tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
P59 To determine Mus m 1 personal exposure in laboratory animal workers in facilities where mice are housed in open cages and individually ventilated cages
Authors: J Canizales, M Jones, S Semple, J Feary, P Cullinan
Journal: Thorax (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> Laboratory animal workers face the risk of developing an IgE-associated respiratory allergy to airborne proteins, such as Mus m 1 (mouse urinary protein). Approximately 15% of exposed employees will develop IgE sensitisation and 10% clinically apparent disease. We have recently embarked on a large study called SPIRAL (Safe Practice In Reduction of Allergy in Laboratories) to gain a greater understanding of laboratory animal allergy (LAA) and to determine whether we can devise a code of safe practice to prevent, as far as possible, the future occurrence of LAA. <h3>Aim</h3> To determine personal exposure to Mus m 1 within animal facilities where mice are housed exclusively in open cages and exclusively in individually ventilated cages (IVC). <h3>Methods</h3> Selected employees wore Casella Apex pumps (2 L/min) during their full shifts to collect inhalable particulate onto fluoropore membrane (1 µm), 25 mm filters using IOM sampling heads.82 filters from an IVC facility and 56 filters from an open cage facility were analysed for Mus m 1 using a commercial sandwich enzyme linked immunoassay (Indoor Biotechnology). <h3>Results</h3> The range of Mus m 1 levels within the IVC facility was 0.00–66.33 ng/m<sup>3 </sup>and in the open cage facility was 3.89–305.59 ng/m<sup>3</sup>. 11 (13%) of samples from the IVC facility and 50 (89%) of samples from the open cage facility had a Mus m 1 exposure level greater than 5 ng/m<sup>3</sup>. Additionally, there was substantial variation when task specific sampling was carried out over short periods of time compared with full shift sampling. Further analyses will allow us to identify which tasks were associated with highest levels of exposures. <h3>Conclusions</h3> The majority of samples from the open cage facility were above 5 ng/m<sup>3</sup>, a figure previously suggested to limit or reduce incidence of LAA. Although use of IVCs has been shown to reduce exposure to Mus m 1, we found several samples above 5 ng/m<sup>3</sup>. Exposure to high allergen levels will be influenced by cage type, variation in individual working practices and carrying out of specific “high-risk” tasks; some of these factors may be modifiable and these results may be used to change practice.
Comparison of Pathologic Stage in Patients Receiving Esophagectomy With and Without Preoperative Chemoradiation Therapy for Esophageal SCC
Authors: Bing-Yen Wang, Ping-Yi Lin, Shiao-Chi Wu, Hui-Shan Chen, Po-Kuei Hsu, Chih-Shiun Shih, Chao-Yu Liu, Chia-Chuan Liu, Yao-Li Chen
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2014)

The prognostic value for the post-chemoradiation therapy (CRT) pathologic stage is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to compare the pathologic stage in patients undergoing esophagectomy with and without preoperative CRT for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). This study retrospectively reviewed the data from 2151 patients with ESCC who underwent esophagectomy with or without preoperative CRT between 2008 and 2011 in Taiwan. Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group A consisted of patients treated with primary surgery without prior treatments (n=1301), and group B consisted of patients receiving preoperative CRT followed by esophagectomy (n=850). In group A, 679 patients received surgery alone, 92 received postoperative chemotherapy, 416 received postoperative chemoradiation therapy, and 114 received postoperative radiation therapy. In group A, the 3-year survival rates by pathologic stage were 82.2% for stage 0, 67.6% for stage I, 50.7% for stage II, 21.5% for stage III, and 14.8% for stage IV (P<.001). In group B, the 3-year survival rates of post-CRT pathologic stages 0, I, II, III, and IV were 59.4%, 46.0%, 40.3%, 19.1%, and 8.2%, respectively (P<.001). In multivariate analysis, the pathologic T, N, and M were all independent prognostic factors in both group A (esophagectomy alone) and B (CRT plus esophagectomy). The current, 7th edition of the esophageal TNM staging system could adequately stratify prognostic groups in patients with squamous cell carcinoma who were treated with preoperative CRT and esophagectomy.
Erythrocyte Adenosine Triphosphate Depletion during Hypophosphatemia in a Uremic Subject
Authors: Marshall A. Lichtman, Denis R. Miller, Richard B. Freeman, Clara Lockwood, Vaudeen Abel
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1969)

In a patient with chronic renal disease and uremia who was under treatment with a low-protein diet, hemodialysis and aluminum hydroxide gel marked hypophosphatemia associated with anorexia, nausea, malaise, muscle weakness and mental depression developed. Erythrocyte ATP concentration was markedly reduced during the period of hypophosphatemia. Discontinuation of aluminum hydroxide gel completely reversed the biochemical abnormalities and the clinical symptoms. The restoration of erythrocyte ATP and the serum inorganic phosphorus were highly correlated. It is evident that under certain circumstances phosphate depletion in man may reach a severity that impairs erythrocyte energy metabolism. It is assumed that in the presence of marked hypophosphatemia, a similar reduction in ATP content may occur in somatic cells. Such an occurrence may have an important pathogenetic role in the symptoms observed.
PWE-436 Understanding why the at-risk population do not take up colonoscopy following a positive screening test and attendance at nurse (ssp) assessment clinic within the bowel cancer screening programme (bcsp)
Authors: N Taggart, M Mbuyongha, G Fitzgerald, L Leedham, S Mumtaz-Wong, D Davies, G Lowe, B Morton, H Gibson, W Hymer, S Sarkar
Journal: Gut (2015)

<h3>Introduction</h3> The success of BCSP is dependent on ensuring that people with positive screening test results (positive FOB) go through for a colonoscopy. Consequently, a QA standard of 90% is set for the conversion rate of attendances of positive assessment (SSP) clinic to colonoscopy. The aim of this study was to understand for why our at-risk population that attended SSP clinic did not progress to colonoscopy. <h3>Method</h3> Following identification on BCSS, cases between 2/14 and 11/14 were audited using a standard profoma of attendances to clinic but non-conversion to colonoscopy to ascertain the reasons why. If necessary a follow up phone call by SSP was performed. <h3>Results</h3> Of the 532 patients that attended SSP clinic, the conversion rate to colonoscopy was 95%. Only 27 declined colonoscopy (Non-conversion rate 5.1%). The majority were male (n = 21; 78%) who were 2.5 fold more likely not to convert than females (non-conversion rate of 6.6% v 2.8% respectively). Geographically, two thirds of non-converters were from the Wirral, which is a more affluent, high uptake region compared to Liverpool. The non-conversion rate was 2.5 fold greater in the Wirral (7.6%) than in Liverpool (3.1%). The reasons for non-conversion were; personal reasons (22.2%), had a recent colonoscopy, (18.5%), treatment for another cancer (14.8%), wanted to wait for another test kit (11.1%), fear (7.4%), complex co-morbidities (7.4%), under another surveillance programme (3.7%) and travel involved (3.7%). Of total that attended clinic in Wirral only 0.8% found the travel to the Liverpool for colonoscopy an issue. The range of non-conversion amongst individual SSPs was 0–9.1%. Further telephone contact did not change the patient’s reasons for going onto colonoscopy. <h3>Conclusion</h3> This study confirms that females better embrace screening programmes. The reasons for non-conversion were diverse. Reassuringly a large proportion of reasons were understandable and the distance to travel for colonoscopy did not seem to be an issue. The higher rate of non-conversion in a higher uptake and socio-economic region is difficult explain but now specific health promotion can be targeted around the benefits of colonoscopy in this area. Telephone follow up of non-converters seems to be of no benefit. The overall excellent conversion rate of 95% reflects the high standard of SSP performance within the programme and little conclusion can be drawn from the range of non-conversion between individual SSPs which are likely to reflect statistical bias due to low numbers. <h3>Disclosure of interest</h3> None Declared.
The Role Of High Von Willebrand Factor and Low ADAMTS13 Levels In The Risk Of Venous Thromboembolism
Authors: Christiane Pereira Gouvea, Sandra Satiko Matsuda, Rodrigo Vaez, Patrícia Nunes Bezerra Pinheiro, Maria Aparecida Eiko Noguti, Dayse Maria Lourenço, Vânia Maris Morelli
Journal: Blood (2013)
Human Leukocyte Interferon for the Treatment of Herpes Zoster in Patients with Cancer
Authors: Thomas C. Merigan, Kenneth H. Rand, Richard B. Pollard, Paul S. Abdallah, George W. Jordan, Richard P. Fried
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1978)

We tested the effect of human leukocyte interferon on early localized herpes zoster infections in three placebo-controlled, randomized double-blind trials involving 90 patients with cancer. There were no significant differences in pretreatment severity of infection or nature of underlying disease in the groups. Higher dosages of more purified interferon in the second and third trials produced a significant (P≤0.01) decrease in cutaneous dissemination. No dissemination occurred in those receiving the highest dosage (5.1 X 105 U per kilogram per day) (P≤0.025). The number of days of new-vesicle formation in the primary dermatome decreased (mean, 2.3 days, P≤0.05) in this group. Treated patients had a trend toward less acute pain, and significantly (P≤0.05) diminished severity of post-herpetic neuralgia, at the two highest dosage levels. Visceral complications were six times less frequent in interferon recipients. High-dosage interferon appeared effective in limiting cutaneous dissemination, visceral complications and progression within the primary dermatome. (N Engl J Med 298:981–987, 1978)
Effect of Transplantation on the Medicare End-Stage Renal Disease Program
Authors: Paul W. Eggers
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1988)

The Medicare end-stage renal disease program has received considerable attention as a model of government funding for high-cost medical treatment. This paper examines how the program has been influenced by renal transplantation. In the past decade, the number of kidney transplantations has increased substantially, and the success rate of these procedures has improved. From 1980 to 1985, the number of transplantations increased by 10 percent per year. During that time, the survival rates for grafts from cadavers and living related donors increased by 7 and 3 percent, respectively, in part because of the introduction of cyclosporine. As a result, the fastest-growing group of beneficiaries of the Medicare end-stage renal disease program are those with functioning grafts. As of the end of 1985, these patients accounted for 18 percent of all beneficiaries and 32 percent of all beneficiaries less than 55 years of age. In the youngest groups, transplantation has reached a level sufficient to reduce the absolute numbers of patients on dialysis, beginning in 1983. Increases in transplantation are not evenly distributed among subgroups of beneficiaries. Relatively few patients 65 years of age and older receive transplants; blacks receive transplants at a rate roughly half that among whites, but the rate is increasing. Because the costs of maintaining patients with functioning grafts are only one third of those for patients on dialysis and because the quality of life is usually much better, renal transplantation is causing a convergence of the best clinical and economic outcomes for patients with end-stage renal disease.
Glutathione antioxidant pathway activity and reserve determine toxicity and specificity of the biliary toxin biliatresone in zebrafish
Authors: Xiao Zhao, Kristin Lorent, Benjamin J. Wilkins, Dylan M. Marchione, Kevin Gillespie, Orith Waisbourd‐Zinman, Juhoon So, Kyung Ah Koo, Donghun Shin, John R. Porter, Rebecca G. Wells, Ian Blair, Michael Pack
Journal: Hepatology (2016)

Biliatresone is an electrophilic isoflavone isolated from Dysphania species plants that has been causatively linked to naturally occurring outbreaks of a biliary atresia (BA)‐like disease in livestock. Biliatresone has selective toxicity for extrahepatic cholangiocytes (EHCs) in zebrafish larvae. To better understand its mechanism of toxicity, we performed transcriptional profiling of liver cells isolated from zebrafish larvae at the earliest stage of biliatresone‐mediated biliary injury, with subsequent comparison of biliary and hepatocyte gene expression profiles. Transcripts encoded by genes involved in redox stress response, particularly those involved in glutathione (GSH) metabolism, were among the most prominently up‐regulated in both cholangiocytes and hepatocytes of biliatresone‐treated larvae. Consistent with these findings, hepatic GSH was depleted at the onset of biliary injury, and in situ mapping of the hepatic GSH redox potential using a redox‐sensitive green fluorescent protein biosensor showed that it was significantly more oxidized in EHCs both before and after treatment with biliatresone. Pharmacological and genetic manipulation of GSH redox homeostasis confirmed the importance of GSH in modulating biliatresone‐induced injury given that GSH depletion sensitized both EHCs and the otherwise resistant intrahepatic cholangiocytes to the toxin, whereas replenishing GSH level by N‐ acetylcysteine administration or activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2‐like 2 (Nrf2), a transcriptional regulator of GSH synthesis, inhibited EHC injury. Conclusion : These findings strongly support redox stress as a critical contributing factor in biliatresone‐induced cholangiocyte injury, and suggest that variations in intrinsic stress responses underlie the susceptibility profile. Insufficient antioxidant capacity of EHCs may be critical to early pathogenesis of human BA. (H epatology 2016;64:894‐907)
The Current Status of Combined Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced or Resected Pancreas Cancer
Authors: Mary F. Mulcahy, Andrew O. Wahl, William Small
Journal: Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2005)

Pancreas cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths. Even for the small percentage of patients who can undergo surgical resection of the primary tumor, the risk of recurrence remains unacceptably high. For patients with localized disease that is not amenable to surgical resection, pain related to the primary tumor can significantly impair quality of life. Attempts to improve the duration and quality of life for these patients have included both chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The addition of chemotherapy to radiation may enhance the local effects of radiation or provide treatment of disease outside the radiation field. The results of clinical trials evaluating the appropriate therapy for locally advanced or resected disease have been inconsistent. In some instances, the methods used in these studies became outdated before the results were available. Hopefully, advances in radiation techniques and systemic drug therapy will provide more durable and clinically relevant results. Meanwhile, treatment decisions should be tailored to the clinical situation, including consideration of treatment toxicity and therapy goals. Recognizing which patients are likely to benefit from combination therapy or systemic therapy alone is a subject of future and ongoing clinical trials.
Reduced Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Asymptomatic Subjects at Risk for Huntington's Disease
Authors: John C. Mazziotta, Michael E. Phelps, Jorg J. Pahl, Sung-Cheng Huang, Lewis R. Baxter, Walter H. Riege, John M. Hoffman, David E. Kuhl, Andrew B. Lanto, Joseph A. Wapenski, Charles H. Markham
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1987)

Symptomatic patients with Huntington's disease may have reduced glucose metabolism in the caudate nuclei. We used positron emission tomography and [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose to study cerebral glucose metabolism in 95 subjects: 58 clinically asymptomatic (chorea-free) subjects at risk for Huntington's disease, 10 symptomatic patients with the disease, and 27 controls. All the symptomatic patients had marked reductions in caudate glucose metabolism. Despite a normal structural appearance on computed tomography, caudate glucose metabolism was bilaterally reduced in 31 percent of the subjects at risk (18 of 58). Using each at-risk subject's age and the sex of the affected parent, we averaged individual risk estimates for the development of Huntington's disease for this group and predicted that the probability of having the clinically unexpressed Huntington's disease gene should be 33.9 +/- 6.0 percent for the group. Thus, there was excellent agreement between the predicted percentage of carriers of the Huntington's disease gene (33.9 +/- 6.0 percent) and the percentage with metabolic abnormalities of the caudate nuclei (31 percent). These results indicate that the measurement of glucose metabolism may allow the observation of the pathophysiologic effects of the Huntington's disease gene during the natural development of the disease. It may also provide a direct means to monitor the response to experimental treatments during both the clinically asymptomatic and the symptomatic phases of the disorder.
Medical Management of Glaucoma
Authors: Wallace L.M. Alward
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1998)

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness in the world. It is estimated that by the year 2000, 66.8 million people will be affected, of whom 6.7 million will be blind in both eyes.1 Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy in which the axons of the optic nerve die and the plates of lamina cribrosa collapse, leading to loss of optic-nerve tissue and excavation, or "cupping," of the ophthalmoscopically visible optic-nerve head. When sufficient axonal loss occurs, peripheral vision declines; loss of central vision occurs much later. Most forms of glaucoma are painless, and the loss of vision is insidious. . . .
Immunomodulatory and Antimicrobial Efficacy of Intravenous Immunoglobulin in Bone Marrow Transplantation
Authors: Keith M. Sullivan, Kenneth J. Kopecky, Jane Jocom, Lyly Fisher, C. Dean Buckner, Joel D. Meyers, George W. Counts, Raleigh A. Bowden, Finn Bo Petersen, Robert P. Witherspoon, Miriam D. Budinger, Richard S. Schwartz, Frederick R. Appelbaum, Reginald A. Clift, John A. Hansen, Jean E. Sanders, E. Donnall Thomas, Rainer Storb
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1990)

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and infection are major complications of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Since intravenous immunoglobulin has shown benefit in several immunodeficiency and autoimmune disorders, we studied its antimicrobial and immunomodulatory role after marrow transplantation.
Metastatic Calcification of the Shoulder in Chronic Renal Failure
Authors: H Rabb, G Ramirez
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1993)

Figure 1. Metastatic Calcification of the Shoulder in Chronic Renal Failure. A 32-year-old man with chronic renal failure (from IgA nephropathy) being treated with maintenance hemodialysis began to take his phosphate-binding medications irregularly, and swelling of the right shoulder developed over a period of two months. The calcium-phosphate product (in milligrams per deciliter) was more than 90, and the serum N-terminal parathyroid hormone level was elevated. A biopsy of the shoulder mass (arrow) revealed hydroxyapatite. The patient underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy and was referred for renal transplantation.
Case 1-2002
Authors: Thomas B Nutman, Richard L Kradin
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2002)

Presentation of CaseA 24-year-old woman was admitted to the Travel and Tropical Medicine Center at this hospital because of edema and intermittent paresthesias of the right leg.The patient was a volunteer with the Peace Corps. She had traveled to Gabon, Africa, 31 months before admission and while stationed there was involved in research on pisciculture, which required considerable exposure to fresh water. During her stay in Africa she traveled to São Tomé and Príncipe, South Africa, Togo, Ghana, and Zimbabwe. She felt well during her stay except for a possible episode of malaria, for which she received quinine, . . .
Modulation and prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression in circulating tumor cells (CTCs) during chemotherapy (CT) in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: A. Hendlisz, R. Marechal, V. Durbecq, G. Rouas, D. Larsimont, J. Kains, J. Van Laethem
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2008)

15038 Background: EGFR expression, usually determined on primary tumour specimens, may be altered by confounding factors including chemotherapy (CT) administration. We have evaluated the impact of CT on the EGFR expression of CTCs in comparison to the primary tumor EGFR status. Methods: 7.5 ml of peripheral blood were prospectively collected from chemo-naive patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) initiating first-line CT at baseline, before the second cycle, and after four CT cycles.CTCs were detected by using immuno-magnetic separation and immuno-fluorescent identification (Cell Search System, Veridex). The EGFR status in CTCs was determined by immuno-fluorescent labelling. A retrospective evaluation of EGFR expression in the corresponding primary paraffin- embedded tumors was performed with immuno-histochemistry using the Dako Pharm Dx Kit. Results: 22 patients were evaluated: 13 patients received 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), folinic acid (FA), oxaliplatin (FOLFOX), 4 patients FOLFOX + panitumumab; and 5 patients 5- FU+FA+irinotecan. Nine patients (41%) experienced partial response, 7 (32%) stable disease and 6 (27%) progression a progressive disease after 4 cycles of CT. The median storage time of the primitive tumor was 6 weeks (range: 4–8). Fourteen (64%) patients had positive EGFR CTCs at baseline (median 9, range 1–36). On an individual basis, no correlation was found between the EGFR status of the primitive tumour and baseline CTCs (Spearman's correlation: r 0.122; p=0.599). The EGFR status modifications during CT and the predictive value of baseline CTCs EGFR expression in CTCs are reported here. Conclusions: CT administration induces changes in the EGFR status of CTCs. EGFR negative tumours should be retested for EGFR after CT, before initiating anti-EGFR treatment. The EGFR expression of CTCs in mCRC could be useful in predicting outcome under CT and deserves further evaluation. EGFR status modific Baseline CTCs EGFR -ations during CT and predictive value of baseline CTCs EGFR expression Baseline CTCs EGFR + Baseline CTCs EGFR - Patients (N) 14 8 CTCs EGFR+ after 1 cycle CT 14 6 CTCs EGFR + after 4 cycles CT 13 7 Median time to progression (months) 6.6 (confidence interval : 4–8.2) 8.5 (confidence interval : 7.5–9.5) Log rank test p = 0.04 No significant financial relationships to disclose.