated Activity Questionnaire (AAQ) that Assesses Activity Limitations in Patients with HIP or Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: W.F. Peter, R. de Vet, M. Boers, J. Harlaar, L.D. Roorda, R.W. Poolman, V.A. Scholtes, J. Boogaard, H. Buitelaar, M. Steultjens, E.M. Roos, F. Guillemin, M.G. Benedetti, A.E. Martinez, H. Dagfinrud, C.B. Terwee
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> The Animated Activity Questionnaire (AAQ) measures activity limitations in hip and knee osteoarthritis (HKOA), and demonstrated good validity and reliability [1]. The AAQ shows stylized video animations of different levels of activity performance. Patients are asked to choose which video best matches their own performance. Accordingly, for international studies, the AAQ should show minimal Differential Item Functioning (DIF) across countries, which means that patients from different countries with the same level of activity limitations should have the same score on each item. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate cross-cultural validity of the AAQ. <h3>Methods</h3> In 7 European countries patients were asked to complete the AAQ. An example of an item of the AAQ is shown on: http://kmin-vumc.nl/_14_0.html. Ordinal logistic regression was used to evaluate DIF across languages (Dutch versus 6 other languages). As a criterion for uniform DIF we used an odds ratio outside the interval 0.53–1.89. An significant interaction term (p-value &lt;0.05) between translation item score and original Dutch score was considered as non-uniform DIF. Analyses were adjusted for sex, age, and affected joint. <h3>Results</h3> Data available were from: Netherlands (N=279), Denmark (N=109), France (N=121), Italy (N=203), United Kingdom (N=142), Norway (N=62), and Spain (N=37). Compared to Dutch, none of the 17 items showed DIF in Danish and French; uniform DIF occurred in 1 item for Norwegian versus Dutch and English versus Dutch; for Spanish versus Dutch 1 item showed uniform DIF, and 1 item showed non-uniform DIF; for Italian versus Dutch 3 items showed uniform DIF, and 3 items showed non-uniform DIF. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Cross-cultural validity of the AAQ looks promising. Further analyses with more data per country are needed and currently collected. Since minimal translation is needed for the AAQ, cross-cultural differences will mainly be based on cultural differences. The AAQ seems to have great potential for international use in research and daily clinical practice. <h3>References</h3> Peter WF et al. Development and preliminary testing of a computerized animated activity questionnaire in patients with hip and knee osteoarthritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2015 Jan;67(1):32-9. <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> Funding: EULAR Patient Reported Outcome research grant. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared
Angiotensin 1-7 has a biphasic effect on fluid absorption in the proximal straight tubule.
Authors: N H Garcia, J L Garvin
Journal: Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (1994)

The effect of angiotensin 1-7 (Ang 1-7) on the proximal tubule has not been well studied. It was hypothesized that Ang 1-7 has a biphasic effect on fluid absorption in the isolated rat proximal straight tubule. Proximal straight tubules were perfused at a rate of 5.81 +/- 0.44 nL/mm per minute and absorbed fluid at 0.98 +/- 0.10 nL/mm per minute. Bicarbonate absorption was 80.1 +/- 11.6 pmol/mm per minute. When 10(-12) M Ang 1-7 was added to the bath, fluid absorption increased to 1.47 +/- 0.10 nL/mm per minute (P < 0.013) and bicarbonate increased to 115.0 +/- 12.8 pmol/mm per minute (P < 0.004). Ang 1-7 had no effect on either the maximum rate of bicarbonate absorption (P > 0.90) or bicarbonate permeability (P > 0.60). Next, 10(-8) M Ang 1-7 was used. During the control period, fluid absorption was 0.90 +/- 0.09 nL/mm per minute. When 10(-8) M Ang 1-7 was added, fluid absorption decreased to 0.62 +/- 0.04 nL/mm per minute (P < 0.05). DuP 753, an AT1 receptor antagonist, blocked both effects induced by Ang 1-7, whereas PD 123319, an AT2 receptor antagonist, did not block the stimulatory effect. From these data, it was concluded that Ang 1-7 binds AT1 receptors and has a biphasic effect on fluid absorption, and at physiologic levels, the heptapeptide induces the stimulation of bicarbonate absorption.
Chimney stove intervention – ready for scale up? PRO
Authors: Andrew Bush
Journal: Thorax (2016)

It is becoming increasingly clear that the antenatal and preschool years are critical in determining long-term outcomes. This has been highlighted by a recent report1 in which adults were recruited before age 40 and then followed for >20 years. Of those who did not attain a normal FEV1, 26% developed COPD (or premature airflow obstruction as many prefer to call it2). An equally large group with COPD at follow-up had a normal FEV1 at recruitment, but an accelerated loss of lung function, which could not be related to any adult factors, and was presumably also determined by genetic factors or adverse exposures prior to recruitment. So, if we are to turn back COPD from rising up the list of Death Stars, we need to intervene very early.

The key and most pressing early childhood adverse events which need to be tackled across the world to improve long-term lung health are tobacco exposure, outdoor pollution, indoor pollution (in particular in low-income and middle-income countries) and poverty (which are to some extent interlinked). Obesity is obviously also of general and respiratory importance at least in the …
MPTH-11ANAPLASTIC MENINGIOMAS WHO GRADE III LACK OF SOMATIC AKT1-MUTATIONS AND SHOW AN OVEREXPRESSION OF EGF-RECEPTORS
Authors: Tareq Juratli, Ralf Wiedemuth, Kathrin Geiger, Achim Temme, Gabriele Schackert, Matthias Kirsch
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2015)

BACKGROUND: The AKT1 mutation was newly described in a subset of meningiomas and inhibitors of this mutation have shown promise in clinical trials in multiple cancer types. We sought to determine the frequency of the AKT1 mutation as well as the expression level of multiple growth factor receptors in a large series of patients with Anaplastic meningiomas (AM) WHO °III. METHODS: Patients with AM °III were tested for the AKT1 (E17K) mutation using PCR technique. Additionally, the expression level of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the platelet derived growth factor receptor 1alpha (PDGFR) and the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) using the indirect peroxidase technique on tissue multi arrays (TMA) of paraffin-embedded specimens. Staining was evaluated using a semi-quantitative scoring system. Chi-square test was used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: We identified 22 AM °III patients with 45 tumors (median follow-up of 8 years). None of the examined 45 tumor samples in this cohort showed an AKT1 mutation (0%). Regarding the IHC, recurrent AM showed increasing proliferation with each recurrence. Overexpression of EGFR was associated with malignancy (p < 0.01) and increased with recurrence (median score 2.3). The median overall survival rate for patients with EGFR overexpression was 2.2 years. In contrast, the overall survival of patients with low EGFR expression was not reached yet (p < 0.05). While PDGFR and VEGFR scores were high in malignant tumors, the difference in comparison with benign meningiomas was not significant. A further finding is a marked survival benefit in our patients cohort in respect to the extent of resection when repeated operations were performed (p = 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Somatic AKT1 mutations are absent in anaplastic meningiomas WHO grade III. Additionally, our data demonstrate that the overexpression of EGFR in AM might make this receptor valuable as a therapeutic target for their treatment.
Bromodomain inhibitor OTX015 in patients with acute leukaemia: a dose-escalation, phase 1 study
Authors: Céline Berthon, Emmanuel Raffoux, Xavier Thomas, Norbert Vey, Carlos Gomez-Roca, Karen Yee, David Christopher Taussig, Keyvan Rezai, Christophe Roumier, Patrice Herait, Carmen Kahatt, Bruno Quesnel, Mauricette Michallet, Christian Recher, François Lokiec, Claude Preudhomme, Hervé Dombret
Journal: The Lancet Haematology (2016)
Who are the users of publicly reported cancer treatment wait times (WT)?
Authors: W. K. Evans, E. Green, A. Whitton, M. Fitch, E. Holowaty, A. Jadad, B. Golden, D. Soman, E. Gutierrez
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2006)

6043 Background: Greater participation by patients in health care decision-making and public concerns about WT led Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) to post radiation WT by cancer type and treatment centre on its website http://www.cancercare.on.ca anticipating patients and referring physicians (MDs) would use WT information to access facilities with shorter waits. The availability of more radiation treatment facilities in Southern Ontario provides patients and MDs with more options for location of treatment. Methods: The usefulness of this approach was evaluated by an on-line survey, patient focus groups, physician interviews and usability lab testing. Results: 1,043 on-line surveys were completed by patients/family members (35%), media (24%) and others, including health professionals (HP) and administrators (AD). HP found the information useful and clear but patients were less satisfied, wanting information on the effect of WT on their illness. 45 individuals (40 treated patients, 5 family) participated in 8 geographically dispersed focus groups. Facilitator-led conversations were recorded, transcribed verbatim and content grouped in themes by 4 researchers. Most patients were unaware of the CCO WT information. Patients indicated that MDs should have and use WT information and determine speed of access to care based on urgency of condition. Patients would accept MD advice to travel to a more distant treatment facility but patients questioned why WT existed and why health care system not managed more efficiently. 15 MD phone interviews indicated MDs were distrustful of WT data, did not use the web data for referral, preferring usual practice patterns. MDs were reluctant to share WT information with patients for fear of creating unnecessary anxiety. AD found data useful as a stimulus for performance improvement. Usability lab testing uncovered numerous user preferences for redesign of the site, including its content. Conclusions: Current Ontario patients and MDs are not ‘consumers’ of WT information but AD see value in this information for system improvement. As society increasingly uses the internet as an information resource, future patients and MDs will likely utilize WT information in the decision-making for location of care. Supported by Cancer Care Ontario and grant 03110 from the Change Foundation. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Combat adaptations of Vietnam veterans without posttraumatic stress disorders
Authors: H Hendin, A Pollinger Haas
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (1984)

Ten veterans who did not develop posttraumatic stress after intense combat in Vietnam were studied to explain what had protected them. The authors found a highly consistent adaptation to combat: During combat each of these veterans had exhibited calmness under pressure, intellectual control, acceptance of fear, and a lack of excessively violent or guilt-arousing behavior. The authors believe that these traits may be part of an adaptation uniquely suitable for preserving emotional stability in an unstructured, unstable context.
Association of young age and chemotherapy with psychosocial distress and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) during the first year after breast cancer (BC)
Authors: P. J. Goodwin, M. Ennis, K. I. Pritchard, M. E. Trudeau, J. Koo, N. Hood
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2004)

8014 Background: Psychosocial distress and HRQOL after BC diagnosis may be related to a variety of factors, including age and treatment. Methods: We investigated these attributes in 397 women with newly diagnosed T1–3, N0–1, M0 BC. Women completed the Profile of Mood States (POMS), Impact of Event Scale (IES), Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS), Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (MAC) and EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaires shortly after diagnosis (9.7±5.2 weeks) and one year post diagnosis (57.4±7.7 weeks). The impact of age and adjuvant chemotherapy was analysed with t-tests and regression analysis. Mean age was 52.0±9.9 years. 47.6% were postmenopausal, 68.0% had ER/PgR positive tumors, 39.8% received CXT, 44.0% tamoxifen. Results: At baseline, young age was significantly associated with greater distress (POMS all scales, total score), greater adverse impact on adjustment (PAIS 4 subscales, total), greater anxious-preoccupied and reduced fatalistic coping (MAC), and reduced emotional and cognitive functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30) (all p≤0.05); most of these effects were attenuated at one year, reflecting improvement over time. At 1 year, anxiety, anger and total mood disturbance (POMS), psychological distress and total score (PAIS), poor emotional functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30), and greater anxious-preoccupied coping and fatalistic coping (MAC) remained significantly associated with young age (p≤0.05). Physical functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30) was worse in older women at both timepoints. Adjusting for age, women who received chemotherapy reported greater adverse impact on vocational and social functioning (PAIS); role, social functioning and QOL (EORTC QLQ-C30) at baseline (p≤0.05). At one year, greater adverse impact of chemotherapy was seen for most PAIS scales and for physical, role and social functioning (EORTC QLQ-C30) (p≤0.05). Conclusions: Age is an important determinant of psychosocial distress and HRQOL in newly diagnosed BC; women who receive CXT report greater adverse impact on adjustment, role, social and vocational functioning which persisted at one year. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
PTU-106 Identifying true immune-tolerant disease in children and young adults with chb using quantified hepatitis b surface antigen levels
Authors: N Hansi, US Gill, M Banerjee, S Naik, W Tong, GR Foster, I Carey, PT Kennedy
Journal: Gut (2015)

<b>Introduction</b>: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) is the standard procedure for mediastinal staging in lung cancer with good accuracy in expert centres. The initial learning curve is well known but not the effect of long term experience on diagnostic yield. <b>Methods</b>: Analysis of all EBUS done at our institution for staging of LC from 3/2007 to 9/2013. Data, including procedure time were prospectively registered. Stadium IV diseases or N1/2 diseases without surgical confirmation were excluded. All investigations were done under conscious sedation and with rapid on-site cytology. <b>Results</b>: 261 patients (mean age 66±10 years) were evaluated. 152 patients (58%) finally had N2/3 disease. 10/261 patients (3.8%) had a false negative EBUS. Sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value (NPV) of EBUS were 93%, 100% and 92%, respectively. Sensitivity and NPV increased over time from 92% and 91% in the first 130 investigations to 95% and 93% afterward. Six of ten patients with false negative EBUS had a false negative PET/CT too, four had only a micrometastasis. Seven patients were evaluated after neoadjuvant treatment, four were true negative, two true positive and one false positive (micrometastasis). Median procedure time for EBUS was 26 minutes (1<sup>st</sup>/3<sup>st</sup> 17/40 minutes) with median two evaluated lymph nodes (range 1-7). <b>Conclusion</b>: EBUS has a very good accuracy for the evaluation of the N2/3 disease in lung cancer. Over time, sensitivity and NPV steadily increased from 92% and 91% to 95% and 93% with improving results beyond 130 procedures. EBUS can easily and safely be performed under conscious sedation within reasonable time.
First steps in the design of a system to monitor vaccine effectiveness during seasonal and pandemic influenza in EU/EEA Member States
Authors: M Valenciano, B  C Ciancio, A Moren, Collective the influenza vaccine effectiveness working group
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2008)

Estimating influenza vaccine effectiveness (IVE) early in the season helps measuring the consequences of a mismatch between the vaccine and the circulating strain and guiding alternative or complementary interventions. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is funding a project to develop pilot studies to monitor IVE in the Member States (MS) of the European Union and European Economic Area (EU/EEA) during seasonal and pandemic influenza. To identify key methodological and practical issues in developing protocols for pilot studies, we conducted a survey among EU/EEA MS, a literature review on IVE methods, and consultations of experts. The survey and literature review highlighted the variety of the data sources used to estimate IVE and the difficulty to interpret data on IVE, which varies with age, risk group, outcome specificity and virus-vaccine mismatch. We also found that negative and positive confounding can bias IVE. The experts consultations lead to the following recommendations: to measure IVE in the same population in various seasons; to control for positive/negative confounding (including pre- and post-influenza season IVE estimates); and to include laboratory confirmation as outcome in various study designs. In the 2008-9 influenza season, two cohort studies using general practitioners' databases and six case control studies will be piloted in EU/EEA MS and will adhere to the above recommendations. The pilot studies will be the basis for the development of robust methods to monitor IVE in EU/EEA MS.