tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Time Interval Between the Last Dose of Propylthiouracil and I-131 Therapy Influences Cure Rates in Hyperthyroidism Caused by Graves' Disease
Authors: D B Turton, E D Silverman, K M Shakir
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1998)

Purpose: To examine the effects of propylthiouracil (PTU) pretreatment on the outcome of initial I-131 therapy for Graves' disease. Design: A retrospective chart review was done. Patients and Methods: The authors studied 106 patients in an outpatient nuclear medicine setting who were given initial I-131 therapy for Graves' disease from September 1989 to March 1993 and followed for at least 6 months after therapy. These patients were divided into groups based on whether they had ever received PTU or, if they had received PTU, the length of time between the last dose of PTU and the I-131 therapy dose. Measured failure rates of initial I-131 therapy were based on recurrent or continued hyperthyroidism. Results: Treatment failure rates increased markedly from 2.5% in non-PTU-treated patients (n = 80) to 23.1% (n = 26) in patients pretreated with PTU (P = 0.003). Although not significant, two PTU-pretreated subgroups showed a trend toward increased failure rates. The failure rate was 15.4% (n = 13) in patients whose last dose of PTU was 7-14 days before I-131 therapy, and it increased further to 30.8% (n = 13) in patients whose last dose of PTU was within 1 week of I-131 therapy. Conclusions: PTU pretreatment within 2 weeks of I-131 treatment is a strong independent risk factor in failure rates after initial I-131 therapy in patients with Graves' disease. Patients should be free of PTU for 2 weeks before I-131 therapy if they are able to tolerate it, otherwise the dose of I-131 may need to be adjusted upward to diminish the risk that the initial I-131 therapy will fail.
Improving Americans' Health Literacy
Authors: Rima E. Rudd
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (2010)

Health literacy — commonly defined as the skills and abilities needed to gain access to, understand, and use health-related information — has emerged as an important priority for the United States. It has been linked to health outcomes and is considered critical for the success of health care reform. The recently released National Action Plan to Improve Health Literacy 1 provides strategies for change.At first blush, this task may seem to be the domain of educators, but the new action plan shifts the spotlight from the literacy skills of the public to the activities of health systems and health care . . .
Nitrate Therapy for Stable Angina Pectoris
Authors: John D. Parker, John O. Parker
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1998)

The organic nitrates are widely used in the management of coronary artery disease. They are given not only to patients with stable angina pectoris, but also to those with unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction, and heart failure. Although they are effective for the treatment of these disorders, their therapeutic value is compromised by the rapid development of tolerance during sustained therapy. This review will be limited to the use of organic nitrates in patients with chronic stable angina pectoris, but many of the principles enunciated are relevant to other clinical situations.In 1879 Murrell reported that a 1 percent solution . . .
Tl-201 Scintigraphy in Cerebral Neuroblastoma
Authors: SUZANNE SMALLBANE, BILL MOURATIDIS, FRED LOMAS
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (1996)

A 29-year-old man was diagnosed and treated 4 years previously with radical radiotherapy for primary cerebral neuroblastoma of the left parietal lobe. He had increasing paresthesia and weakness of his right hand. MRI confirmed a mass in the left parietal lobe, but it was unclear whether this represented residual necrotic tumor with fibrosis or tumor recurrence. Tl-201 SPECT demonstrated increased uptake in the left parietal lobe suggestive of recurrent tumor, which was confirmed at surgery. Tl-201 has been used to confirm the presence of viable tumor in a number of situations, but has not been described in the rare tumor of primary cerebral neuroblastoma.
Lower Dopamine D<sub>2</sub>Receptor Expression Levels in Human Dopaminergic Neurons Derived From Opioid-Dependent iPSCs
Authors: Yang Sheng, Emily Filichia, Elizabeth Shick, Kenzie L. Preston, Karran A. Phillips, Leslie Cooperman, Zhicheng Lin, Paul Tesar, Barry J. Hoffer, Yu Luo
Journal: American Journal of Psychiatry (2016)
OP23 * AN AUDIT TO ASSESS PSYCHIATRIC CONDITIONS THAT MANIFEST IN PATIENTS WITH HIGH-GRADE BRAIN TUMOURS DURING TREATMENT
Authors: C. Knighton, J. Logan, V. Hurwitz, A. King, A. Hodgkiss, K. Cikurel, R. Beaney, L. Brazil
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2014)

INTRODUCTION: We recorded over a 9 month period the number of referrals made for specialist advice on how to treat a patient's psychiatric condition from those attending our neuro-oncology clinics. The patient's characteristics were reviewed to understand the causes, produce local referral guidelines, and identify at risk patients at the earliest opportunity. METHOD: We prospectively gathered names of patients referred as outpatients to our Psychological Medicine Department between 1st September 2011 and 31st May 2012. The notes were examined for patient characteristics, tumour biology, current treatment, psychiatric presentation, past psychiatric history, concurrent seizure medication, and psychiatric treatment recommended. RESULTS: During the monitored time we identified 74 patients, 11 of which had a past or current psychiatric history, 8 of which were referred to psychological medicine for specialist advice. Of the 3 not referred, 1 had mild dementia, and the remaining 2 had issues with alcoholism and were managed medically. Only 1 patient was referred having no previous psychiatric history. Most patients had Grade 4 tumours and were having chemo-radiotherapy, but some had chemotherapy only or surgery. Current psychiatric conditions expressed were similar to the patient's past psychiatric condition. Steroid-induced psychosis was not uncommon, and 3 patients benefited from the use of anti-psychotic therapy, or change of steroid. CONCLUSION: The response to diagnosis and treatment appeared to trigger most referrals, however, all the patients completed their treatment safely, and without any interruptions. We are introducing a screening tool used pre-treatment to identify at risk patients, and refer for advice early.
The Natural History of Recurrent Herpes Simplex Labialis
Authors: Spotswood L. Spruance, James C. Overall, Earl R. Kern, Gerald G. Krueger, Victoria Pliam, William Miller
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1977)

We performed daily examination of 80 patients with recurrent herpes simplex labialis to define the course of the disease and to identify quantitative and objective measurements for use in monitoring the efficacy of antiviral chemotherapy. Pain, lesion size, mean virus titers from lesion swabs (10(5) plaque-forming units [PFU]) and frequency of virus-positive lesions (89 per cent) were maximal during the first 24 hours and decreased thereafter. Lesion punch-biopsy virus titers increased from a mean of less than 10(1) PFU in the prodromal and erythema stages to a mean of 10(4.7) in the vesicle stage. MEasurements potentially useful in monitoring antiviral efficacy include: time to loss of crust, time to complete healing, intensity and duration of lesion pain, area defined by lesion virus titer and duration of lesion virus excretion, and maximum lesion virus titer after the first visit. Early application of topical antiviral therapy should theoretically be able to alter the course of this disease.
FACTORES QUE INFLUYEN EN EL ACLARAMIENTO COMPLETO DE COLÉDOCOLITIASIS EN LA 1 ° SESIÓN DE CPRE SOBRE PAPILA NÄIVE
Authors: AJ Del Pozo García, E Martos-Vizcaíno, P Delgado-Alvarez, J Dutari-Valdés, F Sánchez Gómez, JC Marín-Gabriel, S Rodríguez Muñoz, G Castellano Tortajada
Journal: Endoscopy (2013)

Introducción: La CPRE es electiva y superior a cirugía o técnicas percutáneas en el tratamiento de litiasis biliares extrahepáticas. Esfinterotomía + balón de Fogarty o cesta de Dormia alcanzan más del 80% de éxito al primer intento en litiasis sencillas. En coledocolitiasis > 15 mm los resultados publicados con técnica convencional son desalentadores (éxito: 12%). Papiloplastia y precorte pueden ser alternativas eficaces y seguras para estas litiasis en manos expertas. Objetivo: Primario: analizar éxito en la extracción de coledocolitiasis al primer intento (papila näive). Secundarios: analizar factores influyentes (técnicos, anatómicos, indicación, litiásicos) y complicaciones. Material y Método: Descripción preliminar de los primeros 85 pacientes con papila intacta, incluidos de modo prospectivo y consecutivo, y sometidos a CPRE por coledocolitiasis desde febrero-2012. El 87% de CPRE se realizaron por un adjunto experto, bajo sedación por endoscopista, con duodenoscopios Olympus TJF-Q-180V. Resultados: Aclaramiento: completo: 87%; parcial: 9%; fracaso: 3%. Factores del paciente: 1. ASA: I-II: 38,9%, III-IV: 61.1%. 2. Indicación: colangitis (47.06%); ictericia obstructiva (38.82%). 3. Factores anatómicos: divertículos (24.70%), ectropión (16.47%), estenosis papilar/papilitis (34.12%), papila pequeña (16.47%). Factores técnicos: 1. N° de litiasis: múltiples (≥3): 34.12%. 2. Tamaño: < 10 mm: 58.3%, 10 – 18 mm: 30.9%; ≥18 mm: 15.18% (46,08% >de 10 mm). 3. Dispositivos: Fogarty: 92.94%; Dormia: 16.4%; balón CRE: 11,77%; precorte: 7.06%; stent biliar: 5.88%; litotricia mecánica: 3.35%. Complicaciones: hemorragia (10.59%), perforación (1.18%) y pancreatitis (2.35%). Conclusiones: 1. En nuestra serie, pese a haber un 46% de coledocolitiasis mayores de 10 mm, se consiguió una extracción total del 87%, fracasando sólo en el 3%. 2. El uso de los dispositivos oportunos en manos experimentadas, adaptados a anatomía y características litiásicas, hacen de la CPRE un procedimiento eficaz y seguro para casi cualquier tamaño. 3. El aumento en el número de pacientes nos permitirá analizar cuáles son los factores asociados al fracaso en litiasis grandes.
AB0425 The Lornet Study in Russian Federation: the Safety of Tocilizumab in the Treatment Moderate and Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: E. Panasyuk, E. Nasonov
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

<h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor inhibition with Tocilizumab (TCZ) in patient with moderate and severe RA in Russian Federation. Safety-related outcomes were analysed. <h3>Methods</h3> A multicentre open-label phase IV study (LORNET: Local Open-label multicentre study qualite of life patients with moderate and severe RA having iNadEquaTely responded to DMARDs) was performed. A total 201 adult patients with active RA (DAS28&gt;3,2) who had to be naïve to biologics were enrolled in the study. Patients remained on stable doses of DMARDs and recieved TCZ 8 mg/kg every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. <h3>Results</h3> Overall AE rates were 129,99/100PY (per 100 patient-years). Serious AE were reported in 14,5% of patients (19,31/PY). 3 patients (1,5%) withdrew from the treatment because AE. The most common AE leading to treatment withdrawal were anaphylaxis event (n=1), pneumonia (n=1), ALT/AST elevations (n=1). Infections, laboratory abnormalities (33,46/PY and 39,9/PY, respectively) were the most common AEs: upper respiratory tract infection (n=17), herpes labialis (n=3), infection of foot (n=2), onychomycosis (n=1), acute urinary tract infection (n=1), postinjectional abscess (n=1). One patient had cervical myelopathy. Shifts in ALT/AST up to 1-3 ULN occurred in 7,5% of patients, had shifts to greater 3-5 ULN in 5,0% and 2,0% had shifts to greater than 5 ULN. The mean neutrophil count decreased from 5,71x10<sup>9</sup>/l at baseline to 4,46x10<sup>9</sup>/l at week 4 and 3,77x10<sup>9</sup>/l at week 24. One patient had common toxity criteria grade 4 neutropenia &lt;0,5x10<sup>9</sup>/l. No serious infection were associated with neutrophil count. No death occurred during the study. Most of AE were mild or moderate and resolved by the end of the study. <h3>Conclusions</h3> Tocilizumab is effective in treatment moderate and severe RA and generally good tolerated and safe with DMARDs combinations. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared <h3>DOI</h3> 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.3590
Abstract 2058: The adaptation of small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) cells to hypoxia is partially hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-independent
Authors: Matilda Munksgaard Persson, Martin Johansson, Nastaran Monsef, Siv Beckman, Sven Påhlman, Helen M. Pettersson
Journal: Cancer Research (2011)

Abstract Small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) is an extremely aggressive tumor that is widely metastasized in early stages of the disease and the 5-year survival rate for these patients is only approximately 9-15%. Here we study the adaptive response of SCLC cells to lower oxygen levels, since tumor hypoxia (∼1% oxygen) is related to aggressive tumor behaviour and poor outcome in several tumor forms. Areas of hypoxia are a common characteristic in solid tumors and in response to hypoxia tumor cells induce expression of several genes involved in a variety of processes. This adaptive response is primarily regulated by the transcription factors hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α and HIF-2α, which become stable at low oxygen levels. Studies using among others lung adenocarcinoma, neuroblastoma and breast carcinoma cells have demonstrated that HIF-1α primarily mediates the acute hypoxic response, whereas HIF-2α dominates during the more chronic phase of hypoxia. We investigated the viability of SCLC cells cultured at hypoxia and characterized the expression levels of HIF transcription factors in SCLC cells and specimens using quantitative real-time PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry. Expression levels of well known hypoxia-driven genes were studied and to further characterize the hypoxic adaptive response, a gene expression profile of hypoxic SCLC cells was performed using microarray analyses. In all experiments a panel of non-SCLC cells and neuroblastoma cells were included for comparison. Our results show that SCLC cells have a high adaptive capacity to hypoxia, even though a modest induction of well known hypoxia-driven genes is observed. Interestingly, the HIF-1α and HIF-2α are differentially regulated in SCLC cells as compared to non-SCLC. In SCLC cells, no HIF-2α protein is detectable whereas HIF-1α protein levels are sustained and increased up to 96 hours. In addition, knock-down of HIF-1α at 0.1% oxygen are not affecting the viability of the SCLC cells and our gene expression profile of hypoxic SCLC cells has identified genes important for SCLC cells survival at hypoxia. Our data suggest that SCLC cells have an adaptive response to hypoxia that is partially HIF-independent. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2058. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2058
Lassa fever: 10 years on
Authors: D. Cummins
Journal: BMJ (1998)

“We tell ourselves that pestilence is a mere bogey of the mind, a bad dream that will pass away. But it doesn’t always pass away and, from one bad dream to another, it is men who pass away”-Albert Camus, The Plague 

The fever came on gradually over a couple of days. Then one afternoon, in the hospital grounds, I had a rigor. My fever seemed out of place in the intense, tropical heat. Within hours I became seriously unwell.

Segbwema lies in the rain forest of eastern Sierra Leone, an area of rolling hills, rutted roads, and diamond mines. I was researching Lassa fever, a disease highly endemic in the region and a leading cause of death. The natural host of Lassa virus is Mastomys natalensis , one of several types of rat that live in and around the village houses; most human infections are acquired through contamination of broken skin with the rodent's urine. It has been estimated that in the whole of west Africa there may be up to 300 000 human Lassa virus infections each year. Many patients experience a mild, flu-like illness, but some deteriorate rapidly, developing facial oedema, encephalopathy, haemorrhage, and shock. Such patients usually die.

I …
Abstract 1943: miR-148a overexpression reduces TRAIL resistance and tumorigenesis in NSCLC.
Authors: Pooja Joshi, Michela Garofalo, Carlo M. Croce
Journal: Cancer Research (2013)

Abstract Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of death from cancer throughout the world. Although some advances have been made in lung cancer therapy, patient survival is still poor. Tumor-necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) has been shown to induce apoptosis in malignant cells without inducing significant toxicity in normal cells. However, several carcinomas, including lung cancer, remain resistant to TRAIL. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs of ∼24 nt that can block mRNA translation and/or negatively regulate its stability. miRNAs are often aberrantly expressed in cancer and their function is linked to the regulation of oncogenes and/or tumor suppressor genes involved in cell signaling pathways. Several miRNAs have been implicated in increasing susceptibility or resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by inhibiting key functional proteins. In order to identify the miRNAs involved in TRAIL resistance in NSCLC, we evaluated the differential expression of miRNAs in H460 sensitive cells compared with H460R cells that have acquired TRAIL-resistance. MiR-148a was the most downregulated miR in the acquired resistant cells compared to the sensitive cells. Treatment of NSCLC cells with TRAIL after miR-148a overexpression decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, miR-148a overexpression induced downregulation of matrix metalloproteinase 15 (MMP15) and Rho-associated kinase 1 (ROCK1) by targeting their 3’ untranslated regions as analysed by Western blot and luciferase reporter assay. Previous studies have shown that MMP15 acts as an anti-apoptotic factor involved in TRAIL resistance in cancer cells. Both, MMP15 and ROCK1 have been reported to be activators of tumor invasion and migration. Our preliminary functional studies using small interference RNA (siRNA) knockdowns of these genes in NSCLC cells support these data. A better understanding of the tumor-supressive role of miR-148a could be the key to developing an effective prognostic and therapeutic tool for treating NSCLC. Citation Format: Pooja Joshi, Michela Garofalo, Carlo M. Croce. miR-148a overexpression reduces TRAIL resistance and tumorigenesis in NSCLC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1943. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-1943
AB0876 Fonctional Disability and Quality of Life in Patients with Neck Pain
Authors: S. Gueddari, B. Amine, I. Elbinoune, S. Shyen, N. Hajjaj-Hassouni
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2014)

<h3>Background</h3> Neck pain is a common condition in rheumatology. Few data emphasize their impact on functional disability and quality of life among Moroccan patients <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate functional disability, quality of life, and pain in patients with chronic neck pain and to determine the related factors. <h3>Methods</h3> Cross-sectional study conducted on patients with chronic neck pain in rheumatology department. We collected the following data: pain and disability assessed by (VAS-pain) and (VAS -Handicap) respectively. Functional disability and quality of life assessed by Neck Disability Index (NDI) questionnaire and the Health Survey questionnaire SF- 8 respectively. Anxiety and depression assessed by the Arabic version of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HAD) questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to determine the factors influencing the functional disability and quality of life. <h3>Results</h3> 80 patients were included, the mean age was 51.7±11.7 years with female predominance (n=67 (83.7%)). The median of disease duration was 24 months (12-48). The mean VAS pain was 63.8±12.4. The mean VAS disability score was 59.7±14.66. 83.7% of patients had a functional disability with a mean of NDI score 39±6.5. The mean SF- 8 was 33.8±16.5. In univariate analysis, functional disability (NDI) was correlated with age (β =1.234, 95% CI [0009 - 2.252], p=0.036), VAS pain (β =0.487, 95% CI [0.152 -0.359], p&lt;0.0001), VAS functional gene (β =0.347, 95% CI [0.62 - 0.256], p&lt;0.002), VAS disability (β =0.423, 95% CI [0.98 - 0.280], p&lt;0.000), quality of life (SF8) (β =0.285, 95% CI [0.028 - 0.207], p&lt;0.01), productivity at work (β =0.424, 95% [0.071 - 0.237], p&lt;0.000), inefficiency at work (β = -0.424, 95% CI [-0.244 - 0.073], p&lt;0.0001), anxiety and depression (HAD) (β =0.237, 95% CI [0.019- 0.504], p&lt;0.35). After multivariate analysis, factors associated with functional disability were VAS pain (β =1.098, 95% CI [1023-1082], p&lt;0.02) and VAS disability (β =1.79, 95% CI [1104-1656], p=0.038). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Our study suggests that the functional disability in patients with neck pain is associated with high intensity of pain and disability which affect their quality of life. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared <h3>DOI</h3> 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.5699
Large outbreak of Salmonella Thompson related to smoked salmon in the Netherlands, August to December 2012
Authors: I Friesema, A de Jong, A Hofhuis, M Heck, H van den Kerkhof, R de Jonge, D Hameryck, K Nagel, G van Vilsteren, P van Beek, D Notermans, W van Pelt
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2014)

On 15 August 2012, an increase in the number of Salmonella Thompson cases was noticed by the Salmonella surveillance in the Netherlands. A case–control study was performed, followed by a food investigation. In total 1,149 cases were laboratory-confirmed between August and December 2012 of which four elderly (76–91 years) were reported to have died due to the infection. The cause of the outbreak was smoked salmon processed at a single site. The smoked salmon had been continuously contaminated in the processing lines through reusable dishes, which turned out to be porous and had become loaded with bacteria. This is the largest outbreak of salmonellosis ever recorded in the Netherlands. The temporary closure of the processing site and recall of the smoked salmon stopped the outbreak. An estimated four to six million Dutch residents were possibly exposed to the contaminated smoked salmon and an estimated 23,000 persons would have had acute gastroenteritis with S. Thompson during this outbreak. This outbreak showed that close collaboration between diagnostic laboratories, regional public health services, the national institute for public health and the food safety authorities is essential in outbreak investigations.
870 EFFECTS OF DIETARY AND INTRAVENOUS LIPID LOAD ON HEPATITIS C VIRUS CONCENTRATION IN SERUM AND LIPID-SUBFRACTIONS
Authors: K. Rutter, H. Hofer, S. Beinhardt, T.M. Stulnig, R. Strassl, A.F. Stattermayer, T. Popow-Kraupp, M. Trauner, P. Ferenci
Journal: Journal of Hepatology (2012)
Case 14-1999
Authors: Bradley J. Bloom, Lawrence R. Zukerberg
Journal: New England Journal of Medicine (1999)

Presentation of CaseA nine-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital because of fever and cervical lymphadenopathy.The patient had been well until four weeks earlier, when she began to have bilateral popliteal pain that extended upward over the posterior portions of the thighs. The pain decreased with rest and resolved spontaneously within a week. Fever (a temperature of up to 38.9°C) and sore throat soon developed. Twelve days before admission, the girl became fatigued and had anorexia and an enlarged lymph node. Five days before admission, laboratory studies were performed (Table 1 and Table 2). Two days later, cough, mild diarrhea, . . .