tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Abstract P031: Enhanced Cardiac Progenitor Cell Function and Differentiation in a Naturally Derived Extracellular Matrix
Authors: Kristin M French, Jessica A DeQuach, Karen L Christman, Michael E Davis
Journal: Circulation Research (2011)

Cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction, is a leading cause of death worldwide. Though several pharmacological treatments for severe dysfunction exist, much recent work has focused on the transplantation of adult-derived stem and progenitor cells. Early acute functional improvements have been noted, however long-term clinical efficacy is hampered by poor cell survival and engraftment. While the current treatment is infusion into the coronary artery, biomaterials may play an important role in modulating implanted cell function. This work aims to establish the role that a naturally derived extracellular matrix plays in the differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) and their potentially protective enzymatic systems. To test this hypothesis, we cultured rat CPCs in a naturally derived porcine ECM (pECM) and compared it to Collagen I. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to assess expression of cardiac, endothelial and smooth muscle markers. Additionally, angiotensin receptor (AT1R and AT2R) and antioxidant gene expressions were evaluated to determine the protective qualities of pECM. Preliminary data at 2 days following LIF removal demonstrate an increase in the expression of cardiac lineage markers (Nkx-2.5, Gata-4, α-MHC, and troponin I) in pECM compared to collagen. Smooth muscle markers, smooth muscle α-actin and sm22α as well as the endothelial marker Flk1 were also increased in pECM samples. Increased expression was also seen for antioxidant genes GPX1, SOD1, SOD2 and catalase in pECM cultured cells. Culturing in pECM for 7 days demonstrated an increase in Flt-1 and α-myosin heavy chain, indicating a potential increase in cardiogenesis. Moreover a 60% reduction in AT1R gene expression was observed with no significant change in AT2R expression. Our data demonstrate that culturing CPCs in naturally derived matrices may provide protection and enhance differentiation compared to collagen (present in high amounts in scarred myocardium). Future work will further elucidate this protective effect of AT1R downregulation and antioxidant increases in functional studies. In conclusion, pECM may be a potential cell delivery scaffold in post-MI treatment given its protective nature and improved differentiation influence.
Biology and prognosis of HER2-negative breast cancer with low-ER and PgR-expressions.
Authors: Reiki Nishimura, Tomofumi Osako, Yasuyuki Nishiyama, Yasuhiro Okumura, Mamiko Fujisue, Yasuo Toyozumi, Nobuyuki Arima
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2017)

e12020 Background: Expression of the estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR) is still clinically important in predicting prognosis and determining therapeutic strategies in breast cancer. According to the ASCO and CAP guidelines tumors with ≥1% positively staining cells should be considered ER/PgR positive. The clinical significance of low-ER/PgR-staining (1-9%) tumors were analyzed to investigate the biology and prognosis. Methods: This study examined 3193 consecutive HER2 negative invasive breast cancer cases. Clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of hormone receptor (HR)-negative (&lt;1%), low-HR-staining (1-9%) tumors and positive (≥ 10%) tumors were compared. The median follow-up period was 75 months. Results: The following is the number of patients in each of the tumor categories: 466 ER cases (14.6%) and 775 PgR cases (24.2%) in the &lt;1% group; 68 ER cases (2.1%) and 218 PgR cases (6.8%) in the 1-9% group; and 2559 ER cases and 2200 PgR cases in the ≥ 10% group. The age groups were; young (≤35 y), premenopausal (36-50 y), postmenopausal (51-65 y) and the elderly (≥66 y). The median ER positive cell rate was significantly lower in the young group. In contrast, the PgR expression was significantly higher in the premenopausal group and significantly lower in the postmenopausal group. Patients in the ≥10% group had significantly smaller tumors, lower Ki-67 values, a lower p53 overexpression and nuclear grade. The elderly group had better disease-free survival (DFS) and the young group had the lowest DFS. In addition, DFS by ER/PgR expression was more favorable in the ≥ 10% group than the other groups. Patients with 1-9% ER had significantly lower DFS than those in the ≥10% elderly group. Patients with 1-9% PgR had significantly lower DFS than those in all the ≥10% groups and significantly lower DFS than those in the &lt;1% premenopausal group. Multivariate analysis for DFS revealed that PgR expression, lymph node metastasis and tumor size were significant prognostic factors. Conclusions: There was a clear difference in the PgR expression rate due to the menopausal status. Moreover, the 1-9% ER and PgR groups had biological features that were similar to ER/PgR-negative tumors.
Combination immunotherapy with IDO vaccine and PD-1 inhibitors in advanced NSCLC.
Authors: Anders Mellemgaard, Lotte engel-Norregaard, Mads Hald Andersen, Mai-Britt Zocca, inge Marie Svane
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2017)

TPS2610 Background: Multible checkpoints regulate host immune response, and development has focused on three of these: IDO, CTLA-4 and PD-1. Presently, several checkpoint inhibitors have been approved for advanced NSCLC including nivolumab, pembrolizumab, and atezolizumab all targeting PD-1 and PD-L1. Depending on level of PD-L1 tumor expression, response rates vary, and a substantial proportion of patients do not respond to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors. The combination of checkpoint inhibitors have been shown in malignant melanoma and other tumor types to clearly increase the effect. IO102 is a synthetic peptide under development as an immune-modulatory agent targeting cells expressing indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). IDO potently inhibits T-cell immunity in patients with cancer. Treatment with IO102 in NSCLC patients after first line palliative chemotherapy lead to long PFS in a number of patients in a small single arm study. Methods: IO102-001 is a randomized, double-blinded Phase 2 trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IO102 in combination with anti-PD-1 mAb in locally advanced and/or metastatic NSCLC stage III-IV patients eligible for anti-PD-1 mAb 2nd line treatment after first line of chemotherapy. Patients are randomized (2:1) to either a PD-1 inhibitor + IO201 vaccine or a PD-1 inhibitor (SOC). The PD-1 inhibitor will be administered according to label while IO102 will be given as s.c. injection every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks, and subsequently every 4 weeks for 12 months or until progression, death or withdrawal from trial, whichever comes first. Treatment is continued to progression, unacceptable toxicity or withdrawal of consent. Main inclusion criteria is patients diagnosed with locally advanced and/or metastatic NSCLC Stage III-IV, measurable disease according to RECIST (1.1), patients eligible for anti PD-1 mAb treatment after 1st line of chemotherapy , ECOG performance status 0 or 1 and available tumor tissue for further analysis. A total of 90 patients will be included in the trial, and the trial will be active in countries in Europe and the US from Q2 2017.
OP0105 A comparison of post streptococcal reactive arthritis subgroups based on aso/antidnase-b ratios; a three year inception cohort study
Authors: TL Jansen, PM Houtman, EN Griep, GA Bruyn, AM Elsacker-Niele
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2001)

<h3>Background</h3> Last decade a resurgence of post streptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA) is observed in the Netherlands. As throat cultures often remain negative, dicrimination between cases due to group A streptococci (GAS) versus non-group A streptococci (NGAS) may be strived for by using serologic responses in anti-strepto-lysin-O (ASO) and anti-deoxyribonuclease-B (antiDNase-B). Previous studies have shown: lower ASO/antiDNase-B ratio 1.45 for NGAS infection. <h3>Objectives</h3> <h3>Methods</h3> <h3>Study design</h3> Prospective observational inception cohort study of consecutive PSRA patients, presenting to our Dept of Rheumatology from April 1998 until Dec 2000. Alternative causes of arthritis were excluded. <h3>Results</h3> 20 female, 15 male PSRA patients were included; 1 male was excluded after half a year as he developed a RF positive erosive RA. The 24 remaining patients did not meet Jones' criteria. A sore throat was recalled by 19/24 = 79%. Throat culture was positive in 7/24 = 29%: GAS in 4, GGS in 2, and GCS in 1 patient. Patients were subgrouped according to ASO/antiDNase-B ratio. At least a 1-yr-period of monthly penicillin prophylaxis was advised to patients in whom GAS was the presumed causative microbe. So far follow-up was uneventful with respect to carditis/chorea: complication rate &lt;1/427 mos. In 1 patient from the NGAS group, a fulminant arthritis with pneumonitis recurred 6 mos after a 2-yr-period of penicillin prophylaxis: arthritis recurrency rate 1/304 NGAS-patient mos. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Serologic analysis in PSRA gives additive information. A higher ASO/anti-Dnase-B ratio suggests primary NGAS infection, is associated with a signifiantly less polyarticular presentation of arthritis, and with a significantly more rapid recovery. The exact role for penicillin prophylaxis warrants further investigation.
Doctors in India meet to condemn practice of paying referral kickbacks to GPs
Authors: Sumi S Dutta
Journal: BMJ (2017)

Doctors in India have publicly condemned the payment of commissions to fellow doctors who refer patients to them for diagnosis, treatment, or surgery, and are seeking government intervention to curb the practice.

Doctors from across the country publicly decried the practice at a meeting on 28 June. The meeting was called by the Asian Heart Institute, a private hospital in Mumbai that has stirred controversy by placing billboards across the city saying that its doctors do not pay or receive commissions.

Many believe that stopping these commissions, or “cut practice” as it is called, would help reduce patients’ expenses by up to 25%.

While doctors may have privately shared concerns about cuts, the …
Massive gastrointestinal bleeding after transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)
Authors: Juan E Corral, Omar Y Mousa, Douglas L Riegert-Johnson
Journal: Gut (2017)

A patient with end-stage liver disease secondary to haemochromatosis was transferred to our hospital for variceal bleeding. During the previous 5 months, she underwent 10 oesophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGD) with repeated endoscopic band ligations (EBL). Following the most recent EBL, she was transferred to our hospital for emergent transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) procedure. The patient arrived on mechanical ventilator support with continuous infusion of intravenous inotropes. After multiple blood transfusions and supportive measures, she had a successful TIPS procedure (mean portal-systemic gradient decreased from 11 mm Hg to 4 mm Hg). She recovered and was transferred to the general medical ward.

Six days after the TIPS, she had another episode of hematochezia, …
Current and future trends in tuberculosis incidence in New York City: a dynamic modelling analysis
Authors: Anthony T Fojo, Natalie L Stennis, Andrew S Azman, Emily A Kendall, Sourya Shrestha, Shama D Ahuja, David W Dowdy
Journal: The Lancet Public Health (2017)

After steady decline since the 1990s, tuberculosis (TB) incidence in New York City (NYC) and the United States (US) has flattened. The reasons for this trend and the implications for the future trajectory of TB in the US remain unclear.We developed a compartmental model of TB in NYC, parameterized with detailed epidemiological data. We ran the model under five alternative scenarios representing different explanations for recent declines in TB incidence. We evaluated each scenario's relative likelihood by comparing its output to available data. We used the most likely scenarios to explore drivers of TB incidence and predict future trajectories of the TB epidemic in NYC.Demographic changes and declining TB transmission alone were insufficient to explain recent trends in NYC TB incidence. Only scenarios that assumed contemporary changes in TB dynamics among the foreign-born - a declining rate of reactivation or a decrease in imported subclinical TB - could accurately describe the trajectory of TB incidence since 2007. In those scenarios, the projected decline in TB incidence from 2015 to 2025 varied from minimal [2·0%/year (95% credible interval 0·4-3·5%)] to similar to 2005 to 2009 trends [4·4%/year (2·5-6·4%)]. The primary factor differentiating optimistic from pessimistic projections was the degree to which improvements in TB dynamics among the foreign-born continued into the coming decade.Further progress against TB in NYC requires additional focus on the foreign-born population. Absent additional intervention in this group, TB incidence may not decline further.
Mesna, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine (MAID) chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic or recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma.
Authors: Alok Pant, John Robert Lurain, Julian C. Schink
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2012)

e15523 Background: Metastatic or recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma is often treated with chemotherapy. There are a limited number of viable regimens that are effective and well tolerated. Our objective was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the MAID chemotherapy regimen in women with advanced uterine leiomyosarcoma. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 18 patients who received MAID chemotherapy for metastatic or recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma between 1998 and 2010. Ten patients had received prior radiation therapy (3) and/or gemcitabine-docetaxel chemotherapy (8). The MAID regimen was administered intravenously in the hospital every three weeks as follows: mesna 120 mg/m 2 prior to ifosfamide day 1 and 1.2 mg/m 2 infusion over 8 hours starting immediately after the ifosfamide d 1-3, doxorubicin 15 mg/m 2 d 1-3, ifosfamide 1.2 gm/m 2 d 1-3, and dacarbazine 200 mg/m 2 d 1-3. Disease response was evaluated by physical exam and imaging studies. Toxicity was assessed using NCI Common Toxicity Criteria. Results: Response to MAID chemotherapy was observed in 7 (39%) of 18 patients: 2 (11%) complete responses and 5 (28%) partial responses. Stable disease was noted in 8 patients (44%) and disease progression occurred in 3 patients (17%). There was no difference in response rates between patients who had received prior chemotherapy (3/8, 38%) and patients who had not received prior chemotherapy (4/10, 40%). A total of 90 cycles of chemotherapy were administered with a median of 5.5 (range 1-9) cycles per patient. Grades 3 and 4 toxicity requiring dose reduction of treatment delay complicated only 4 cycles (4.4%), including only one admission for neutropenic fever. There were no reported cases of cardiac dysfunction, hemorrhagic cystitis, or encephalopathy. The median progression-free survival was 10 (range 6-152) months for responders, 7.5 (range 3-120) months for those with stable disease, and 0 months for those with progressive disease. Conclusions: This is the largest series of uterine leiomyosarcoma patients treated with MAID chemotherapy. MAID chemotherapy in the dosage schedule utilized is a well-tolerated and effective regimen.
Checking Validity of Soluble Transferrin Receptors (sTfR) in a District General Hospital
Authors: A Koulaouzidis, E Said, S Pathare, J Singh, AA Saeed
Journal: Endoscopy (2006)

Methods: Prospective study, two different cohorts. The one (A) included thirty patients referred to the Gastroenterologists for investigation of normocytic anaemia. The other (B) included thirty-eight patients with normocytic anaemia, followed-up by the Rheumatologists. For each patient, both serum sTfR and ferritin were estimated.
TRANSFER OF A JUMP-LANDING TASK TO SIDESTEP CUTTING: IMPLICATIONS FOR ACL INJURY PREVENTION
Authors: Anne Benjaminse, Wouter Welling, Bert Otten, Alli Gokeler
Journal: British Journal of Sports Medicine (2017)

Background It is unknown if learned motor skills as practiced in ACL injury prevention training carry over to other tasks. Objective Determine if training of a jump-landing task results in transfer of improvement in lower extremity biomechanics during sidestep cutting. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Controlled laboratory setting, recreational athletes. Participants Twenty male and twenty female healthy team ball sport athletes were randomly assigned to a verbal internal focus (IF, n=10), verbal external focus (EF, n=10), video (VI, n=10) or control group (CTRL, n=10). Interventions A jump-landing task was performed at baseline followed by training blocks (TR1 and TR2), an immediate post-test and an one-week retention test. Subjects in the IF, EF and VI groups received group specific instructions in TR1 and TR2. Transfer was determined after one week with a 45° unanticipated sidestep cutting task. Main Outcome Measurements Hip and knee flexion range of motion (ROM). Results During sidestep cutting, males in the VI (5.1°±1.0) and CTRL (5.1°±1.0) group showed greater hip flexion ROM compared to the IF (3.7°±0.0) and EF (3.0°±1.5) groups (p&lt;0.05). For females, the VI group (7.0°±1.0) showed greater hip flexion ROM compared to the IF (0.6°±0.0), EF (1.3°±0.7) and CTRL (2.7°±0.0) groups (p&lt;0.05). The EF (males −15.8°±3.9, females −11.0°±3.0) and VI (males −15.1°±2.6, females −16.7°±1.8) groups showed greater knee flexion ROM compared to the IF (males −6.6°±3.9, females −6.0°±1.3) group (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions Athletes who received VI instructions demonstrated transfer of improved movement technique from jump-landing to sidestep cutting. Adding visual instruction to ACL injury prevention programs seems promising for transfer to sport specific situations.
A Novel Hierarchical Prognostic Model Based on Clinical Feature and Cytogenetics for Splenic Marginal Zone Lymphoma
Authors: Yuting Yan, Wenjie Xiong, Shuhua Yi, Rui Lv, Zhen Yu, Wei Liu, Heng Li, Huimin Liu, Zengjun Li, Dehui Zou, Mu Hao, Lugui Qiu
Journal: Blood (2016)
Outcomes of young patients (age younger than 40) with cervical cancer treated with (chemo) radiotherapy: A Japanese multi-institutional study.
Authors: Takuro Ariga, Yuzuru Niibe, Takafumi Toita, Tomoko Kazumoto, Hidehiro Eto, Osamu Suzuki, Rumiko Kinoshita, Kayoko Tsujino, Mitsuhiro Takemoto, Takeshi Kodaira, Hideomi Yamashita, Kazushige Hayakawa
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2012)

e15533 Background: To analyze treatment outcomes of young patients (age: &lt;40 years) with uterine cervical cancer treated with definitive (chemo) radiotherapy in Japanese institutions. Methods: The records of 118 patients (age: &lt;40 years) with cervical cancer were reviewed retrospectively. The median age was 35 years (range: 24-39 years). Clinical FIGO stages were as follows: Stages 1b1/1b2/1b/2a/2b/3a/3b/4a/unknown in 6/9/2/6/40/2/49/3/1 patients, respectively. Median maximum tumor diameter was 5.5 cm (range: 2-9.2 cm). Forty-six patients (39%) had enlarged pelvic nodes (&gt;10 mm in the shortest diameter). One hundred five patients had squamous cell carcinoma, and 13 patients had non-squamous cell carcinoma. Definitive radiotherapy consisted of high-dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy and whole-pelvis external beam radiation therapy. The cumulative linear quadratic equivalent dose (EQD2) was 64 Gy (range: 30-80 Gy) prescribed at point A. Concurrent chemotherapy was delivered in 95 patients (81%). Results: Within a median follow-up time of 35 months, 44 patients developed recurrence. Thirty-nine patients (33%) had pelvic recurrence only, four patients (3%) had distant metastasis only, and one patient had both pelvic and distant metastasis. The 5-year overall survival rate (OS) and local control rate (LC) of all patients were 62 % and 64 %, respectively. The 5-year OS for patients with disease stages 1b1/1b2/2a/2b/3/4a were 80%/89 %/100 %/75 %/40 %/0 %, respectively. The 5-year LC for patients with disease stages 1b1/1b2/2a/2b/3/4a were 100%/78%/50%/75%/51%/0%, respectively. Twelve patients (10%) suffered grade 3 or higher late radiation morbidity. Conclusions: Our results suggest that young patients (age: &lt;40 years) with cervical cancer, especially in locally advanced stages (stage III and IVA), might have a worse prognosis than older patients when treated with definitive (chemo) radiotherapy.
Characterization and Prognostic Relevance of Circulating Microvesicles in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Luciana De Luca, Giovanni D'Arena, Vittorio Simeon, Stefania Trino, Ilaria Laurenzana, Antonella Caivano, Francesco La Rocca, Oreste Villani, Giovanna Mansueto, Silvia Deaglio, Idanna Innocenti, Luca Laurenti, Stefano Molica, Giuseppe Pietrantuono, Angelo De Stradis, Luigi Del Vecchio, Pellegrino Musto
Journal: Blood (2016)
Stimulated Platelets but Not Endothelium Generate Thrombin Via a Factor XIIa-Dependent Mechanism Requiring Phosphatidylserine Exposure
Authors: Pavan K. Bendapudi, Karen Deceunynck, Secil Koseoglu, Roelof Hendrik Bekendam, Shauna D Mason, Jon Kenniston, Robert C. Flaumenhaft
Journal: Blood (2016)
A novel vascular targeted photodynamic therapy (VTP) in orthotopic rat model for the treatment of esophageal cancer
Authors: Ronny Uzana, Dina Preise, Lilach Agemy, Rachel Elmualem, David Kelsen, Hans Gerdes, Jonathan Coleman, Katie Murray, Varda Belkin, Keren Sasson, Tamar Yehezkel, Yoram Salomon, Avigdor Scherz
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2017)
Knowledge of Colorectal Anatomy and Surgery in Foundation Year Doctors
Authors: T Kallachil, PJ Wilson, A John, P Ketty, L Barthelmes, J Camilleri-Brennan
Journal: Endoscopy (2006)

Methods: A questionnaire designed to test basic colorectal surgery and clinically relevant anatomy was given to FY doctors working in general surgical and medical wards in UK hospitals. The questionnaires were self-administered and completed anonymously. Separate scores for anatomy and surgery were computed.