tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Archelosaurian color vision, parietal eye loss and the crocodylian nocturnal bottleneck
Authors: Christopher A. Emerling
Journal: Molecular Biology and Evolution (2016)

Vertebrate color vision has evolved partly through the modification of five ancestral visual opsin proteins via gene duplication, loss, and shifts in spectral sensitivity. While many vertebrates, particularly mammals, birds, and fishes, have had their visual opsin repertoires studied in great detail, testudines (turtles) and crocodylians have largely been neglected. Here I examine the genomic basis for color vision in four species of turtles and four species of crocodylians, and demonstrate that while turtles appear to vary in their number of visual opsins, crocodylians experienced a reduction in their color discrimination capacity after their divergence from Aves. Based on the opsin sequences present in their genomes and previous measurements of crocodylian cones, I provide evidence that crocodylians have co-opted the rod opsin (RH1) for cone function. This suggests that some crocodylians might have reinvented trichromatic color vision in a novel way, analogous to several primate lineages. The loss of visual opsins in crocodylians paralleled the loss of various anatomical features associated with photoreception, attributed to a "nocturnal bottleneck" similar to that hypothesized for Mesozoic mammals. I further queried crocodylian genomes for nonvisual opsins and genes associated with protection from ultraviolet light, and found evidence for gene inactivation or loss for several of these genes. Two genes, encoding parietopsin and parapinopsin, were additionally inactivated in birds and turtles, likely co-occurring with the loss of the parietal eye in these lineages.
Prior Treatment with Chemotherapy Associated to Gemtuzumab Ozogamicin (GO) Does Not Increase the Risk of Veno-Occlusive Disease (VOD) after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation (all-SCT).
Authors: Patrice Chevallier, Thomas Prebet, Pascal Turlure, Mathilde Hunault, Stephane Vigouroux, Catherine Faucher, Thierry Guillaume, Francoise Mechinaud, Sameh Ayari, Jacques Delaunay, Noel-Jean Milpied, Jean-Luc Harousseau, Norbert Ifrah, Didier Blaise, Norbert Vey, Mohamad Mohty
Journal: Blood (2008)
Utilization of partial nephrectomy at a cancer center in the modern era.
Authors: R. L. O'Malley, T. Kowalik, M. H. Hayn, T. B. Collins, W. Underwood, H. L. Kim, T. Schwaab
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

370 Background: Analyses of population-based databases have demonstrated a striking under-utilization of partial nephrectomy (PN) despite its superiority in functional outcomes. Disparities in treatment patterns exist in the community and at some tertiary centers, based on age, gender and some comorbidities. The goal of the current study was to determine predictors of PN utilization at a cancer center in the modern era. Methods: An institutional renal tumor database was used to identify patients who were potential candidates for elective PN (solitary tumors ≤ 7cm, baseline creatinine ≤ 1.5 mg/dL and a normal contralateral kidney). We estimated the effects of hypothesized predictors on the likelihood of undergoing radical nephrectomy (RN) versus PN by univariable (UV) and multivariable (MV) logistic regression. Variables included were: age, gender, race, smoking status, Charlson comorbidity index, body mass index (BMI), preoperative creatinine, year of surgery (YOS), radiographic tumor size, and whether diagnostic biopsy was performed. Results: Of the 244 patients identified, 64% underwent PN and 37% underwent RN between August 2004 and June 2010. The cohort was composed of 11% non-Caucasians, 59% males and 22% current smokers with a mean age, BMI and tumor size of 61 years, 31 kg/m 2 and 3.5cm, respectively. Of the cohort, 17% underwent biopsy. On UV analysis advanced age, larger tumor size, earlier YOS and Caucasian race all predicted RN (OR 1.03 CI 1.02-1.06, OR 2.09 CI 1.70-2.58, OR 0.56 CI 0.46-0.70, OR 0.36 CI 0.13-0.99, respectively). On MV analysis using all variables, tumor size and YOS remained independent predictors (OR 2.89 CI 2.11-3.95, OR 0.44 CI 0.33-0.59, respectively). Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) on biopsy was also independently predictive on MV analysis (OR 0.37 CI 0.14- 0.97). Conclusions: Predictors of PN utilization at a cancer center differ from previous analyses and include decreasing tumor size, more recent YOS and RCC on biopsy. Appropriately, age and gender (when comorbidity is included) are not predictors of type of surgery. The significance of RCC on biopsy as a predictor of PN is unclear but may represent co-varying selection bias for lesions that are both accessible to biopsy and more appropriate candidates for PN. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
E-cigarettes are major threat to young people’s health, says US surgeon general
Authors: Michael McCarthy
Journal: BMJ (2016)

Use of electronic cigarettes has become a major health threat to US youth and young adults, the country’s surgeon general, Vivek Murthy, has warned, and he has called for tougher policies and regulations to discourage their use by young people.

In a new report, Murthy says that “vaping” devices have become increasingly popular among the young in the US.1 In 2015, one in six middle and high school students reported having used e-cigarettes in the past month, and a quarter reported having tried e-cigarettes, making them now the most commonly used form of tobacco among US young people.

Supporters of e-cigarettes argue that, because the aerosols they generate do not contain many of …
Active surveillance for low-risk prostate cancer: Practice across Europe.
Authors: Aini Azmi, Ruth Dillon, Laure Marignol, Simona Borghesi, Mary Dunne, Richard Power, Brian O'Neill
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2012)

217 Background: Active surveillance (AS) is a recognized treatment option for patients with low-risk prostate cancer (PCa). We carried out a web-based survey to evaluate how AS is practiced by European urologists and to review criteria for patient selection, follow up and indications for intervention. Methods: 2959 potential participants were identified via various European urological association databases and invited via email to complete an online survey consisting of 19 questions. Only urologists practising in an EU country were eligible to participate. Results: 226 urologists participated in the survey corresponding to a response rate of 8%. None of the 19 questions were answered by all urologists, therefore results exclude the missing data. 220 (97%) urologists offer AS. 48% (n=103/216) and 24% (n=53/216) urologists offer AS within the context of an official protocol or clinical trial respectively. The most used factors in selecting patients are Gleeson score (GS) ≤3+3=6 (n=174/202, 86%) and PSA ≤10ng/ml (n=171/200, 85%). 48% (n=96/201) only include patients with ≤2 cores positive while 18% (n=37/201) include those with &lt;50% positive biopsy cores. 41% urologists (n=82/202) only include patients with a clinical stage ≤T1cN0M0. MRI pelvis is performed as a baseline investigation by only 28% (n=57/200). All responding urologists (n=194) use serial PSA to follow up their patients. 89% (n=172/194) carry out serial DRE while 83% (n=161/194) perform repeated prostate biopsy. Re-biopsy is performed within the first year of AS by 77% of urologists (n=131/171). Only 8% (n=15/193) use serial MRI pelvis to monitor their patients. The follow up intensity also varies widely. GS progression was the most frequently cited trigger for intervention (n=168/192, 87%) followed by PSA doubling time of ≤3 years (n=115/192, 60%). Conclusions: Several internationally published guidelines on PCa treatment have recommended AS as a therapeutic option for patients with low-risk PCa. However presently there is a lack of consensus on an optimal AS protocol. This survey shows the wide variation in the practice of AS across Europe and highlights the need for patients to be included in clinical trials to enable an evidence-based guideline to be established.
The ASH Practice Improvement Module in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Assessing the Feasibility, Reliability and Usefulness of a New Quality Improvement Tool
Authors: Michael D Jain, Lee Mozessohn, Lauren M Gerard, Jackie Ostro, Mansoor Radwi, Bertrand Routy, Bethany Gill, Tony Panzarella, Peter Anglin, Matthew C Cheung, Vishal Kukreti, Lisa Hicks
Journal: Blood (2014)
Clinical Impact of TERT A1062T Mutations in Younger Patients with Acute Myeloblastic Leukemia
Authors: Katharina Wagner, Anna Both, Frederik Damm, Felicitas Thol, Gudrun Göhring, Michael Heuser, Oliver G. Ottmann, Michael Lübbert, Mohammed Wattad, Lothar Kanz, Günther Schlimok, Aruna Raghavachar, Walter Fiedler, Hartmut Kirchner, Wolfram Brugger, Brigitte Schlegelberger, Gerhard Heil, Arnold Ganser, Jürgen Krauter
Journal: Blood (2012)
Oncologic outcomes for node-positive patients undergoing robotic radical cystectomy.
Authors: C. Mmeje, R. Nunez-Nateras, R. Pruthi, M. E. Nielsen, E. Wallen, M. Humphreys, E. P. Castle
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

290 Background: Previous studies have shown robot assisted radical cystectomy (RARC) to have equivalent perioperative outcomes to open radical cystectomy. There are few reports that have examined the oncologic results of RARC specifically with respect to node-positive patients. We report the outcomes of node-positive patients who have undergone RARC with medium-term (at least 1 year) follow-up. Methods: A total of 275 patients underwent RARC at two institutions for invasive bladder cancer between 2005-present. We examined the 50 patients with node-positive disease that had a minimum of one year follow-up. Oncologic outcomes, recurrence free survival (RFS), and disease specific survival (DSS) were analyzed and compared to the open literature. Results: Mean clinical follow up in this case series was 29 months (range 12–64 months). The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 18 (range 5–35), and mean number of positive LNs was 3.1 (range 1–12). Overall rate of LN positivity was 26%. Mean LN density was 18%. Seventeen (34%) patients had ≤ pT2 disease and 33 (66%) pT3/T4 disease. At this follow-up, 29 patients have recurred, 21 patients died of disease, giving a RFS and DSS of 42% and 58%, respectively. Mean (median) time to recurrence was 10.2 months (9 months). A total of 60% of patients received peri-operative chemotherapy in this cohort. These findings are consistent with prior reports of such oncologic outcomes in node-positive patients in open series. Conclusions: The oncologic follow-up of patients undergoing RARC with LN positive disease appears to have acceptable outcomes during medium term (mean 29 months) follow-up. As our follow-up increases, we expect to continue to accurately define the long-term clinical suitability and oncologic success of this procedure in this high-risk population. No significant financial relationships to disclose.
Recombinant Erythropoietin and Darbepoetin Alpha Exert a Similar Dose-Dependent Osteopenic Effect Which May Advocate for "Start Low, Go Slow" Dosing Strategy in Clinical Practice
Authors: Kolomansky Albert, Sahar Hiram-Bab, Naamit Deshet-Unger, Nathalie Ben-Califa, Dafna Gilboa, Tamar Liron, Howard S Oster, Moshe Mittelman, Yankel Gabet, Drorit Neumann
Journal: Blood (2016)
Systemically Injected Mesenchymal Stem Cells Traffic to Myelomatous Bone and Inhibit Bone Disease, and Intralesionally Promotes Bone Formation and Delays Myeloma Progression During the Disease Active Stage or Remission
Authors: Xin Li, Wen Ling, Sharmin Khan, Yuping Wang, Angela Pennisi, Bart Barlogie, John Shaughnessy, Shmuel Yaccoby
Journal: Blood (2010)
C-Kit Signaling Blocks B Cell Differentiation of Common Lymphoid Progenitor Cells by Negatively Regulating Stat5-Dependent Activation of Ebf Expressionc-Kit Signaling Blocks B Cell Differentiation of Common Lymphoid Progenitor Cells by Negatively Regulating Stat5-Dependent Activation of Ebf1 Expression
Authors: Oleg Kolupaev, Melissa Thal, Christopher Klug
Journal: Blood (2012)
Donor-Type Myelodysplastic Syndrome with t(2;3) and Monosomy 7 after Allogeneic Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation and Liver Transplantation in a Patient with Severe-Type Aplastic Anemia.
Authors: Satoshi Hashino, Fumie Fujisawa, Takeshi Kondo, Masahiro Imamura, Kazuya Sato, Yoshihiro Torimoto, Yutaka Kohgo, Keisuke Kimura, Hiroyuki Furukawa, Satoru Todo, Masahiro Asaka
Journal: Blood (2006)
Expression of MGMT and response to treatment with temozolomide in patients with leiomyosarcoma.
Authors: A. Marrari, J. L. Hornick, N. H. Ramaiya, J. Manola, A. J. Wagner
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

10074 Background: Temozolomide (TMZ) has limited activity in soft tissue sarcoma, with an overall response rate (ORR) <15%. However, leiomyosarcomas (LMS) may exhibit higher sensitivity to this agent. Silencing of the O6-methylguanine–DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene by promoter methylation and loss of MGMT expression predict response to TMZ in glioblastoma and pancreatic endocrine tumors, respectively. Methods: We retrospectively assessed the response rate to TMZ in patients with metastatic LMS treated at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. We then evaluated expression of MGMT by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in primary tumor specimens, and correlated expression with response to treatment. Results: Since January 2004, 28 patients with adequate follow-up information have received oral TMZ as part of their treatment. Uterine LMS (ULMS) accounted for 39% of the cases. TMZ was given 75 mg/m2 daily for 21 days in 28 day cycles. Five PR were seen, for an ORR of 17.8% by RECIST, and 15 patients had SD. Median PFS on TMZ was 126 days. No difference in ORR between ULMS (2 of 11) and non-ULMS (3 of 17) was noted (Fisher’s exact p=1.0). MGMT was deficient in tumors from 6 of 20 patients with clinical benefit (PR +SD), and in 1 of 8 without (p=0.63). Median PFS was 105 days for the MGMT-intact group and 203 days for the MGMT-deficient group (p=0.34). ORR to TMZ among patients whose primary tumor was MGMT deficient was 42.9% (3 of 7, 90% CI 12.9-77.5%), compared to 9.5% (2 of 21, 90% CI 1.7-27.1%) of the patients with MGMT-intact tumors (Fisher’s exact p=0.08). Twelve patients underwent subsequent metastasectomies at our institution before receiving TMZ, of whom 3 (25%) exhibited discordance in MGMT staining between the primary and metastatic specimens. Conclusions: We confirmed activity of TMZ in LMS. We observed a trend toward higher response to TMZ among patients with tumors lacking MGMT expression; however, the mechanism we examined should be clarified by other methods. Further studies, including methylation-specific PCR of MGMT promoter, are currently underway. Heterogeneity in MGMT expression between primary and metastatic lesions exists and may affect the association between staining and response to treatment.
Compound Ultrasound Strain Imaging for Noninvasive Detection of (Fibro)Atheromatous Plaques: Histopathological Validation in Human Carotid Arteries
Authors: Hendrik H.G. Hansen, Gert Jan de Borst, Michiel L. Bots, Frans L. Moll, Gerard Pasterkamp, Chris L. de Korte
Journal: JACC. Cardiovascular imaging (2016)
Therapeutic Action of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) Eradication in Patients with Chronic ITP - Lessons from Eradication Therapy on H. pylori-Negative Patients.
Authors: Atsuko Asahi, Masataka Kuwana, Hidekazu Suzuki, Yuka Okazaki, Tatehiro Masaoka, Yasuo Ikeda
Journal: Blood (2004)
Therapeutic management of metastatic breast cancer across Europe: European observatory and survey (EOS).
Authors: K. Krzemieniecki, S. Antolín Novoa, M. Gozy, C. Schumacher, G. G. Steger, G. Carteni', B. R. Bird, E. Albuisson, A. Barnadas, G. Batist, J. De Mouzon, F. Erdkamp, R. C. F. Leonard, H. Lueck, M. Namer, M. Venturini, P. Ronga, S. Maumus-Robert, M. S. Aapro
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

e11556 Background: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is a heterogeneous disease with many treatment options, including single-agent or combination chemotherapy. We analyzed in a real-life setting the therapeutic decision for treating MBC with non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (Myocet, LED) or another chemotherapeutic agent (non-LED). Methods: A European, multicentre, prospective, 6-month cohort study, with a treatment group comparison at the time of inclusion (LED vs. non-LED), is currently recruiting across 8 countries adult women with confirmed MBC and scheduled first cycle of chemotherapy. LED and non-LED patients were matched on MBC chemotherapy line. Results: We analyzed 505 patients (360 LED, 145 non-LED) included from Jan-09 to Dec-10. 85% had a WHO performance status of 0-1 and the median age was 60 yrs. 22% were HER2-positive at initial diagnosis. The median number of metastatic sites per patient was 2, and main sites of metastases were bone (63%), liver (45%) and lung (39%). Comparison of 143 patient pairs showed that LED patients had smaller primary tumor size (25 vs. 30 mm, p=0.02), and more frequent progesterone-receptor-positive tumors (52% vs. 48%, p=0.048) than non-LED patients. LED patients also tended to be slightly older (median 61 vs. 58 yrs, p=0.06) and to have more frequent bony (63% vs. 53%, p=0.09) and peritoneal (7% vs. 4%, p=0.05) metastases. The previous use of anthracyclines was similar in both groups (59% vs. 54%, p=0.8). Overall, major reasons for choosing LED were: among patient-related factors: stage of disease (72%); among factors related to previous anti-cancer treatment: treatment failure (48%); and among factors related to the chosen treatment: patient eligibility (63%). Single agent chemotherapy was given to 36% of LED and 57% of non-LED patients. LED was mainly combined with cyclophosphamide (50%) and taxanes (14%). Non-LED agents were mainly taxanes (57%), cyclophosphamide (18%), vinorelbine (16%) and 5-fluorouracil (12%). Conclusions: EOS aims to give information on MBC epidemiology in Europe and on its management. Further data are needed to refine the analysis and to compare MBC management per country.
Serum B-Cell Activating Factor (BAFF) in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Its Prognostic Significance in the Rituximab Era.
Authors: Seok Jin Kim, Hwa Jung Sung, Chul Won Choi, In Sun Kim, Byung Soo Kim, Soo-Young Yoon, Jong-Ho Won, Jun Suk Kim
Journal: Blood (2007)
Non-Pegylated Lyposomal Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, Prednisone and Rituximab (R-COMP) as Initial Treatment for Patients with Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma (SMZL). A GISL Study
Authors: Emilio Iannitto, Stefano Luminari, Caterina Mammi, Viviana Minardi, Francesco Merli, Francesco Angrilli, Caterina Stelitano, Marina Cesaretti, Giovanni Franco, Angelo M. Carella, Massimo Federico
Journal: Blood (2007)
Serum calcitonin gene-related neuropeptide (CGRP) in patients with benign and malignant breast lesions: Correlation with mammographic breast density.
Authors: V. Papantoniou, P. Valsamaki, A. Fothiadaki, A. Archontaki, V. Skalistis, S. Marinopoulos, T. Liotsou, T. Karianos, A. Tsakmakli, A. Tsaroucha, A. Stipsanelli, A. Antsaklis
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2011)

78 Background: The aim of this study was to assess the variation of the serum neo-angiogenic neuropeptide CGRP in patients with benign and malignant breast lesions and to evaluate its possible correlation with mammographic findings. Methods: Our study included forty eight women with histologically confirmed breast lesions: mild epithelial hyperplasia (MEH): n=12, florid epithelial hyperplasia (FEH): n=5, atypical hyperplasia (AH): n=4, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS): n=5, mixed in situ with invasive ductal carcinoma (DCIS+IDC): n=9 and pure IDC: n=13. Serum CGRP levels were measured by RIA methods and compared among the various groups by Mann-Whitney test. Mammographic breasy density (BD%) was calculated using computer-assisted methods and was correlated with serum CGRP concentration by applying linear regression analysis. Results: Serum CGRP concentration (mean±SD: pg/mL) in the various groups, was: MEH: 96.8±22.5, FEH: 135.5±33.5, AH: 139±44.4, DCIS: 131.4±37.5, DCIS+IDC: 1167.5±927.5, pure IDC: 198±82. DCIS+IDC lesions presented statistically significantly higher serum CGRP levels (versus: MEH p&lt;0.001, FEH p&lt;0.001, AH p&lt;0.001, DCIS p&lt;0.001 and IDC p&lt;0.001). Serum CGRP concentration presented statistically significant correlation with BD% (r=0.947, p&lt;0.0001). Conclusions: Statistically increased serum CGRP concentration was determined in women with DCIS+IDC lesions. The significant correlation between serum CGRP levels and BD, enhances the suggestion that DCIS+IDC represents a distinct pathological entity, associated with an interactive mechanism between BD and serum CGRP expression. Therefore, serum CGRP levels could constitute a future useful preoperative index of the nature or type of suspicious mammographic lesions, in order to schedule the appropriate therapeutic treatment, and potentially propounds the perspective of adjunctive therapeutic administration of anti-CGRP peptides.
Improved Detection of Minimal Residual Disease by 11C-Methionine PET/CT in a Young Patient With Unusual Extramedullary Presentation of Recurrent Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Carmelo Caldarella, Salvatore Annunziata, Livio Pagano, Valerio De Stefano, Vittoria Rufini
Journal: Clinical Nuclear Medicine (2016)

Extramedullary relapse of multiple myeloma (MM) is uncommon. A 40-year-old woman with history of MM underwent PET/CT using 11C-methionine (C-MET) after the detection of a vulvar lesion on MRI, biopsy proven to be extramedullary relapse of MM. The vulvar lesion was negative at the 18F-FDG PET/CT but showed high uptake of C-MET; focal uptake of both 18F-FDG and C-MET was shown within the muscles of the left leg, histologically confirmed as extramedullary relapse of MM. 18F-FDG PET/CT performed after chemotherapy showed no uptake in both sites, whereas posttreatment C-MET PET/CT showed persistence of residual uptake within the vulvar lesion.
Locating consciousness: We are conflicted by the role of conflict
Authors: Dom Massaro, Bill Rowe
Journal: Behavioral and Brain Sciences (2016)

What is consciousness for? Consciousness allows us to handle conflict, a promising proposal by Morsella et al. However, they provide little evidence as to why consciousness is particularly valuable in resolving conflict, nor do they limit the role of consciousness to only conflicting experiences. We attempt to clarify their possible positions and offer several solutions for how these might be formulated and tested.