tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Trends in Cervical Cancer Screening in Title X-Funded Health Centers — United States, 2005–2015
Authors: Christina I. Fowler, Mona Saraiya, Susan B. Moskosky, Jacqueline W. Miller, Julia Gable, Nancy Mautone-Smith
Journal: MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2017)

Cervical cancer screening is critical to early detection and treatment of precancerous cells and cervical cancer. In 2015, 83% of U.S. women reported being screened per current recommendations, which is below the Healthy People 2020 target of 93% (1,2). Disparities in screening persist for women who are younger (aged 21-30 years), have lower income, are less educated, are uninsured, lack a source of health care, or who self-identify as Asian or American Indian/Alaska Native (2). Women who are never screened or rarely screened are more likely to develop cancer and receive a cancer diagnosis at later stages than women who are screened regularly (3). In 2013, cervical cancer was diagnosed in 11,955 women in the United States, and 4,217 died from the disease (4). Aggregated administrative data from the Title X Family Planning Program were used to calculate the percentage of female clients served in Title X-funded health centers who received a Papanicolaou (Pap) test during 2005-2015. Trends in the percentage of Title X clients screened for cervical cancer were examined in relation to changes in cervical cancer screening guidelines, particularly the 2009 American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) update that raised the age for starting cervical cancer screening to 21 years (5) and the 2012 alignment of screening guidelines from ACOG, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) on the starting age (21 years), screening interval (3 or 5 years), and type of screening test (6-8). During 2005-2015, the percentage of female clients screened for cervical cancer dropped continually, with the largest declines occurring in 2010 and 2013, notably a year after major updates to the recommendations. Although aggregated data contribute to understanding of cervical cancer screening trends in Title X centers, studies using client-level and encounter-level data are needed to assess the appropriateness of cervical cancer screening in individual cases.
Incidence of permanent alopecia following adjuvant chemotherapy in women with early stage breast cancer.
Authors: John P Crown, Emer Sills, Jo Ballot, Deirdre McDonnell, Janice Maria Walshe, David Fennelly, Susan Kearney, Jessica Claire Long, Deirdre Collison, Giuseppe Gullo
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2017)

e21576 Background: Alopecia is one of the most distressing toxicities of adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with breast cancer. Historically, oncologists have reassured patients (pts) that chemotherapy-induced alopecia is temporary, and followed by full hair recovery. More recently there have been troubling reports of permanent alopecia following adjuvant taxanes (Tax). We studied the incidence of long-term hair loss in patients treated on adjuvant trials in our institution. Patients who were enrolled on clinical trials involving Tax (D-Docetaxel, P-Paclitaxel) and/or Anthracyclines (A) were included. Methods: We conducted a telephone interview survey of pts who had completed adjuvant or neo adjuvant A and/or T chemotherapy on clinical trials more than one year before. Ongoing alopecia was graded as 0 (full hair recovery), 1 (mild hair loss) or 2(severe/total). The study was approved by the hospital audit committee. Results: We studied 295 pts who has been treated on 12 studies. Drug exposure: D-260 pts (D nonA-185, D+A-75); A-nonTax-12 pts ; A+P 23 pts. The overall incidence of alopecia was 15% (11% grade 1 and 4% grade 2). For all D the incidence was 15% (12% Grade 1 and 3% Grade 2). For D+A-24% (19% Grade 1 and 5% Grade 2). For D non A the incidence was 13% ( 8% grade 1 and 5% grade 2). For A non T 8% (Grade 2-8%). For PA-13% ( 4% grade 1 and 9% grade 2). For patients receiving D non-A regimens, there were two levels of D exposure, 300mg/m 2 (90 pts) or 450 mg/m 2 (95 pts). The incidence of alopecia was significantly D dose dependent: D300- 7% (all grade 1) and D 450-19% (14% grade 1, 5% grade 2) (p = .02 chi 2 ). Among the higher dose D group, the companion drug choices carboplatin for HER2 positive, (55 pts) or cyclophosphamide (40 pts) were associated with similar incidences of permanent alopecia (22% v 16%). Conclusions: Permanent alopecia is a common complication of adjuvant chemotherapy. The risk appears to be highest in regimens which contain A and Tax, but it is also seen in AP and in A non-Tax. For patients receiving D non A, the risk is dose-dependent. Our data set contains few P pts, and does not contain any pts undergoing low dose weekly P. Oncologists should warn all patients undergoing adjuvant therapy of the risk of permanent alopecia.
Abstract #4097: The effects of a novel antioxidant diet (Protandim) on cell death during early skin carcinogenesis
Authors: Delira Robbins, Jianfeng Liu, Amos Sit, Xin Gu, Yunfeng Zhao
Journal: Cancer Research (2009)

Protandim is a combination of 5 well-studied medicinal plants that induce superoxide dismustase and other antioxidant enzymes. The synergistic induction of endogenous antioxidant enzymes is a unique property of Protandim, and has been shown to be highly effective in decreasing oxidative stress at low, non-toxic concentrations. Utilizing the multistage skin carcinogenesis model, we investigated the molecular mechanisms used by Protandim to exert its anti-cancer effects. Our preliminary studies demonstrated that Protandim, via dietary administration, suppressed oxidative stress and skin tumor formation. In addition, previous studies using the multistage skin carcinogenesis mouse model demonstrated that cell proliferation was accompanied by apoptosis and apoptosis preceded cell proliferation. Therefore, we hypothesize that oxidative stress, cell proliferation and p53-mediated apoptosis forms a positive feedback loop, which plays a major role in contributing to tumorigenesis. Thus, the induction of SOD by Protandim could break this feedback cycle, leading to cancer prevention. Our preliminary studies have demonstrated that TPA induces a significant increase in p53 expression in both the cytoplasmic and mitochondrial fractions of mouse skin tissue. Further studies revealed that Protandim suppressed these increases. In addition, we analyzed mitochondrial Bax expression via Western Blot analysis. Nevertheless, Protandim significantly reduced Bax expression in the mitochondrial fraction of mouse skin tissue treated with DMBA/TPA. These results indicated that Protandim played an important role in modulating apoptotic cell death. Our results were consistent with data generated from the skin epidermal JB6 (CL41, P+) in vitro model. These results give insight into the role of Protandim in modulating oxidative stress, p53-mediated apoptosis and cell proliferation.  Citation Information: In: Proc Am Assoc Cancer Res; 2009 Apr 18-22; Denver, CO. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; 2009. Abstract nr 4097.
Analysis of OPTN/UNOS registry suggests the number of HLA matches and not mismatches is a stronger independent predictor of kidney transplant survival
Authors: Rabi Yacoub, Girish N. Nadkarni, Paolo Cravedi, John Cijiang He, Veronica B. Delaney, Rebecca Kent, Kinsuk N. Chauhan, Steven G. Coca, Sander S. Florman, Peter S. Heeger, Barbara Murphy, Madhav C. Menon
Journal: Kidney International (2017)
Obamacare lives on as Republicans fail to agree replacement
Authors: Owen Dyer
Journal: BMJ (2017)

Republican leaders in the US Senate have decided against a vote on their party’s latest attempt to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare.

Defections by Republican senators John McCain and Ted Cruz over the weekend of 23 and 24 September doomed the bill’s chances. And on 26 September, within minutes of the independent Congressional Budget Office releasing its analysis of the repeal bill, the Republican senator Susan Collins confirmed that she too would vote against it, leaving the party at least two votes short of the 50 needed.

At a …
Antiproliferative activity of octreotide LAR in advanced neuroendocrine tumors.
Authors: Christos Toumpanakis, Faidon Laskaratos, Emmanouil Maragkoudakis, Keval Naik, Nikolaos Oikonomopoulos, Martin Walker, Lee Grant, Tim Meyer, Martyn E. Caplin
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2014)

4110 Background: The antiproliferative activity of Octreotide LAR in Neuroendocrine Tumors (NETs) has been demonstrated by small retrospective studies and confirmed by a prospective phase III trial (PROMID). However, there are limited data about the duration and predictors of response. The aim of our retrospective study was to determine the time to radiological progression (TTRP) of disease and the factors that were associated with better response Methods: Overall, 254 patients with advanced NETs and positive somatostatin receptor scintigraphy were included. Radiological assessment was based on RECIST criteria. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify predictive factors. Median TTRP and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results: The patients’ mean age was 60.5 +/- 12.8 years. Male to female ratio was 1.1. Mean follow-up was 42 months. The location of primary was in small bowel in 204, pancreas in 22, lungs in 14, rectum in 7 and unknown in 7 patients. Tumors were well-differentiated, G1 (71%) and G2 (29%). Octreotide LAR was commenced for functional symptoms in 68%, radiological progression in 13%, whilst 29% of patients were asymptomatic with stable disease and started treatment on the basis of PROMID data. Partial response occurred in 5%. For all patients, the median TTRP was 37 months (95% confidence interval, CI: 32-52 months). There was a statistically significant shorter TTRP in patients with pancreatic primary (p: 0.001), G2 tumors (p: 0.001), high hepatic tumor volume (p: 0.006), and baseline Chromogranin-A (CgA) levels >10 times the upper normal limit (p: 0.006). Mean time to progression was longer in patients with stable disease at presentation (53 months). Age, mesenteric mestastases, desmoplasia and previous resection of primary did not affect progression. Female sex and skeletal metastases had some negative, but no statistically significant, effect. Conclusions: The duration of anti-proliferative effect of Octreotide LAR seems to be longer than previously reported. Small bowel primary and G1 tumors, as well as low hepatic tumor volume, lower CgA levels and stable disease at the time of commencement of treatment seem to be associated with a more favorable response.
Retardation of Growth of the Rat Ingesting &lt;italic&gt;p&lt;/italic&gt;-Dimethylaminoazobenzene (Butter Yellow) I. The Effect of Various Dietary Supplements&lt;xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn1"&gt;&lt;sup&gt;1&lt;/sup&gt;&lt;/xref&gt;
Authors: Julius White
Journal: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute (1940)

Journal Article Retardation of Growth of the Rat Ingesting p-Dimethylaminoazobenzene (Butter Yellow) I. The Effect of Various Dietary Supplements Get access Julius White Julius White research fellow National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, United States Public Health Service Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic PubMed Google Scholar JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Volume 1, Issue 3, December 1940, Pages 337–341, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/1.3.337 Published: 01 December 1940
The Epworth Sleepiness Scale: Minimum Clinically Important Difference in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Suhani Patel, Samantha S. C. Kon, Claire M. Nolan, Ruth E. Barker, Anita K. Simonds, Mary J. Morrell, William D.-C. Man
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2017)
Clinical Imaging Factors Associated With Infarct Progression in Patients With Ischemic Stroke During Transfer for Mechanical Thrombectomy
Authors: Gregoire Boulouis, Arne Lauer, Ahmer Khawdja Siddiqui, Andreas Charidimou, Robert W. Regenhardt, Anand Viswanathan, Natalia Rost, Thabele M. Leslie-Mazwi, Lee H. Schwamm
Journal: JAMA Neurology (2017)

When transferred from a referring hospital (RH) to a thrombectomy-capable stroke center (TCSC), patients with initially favorable imaging profiles (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score [ASPECTS] ≥6) often demonstrate infarct progression significant enough to make them ineligible for mechanical thrombectomy at arrival. In rapidly evolving stroke care networks, the question of the need for vascular imaging at the RHs remains unsolved, resulting in an important amount of futile transfers for thrombectomy.
The efficacy of smartphone‐based mental health interventions for depressive symptoms: a meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Joseph Firth, John Torous, Jennifer Nicholas, Rebekah Carney, Abhishek Pratap, Simon Rosenbaum, Jerome Sarris
Journal: World Psychiatry (2017)

The rapid advances and adoption of smartphone technology presents a novel opportunity for delivering mental health interventions on a population scale. Despite multi‐sector investment along with wide‐scale advertising and availability to the general population, the evidence supporting the use of smartphone apps in the treatment of depression has not been empirically evaluated. Thus, we conducted the first meta‐analysis of smartphone apps for depressive symptoms. An electronic database search in May 2017 identified 18 eligible randomized controlled trials of 22 smartphone apps, with outcome data from 3,414 participants. Depressive symptoms were reduced significantly more from smartphone apps than control conditions (g=0.38, 95% CI: 0.24‐0.52, p&lt;0.001), with no evidence of publication bias. Smartphone interventions had a moderate positive effect in comparison to inactive controls (g=0.56, 95% CI: 0.38‐0.74), but only a small effect in comparison to active control conditions (g=0.22, 95% CI: 0.10‐0.33). Effects from smartphone‐only interventions were greater than from interventions which incorporated other human/computerized aspects along the smartphone component, although the difference was not statistically significant. The studies of cognitive training apps had a significantly smaller effect size on depression outcomes (p=0.004) than those of apps focusing on mental health. The use of mood monitoring softwares, or interventions based on cognitive behavioral therapy, or apps incorporating aspects of mindfulness training, did not affect significantly study effect sizes. Overall, these results indicate that smartphone devices are a promising self‐management tool for depression. Future research should aim to distil which aspects of these technologies produce beneficial effects, and for which populations.
Increase in Legionnaires’ disease cases associated with travel to Dubai among travellers from the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands, October 2016 to end August 2017
Authors: Gavin Dabrera, Petra Brandsema, Margareta Lofdahl, Falguni Naik, Ross Cameron, Jim McMenamin, Richard Pebody, Nick Phin
Journal: Eurosurveillance (2017)

Between 1 October 2016 and 31 August 2017, 51 Legionnaires' disease (LD) cases from the United Kingdom, Sweden and the Netherlands were identified with associated travel to Dubai. Cases did not all stay in the same accommodation, indicating that no single accommodation could be the source for all these infections. While local investigations continue into other potential sources, clinicians should remain alert to the possibility of LD among travellers returning from Dubai with respiratory illness.
How should we manage women with unexplained chronic pelvic pain in light of uncertainty about the effectiveness of gabapentin?
Authors: James M N Duffy
Journal: BMJ (2017)

Chronic pelvic pain affects 2.1% to 24% of the global female population,12 and up to half of the affected women have no obvious pathology.23 The neuromodulator gabapentin can be used to modulate pain, but the evidence for its effectiveness and safety is limited, as discussed by Andrew Horne and colleagues in a related article <i>(doi:10.1136/bmj.j3520)</i>. Here, James Duffy explores how we should manage women with unexplained chronic pain in light of this uncertainty.
Antidepressants and murder: justice denied
Authors: David Healy
Journal: BMJ (2017)

Adshead has missed the point of the BBC Panorama programme “A Prescription for Murder.”1 It did not attempt to prove that antidepressants cause homicide. Causality has been conceded by prosecutors, regulators, and companies. As early as 1983, Pfizer noted that antidepressants could cause aggressive behaviour.

Nor was it about whether sertraline caused Holmes to murder. Having spent time with him, I think that it did. …
Molecular classification of prostate cancer recurrence using multiplexed mRNA detection from FFPE samples.
Authors: Ubaradka Sathyanarayana, Janice Riley, Raymond Nagle, Phillip Miller, Gary Pestano
Journal: Clinical Cancer Research (2007)

B8  Background: Tumorigenesis is caused by the inactivation of multiple tumor suppressor genes and/or activation of proto-oncogenes. It has become critically important to develop assays that simultaneously detect multiple genetic abnormalities that may lead to the inactivation of genes involved in the development of malignancy. Early detection of these genetic changes may help to prevent cancer, or aid in prognosis and therapy. The goal of this study was to utilize widely available formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) samples to identify signatures of genetic abnormalities in cancer.  Methods: A subset of patient cases, n = 28, was selected from the University of Arizona Prostate Cancer Bank as the test population. Individual cases with or without prostate cancer recurrence at least five years post-surgery, were selected for multiplexed mRNA analysis. Cancer recurrence was determined by rising PSA levels. Total RNA was isolated from the test FFPE cores and subjected to expression analysis on the Illumina DASL BeadChip platform. In order to assess the overall quality of the total RNA prior to expression analyses, Agilent Bioanalyzer traces were run on all samples. In addition, selected mRNA expression for housekeeping genes were also monitored by quantitative RT-PCR. Control samples were RNA samples from cell lines or fresh tissues.  Results: Of the 502 genes analyzed in the Cancer DAP, message was detectable for 367. Significantly, no clear molecular signature for prostate cancer recurrence was determined with unsupervised clustering analyses on all samples for all genes. Instead, the determination of signatures was dependent on the stringency of detection obtained for specific samples. Samples with a low negative control signals, defined as low binding to irrelevant probes, were easily sorted into recurrent or non-recurrent groups. Using the latter supervised method, a smaller signature of 58 genes was identified as significantly differentially expressed between the two groups of prostate cancer.  Conclusions: This study highlights the feasibility of conducting highly multiplexed analyses for mRNA in FFPE. However, additional methods are needed to determine the suitability of samples for these analyses. For example, RNA quality may not be inferred from surrogate assays such as qRT-PCR for highly expressed house-keeping genes.
Reduction in Ki-67 in benign breast tissue of high-risk premenopausal women with the SERM acolbifene.
Authors: Carol J. Fabian, Bruce F. Kimler, Carola M. Zalles, Brian K. Petroff, Trina Metheny, Teresa A. Phillips, Ben R. Echalier, Howard Harry Bailey, Terri L Cornelison
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2012)

520 Background: Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) are approved for reduction of risk for breast cancer; however, uptake and use is limited. We conducted a pilot study of a 4th generation SERM to determine tolerability and effect on tissue biomarkers in healthy women at high risk for development of breast cancer. Methods: Premenopausal women at elevated risk for breast cancer were screened by random periareolar fine needle aspiration (RPFNA) performed during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Women were eligible if breast epithelial cells exhibited evidence of cytologic hyperplasia with or without atypia, as well as Ki-67 ≥2% by immunocytochemistry. Following 6-8 months of open-label acolbifene (20 mg/d), the RPFNA was repeated. The primary endpoint was modulation of the proportion of cells that expressed Ki-67. Body composition (DEXA), pelvic sonography, mammographic breast density, and serum levels of IGF-1/IGFBP3 and several bioavailable hormones were assessed pre and post intervention. Results: 76 women were screened by RPFNA, with 25 eligible and enrolled in the intervention over a 9 month period. All 25 (7 on oral contraceptives) subjects completed the study, had a second RPFNA, and were evaluable. Median Ki-67 at baseline was 4.6% (range 2.4 – 21.9%) and off study 1.4% (range 0 – 6.6%); median change was a reduction of 3.0% (range -20.2% to +2.8%; decreased in 23, increased in 2) or a relative reduction of 77%. The end-of-study Ki-67 was significantly less than baseline (p&lt;0.001, 2-tailed Wilcoxon test). There were no statistically significant changes in cytomorphology over this short intervention period. There was a marginal effect on breast density (16 decreased; 8 increased; p=0.067). Adverse events were minimal with greatest grade of 3 reported by 2 subjects, grade 2 by 7 subjects, and grade 1 by 11 subjects. No serious adverse event was reported and no subject discontinued the study due to an AE. Conclusions: Based on preliminary evaluation showing favorable modulation of proliferation and minimal adverse events, further investigation of acolbifene, a fourth generation SERM, as a breast cancer chemoprevention agent for premenopausal women appears warranted. Supported by NO1-CN-35135.
Efficacy and safety of entecavir versus lamivudine over 5 years of treatment: A randomized controlled trial in Korean patients with hepatitis B e antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Kwan Sik Lee, Young-Oh Kweon, Soon-Ho Um, Byung-Ho Kim, Young Suk Lim, Seung Woon Paik, Jeong Heo, Heon-Ju Lee, Dong Joon Kim, Tae Hun Kim, Young-Sok Lee, Kwan Soo Byun, Daeghon Kim, Myung Seok Lee, Kyungha Yu, Dong Jin Suh
Journal: Clinical and Molecular Hepatology (2017)

Background/Aims Long-term data on antiviral therapy in Korean patients with hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHB) are limited. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of entecavir (ETV) and lamivudine (LAM) over 240 weeks. Methods Treatment-naive patients with HBeAg-negative CHB were randomized to receive ETV 0.5 mg/day or LAM 100 mg/day during the 96 week double-blind phase, followed by open-label treatment through week 240. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with virologic response (VR; hepatitis B virus [HBV] DNA<300 copies/mL) at week 24. Secondary objectives included alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization and emergence of ETV resistance (week 96), VR and log reduction in HBV DNA levels (week 240), and safety evaluation. Results In total, 120 patients (>16 years old) were included (ETV, n=56; LAM, n=64). Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. A significantly higher proportion of ETV-treated patients achieved VR compared to LAM at week 24 (92.9% vs. 67.2%, P=0.0006), week 96 (94.6% vs. 48.4%, P<0.0001), and week 240 (95.0% vs. 47.6%, P<0.0001). At week 96, ALT normalization was observed in 87.5% and 51.6% of ETV and LAM patients, respectively (P<0.0001). Virologic breakthrough occurred in one patient (1.8%) receiving ETV and 26 patients (42.6%) receiving LAM (P<0.0001) up to week 96. Emergence of resistance to ETV was not detected. The incidence of serious adverse events was low and unrelated to the study medications. Conclusions Long-term ETV treatment was superior to LAM, with a significantly higher proportion of patients achieving VR. Both treatments were well tolerated. Keywords: Hepatitis B; Entecavir; Long-term effects; Lamivudine