tbuckley/cabot-search huggingface dataset:
Trismus and reduced quality of life in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma who received postoperative radiotherapy alone or combined with chemotherapy.
Authors: Ourania Nicolatou-Galitis, Amanda Psyrri
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2017)

222 Background: Patients, who receive radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, develop chronic functional abnormalities and reduced mouth opening-trismus, surviving with reduced quality of life (QoL). We aimed to study trismus and QoL in patients with oral cancer, who received post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Methods: Patients, who receive radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer, develop chronic functional abnormalities and reduced mouth opening-trismus, surviving with reduced quality of life (QoL). We aimed to study trismus and QoL in patients with oral cancer, who received post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Results: Mean RT dose was 64.3 Gray. Six patients received chemoradiotherapy. Severe mucositis, pain and xerostomia were recorded in 6 and 5 patients respectively. MMO was reduced in all patients. The mean MMO (34 mm) reached the level of trismus. The total number of symptoms increased from 3.1 to 6.3 in C-30 and from 3.1 to 8.8 per patient in the H/N35. Severe fatigue, pain, limitations at work, weakness, sad feelings, family problems, sleeping problems, anorexia, financial difficulties, tense/irritable, constipation, nausea, vomiting and depression were most often reported with C-30. Most patients reported poor to moderate quality of life. Severe oral, jaw and neck pain, swallowing problems, taste alterations, sticky saliva, dry mouth, coarseness, dental problems, feeling sick and reduced interest in life/sex were the most common symptoms reported with N/H35. Conclusions: The observed trismus, the 2- to 3-fold increase of symptoms and poorer quality of life highlighted the need for support of oral cancer patients, who receive postoperative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. Reduced systemic health, financial difficulties and family problems could be some of the main reasons for the inadequate compliance of our patients to the study, as shown by others, too. The strength of our study was the homogeneous group of patients: all had oral squamous cell carcinoma and all received post-operative radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. The small number of patients represents a weakness.
Abstract 16360: Elective Ablation for Ventricular Tachycardia: Patient Characteristics and Predictors of Poor Outcome
Authors: Gbolahan O Ogunbayo, Odunayo Olorunfemi, Ayman Elbadawi, Deola Saheed
Journal: Circulation (2016)

Introduction:  The aim of our study was to describe patient characteristics and predictors of mortality in patients undergoing elective ablation for ventricular tachycardia in a national database.   Methods:  Using the National Inpatient Sample database from 1998 - 2013, we identified patients with a primary diagnosis of Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) and primary procedure of ablation. We described baseline characteristics and compared the outcomes in the elective ablation to the non-elective cohort. We computed composite pre-admission and in-hospital morbidity variables and performed logistic regression analysis with mortality as the primary outcome.   Results:  We identified 9311 patients who had a primary diagnosis of VT and also underwent a VT ablation as their primary procedure. Mean age was 55.8±17.3 and 64.3% were male. Of these, 42.6% (n=3,965) were elective procedures. Younger age (0-64) and female gender were independently associated with an elective VT ablation (χ 2 = 109, p 2 = 31. P 2 = 152; P 2 = 131. P 2 = 124, P 2 = 145, P   Conclusions:  Patients that underwent elective VT ablation were younger, healthier and were more likely to have private insurance. They also had less post-procedural morbidity and mortality than the non-elective cohort. Patients above 65 years of age were more likely to die following an elective VT ablation.
Abstract 20418: The Impact of Real Time Chest Compression Feedback Increases With Application of the 2015 Guidelines
Authors: Daniel Davis, Tifany Hoyne, Ulrich Herken, Annemarie Silver
Journal: Circulation (2017)

Introduction: Cardiac arrest survival is dependent upon chest compression quality. Target parameters for compression depth and rate became more specific from the 2010 Guidelines [≥2 inches, 80-120/...
Predictors of Quality of Life and Other Patient-Reported Outcomes in the PANORAMA Multinational Study of People With Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Clare Bradley, Eveline Eschwège, Pedro de Pablos-Velasco, Klaus G. Parhofer, Dominique Simon, Hans Vandenberghe, Linda Gönder-Frederick
Journal: Diabetes Care (2017)

OBJECTIVE PANORAMA, a nine-country cross-sectional type 2 diabetes study, investigated factors associated with quality of life (QoL), health status, and other patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Patients were randomly or consecutively selected from primary/secondary care. PROMs included the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (ADDQoL) (generic QoL item and average weighted impact [AWI] scores), Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire (DTSQ) (patient- and physician-completed), Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-II worry subscale, and the EuroQoL–5 Dimension visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) measuring patient-reported health. Multivariable linear regression analyses determined predictors of each PROM including patient characteristics, physician-reported adherence, complications, and glycosylated hemoglobin. RESULTS In 5,813 patients, mean PROM scores indicated that generic QoL approximated “good” (0.93); perceived impact of diabetes on QoL was negative (AWI –1.69). Treatment satisfaction exceeded physicians’ estimates (patient-reported: 29.76; physician-estimated: 27.75), but so did patients’ perceived frequency of hypo-/hyperglycemia. Worry about hypoglycemia (13.27) was apparent. Intensifying treatments to three oral agents or insulin regimens predicted worse QoL (AWI P &amp;lt; 0.01). Insulin alone use predicted worse QoL (generic P &amp;lt; 0.02; AWI P &amp;lt; 0.001) and hypoglycemia worry (P &amp;lt; 0.007). No treatment had significant associations with EQ-VAS health status. CONCLUSIONS Predictors for different PROMs differed markedly and provided insights for understanding and improving these important outcomes. Intensive treatment regimens had significant negative associations with all PROMs, except the EQ-VAS health status measure. The findings demonstrate the importance of measuring QoL alongside health status and other patient-reported outcomes when evaluating diabetes treatments with a view to protecting QoL and facilitating adherence and long-term glycemic control.
Prospective, non-interventional, multi-centre trial of rhTPO in the treatment of chemotherapyinduced thrombocytopenia in patients with lymphoma and lung cancer
Authors: J. Feng, J. Wu, M. Zhang, X. Xu, L. Liu, J. Qian, J. Zhao, J. Wang, H. Liu, H. Jing, S. Sun, Y. Zhu
Journal: Annals of Oncology (2017)
Scrambler therapy for the treatment of chronic central pain due to cavernous hemangioma in the midbrain: A model for treating central cancer pain.
Authors: Thomas J. Smith, Maureen A Mealy, Michael A. Erdek, Steven D'Amato, Sharon Kozachik
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2017)

244 Background: Central pain syndromes are caused by damage to the sensory pathways of the central nervous system (CNS) within the brain or spinal cord, and are estimated to affect several million people worldwide. This can occur with malignant or benign brain tumors, or after surgery or radiation. The pain impulse is generated centrally but the pain is felt peripherally. Treatment is unsatisfactory with no universally accepted method of relief. Methods: A 52 year old woman had central pain manifest as burning pain from her left foot to the knee for 12 years. This happened after suboccipital craniectomy and C1 hemilaminectomy for a medullary cavernoma diagnosed after a right-sided brainstem bleeding episode due to a mulberry hemangioma, in 2004. The pain was minimally responsive to multiple neuropathic pain agents. Results: In early 2017, she underwent ten daily Scrambler (Calmare) Therapy treatments with reduction in her pain from 9-10/10 to 0-0.5/10 and was able to discontinue all her pain medications. Her pain recurred after a month but was again controlled to 1-2/10 with just two additional daily treatments, and remains controlled at three months. Her function and quality of life is much better. She has had no side effects. Conclusions: Scrambler (Calmare) Therapy may be an effective, safe, and non-invasive way to treat central pain from benign and malignant brain tumors, and/or their treatment, and deserves further study.
E-Cigarettes: Mucus Measurements Make Marks
Authors: Christopher M. Evans, Burton F. Dickey, David A. Schwartz
Journal: American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine (2017)

Cigarette smoking is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States.It is the principal cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer, and it is a major risk for the development of pulmonary fibrosis.Additional effects of tobacco smoke on lung health include triggering asthma exacerbations and increasing the risk of respiratory infections.The effects of smoking tobacco extend beyond the lungs, leading to the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and cerebral vascular disease, as well as cancers in nonrespiratory sites such as the bladder, blood, and bowel.Cigarette smoking is thus a significant factor driving the high costs of health care, as well as the associated effects of missed work at best and patient mortality at worst (1).Quitting smoking improves health, slows disease progression, and reduces mortality.Because of the public-health need, various substitutes, such as nicotine patches and gum, are widely used, and these have proven effective and safe in helping with smoking cessation.E-cigarettes have been proposed to be a safe alternative to traditional tobacco cigarettes, as well as a potentially useful means of assisting smoking-cessation efforts (2).However, there is debate about the safety of e-cigarettes (3,4).In this issue of the Journal, Reidel and colleagues (pp.492-501) address this important emerging issue in respiratory medicine and pathobiology (5).Conventional cigarette and e-cigarette users were recruited, and the two groups were compared with each other and with nonsmoking controls.The authors examined whether e-cigarettes differ from traditional tobacco cigarettes in their ability to affect markers of tissue injury and inflammation.A proteomic analysis of induced sputum showed that compared with nonsmoking controls, both traditional tobacco cigarette and e-cigarette users demonstrated significantly altered protein populations.A total of 110 proteins were increased in the cigarette smoker and e-cigarette smoker groups, with 66 of these proteins being unique to e-cigarette users and 15 overlapping between the user groups.This shared group contained known smoke-associated markers that were upregulated by z1.5to .10-fold.Included among these markers were aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1, thioredoxin, and glutathione S-transferase, suggesting that similar detoxification programs are elicited irrespective of the mode of delivery.Likewise, both modes of tobacco product inhalation were Supported by NIH grants R01 HL080396 and R01 HL130938 (C.M.E.),
Desmoplastic nodular medulloblastoma in young children: a management dilemma
Authors: Mohamed S AbdelBaki, Daniel R Boué, Jonathan L Finlay, Mark W Kieran
Journal: Neuro-Oncology (2017)

Children with desmoplastic nodular medulloblastoma (DNMB) have excellent survival, leading multiple groups globally to attempt reduction of treatment-related morbidity. In 2013, the Children's Oncology Group began a clinical trial (ACNS1221) eliminating both radiation therapy (RT) and intraventricular methotrexate for children under 3 years of age with localized DNMB, aiming to build upon the excellent outcomes of the German HIT trials. ACNS1221 has recently closed due to increased incidence of recurrences noted at the 2-year interim analysis, raising important questions regarding optimal therapy for DNMB.A review of major clinical trials that included children with DNMB was performed through July 2017.One hundred and eighty-eight DNMB patients enrolled on 11 prospective clinical trials were identified. The use of marrow-ablative chemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic cell rescue (AuHCR) or treatment with intraventricular methotrexate has been associated with excellent outcomes. RT was usually required for patients with evidence of disease at the end of therapy.The minimal intensity and duration of chemotherapy required to maximally cure children with DNMB without need of RT remains unknown. Further trials are required to better identify a subset of DNMB patients who can be cured without marrow-ablative chemotherapy or intraventricular methotrexate.
Towards personalized surveillance for head and neck cancer patients.
Authors: Sven Thomas Alders, Rosella Hermens
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2017)

116 Background: Optimal follow-up care for head and neck cancer (HCN) patients has been subject of an ongoing debate. In the Netherlands, the current follow-up schedule is based on a ‘one-size fits all’ concept, and lacks evidence. Additionally, this standardized follow-up fails to reflect the heterogeneity of tumors within HNC. Besides the need of more evidence, improvements should be made by using a more person-centred approach. In this study, we aimed to explore the needs, preferences and values of HNC patient regarding sub-components of follow-up care (form, content, duration, frequency, and type of care provider). Methods: Semi-structured interviews were held with 13 HNC patients (inclusion until saturation) in order to explore the needs, preferences and values of HNC regarding their follow-up care. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitatively analyzed using the eight-dimension Picker model. Results: During follow-up, patients prefer traditional face-to-face appointments, where they have to be physically present at the hospital. Alternative forms (e.g. telephone or Skype-related forms) may only be preferable under certain circumstances ( form). Physical examinations should be leading during these appointments, to look for signs of recurrence ( content). Patients mentioned that information on prognoses and the physical constraints as a consequence of treatment is important during follow-up appointments ( content). In the beginning of the follow-up, a high frequency of appointments was preferred ( duration &amp; frequency). Preferably, follow-up care takes place in the specialized centers ( location). A predominant role has been assigned to the primary treating physician. Additionally, qualified personnel is needed in the continuation and relocation of follow-up care for HNC patient ( type of care provider). Conclusions: The results of this study will enable us to better tailor care to the specific needs, preferences and values of HNC patients. Further research is needed to determine if the results are representative. In the new personalized follow-up, there should be a balance between evidence based options and the needs, preferences and values of patients and different care providers within HNC care.
Acute care medical interventions in the palliative care unit versus inpatient hospice.
Authors: Marieberta Vidal
Journal: Journal of Clinical Oncology (2017)

88 Background: In a survey of different cancer centers in the United States, only 23% reported having dedicated palliative care beds and hospital executives have reported not having further plans for expansion of their program. Barriers that are often cited include poor reimbursement for services, limited institutional support and resources. Patients admitted to an Acute Palliative care unit (APCU) benefit from the multidisciplinary approach that is evident in daily rounds, interdisciplinary team meetings, and family conferences. There could be occasionally misconceptions about the differences between inpatient hospice and an APCU. Even though the psychosocial component of palliative care is extremely important a significant amount of medical interventions also are necessary to provide patients and family with a sense of and optimal care during this time. Methods: A retrospective chart reviewed was performed in 100 consecutives patients admitted to the APCU and inpatient hospice prior to October 2013. From this data we identified the acute medical interventions ordered by the palliative Care specialist tduring the first 5 days of admission. Results: A total of 100 patients from the APCU and 100 patients from inpatient hospice were reviewed. In the APCU 100% of patients had iv fluids vs 7% in inpatient hospice. Antibiotics were given in 52% of APCU patients vs 2% in the inpatient hospice. Steroids were given in 48% of APCU patients vs 30% in inpatient hospices. (See Table). Conclusions: The APCU in comparison to inpatient hospices had higher rate of acute medical interventions with the most common been iv fluids, antibiotics, laboratory and radiologic diagnostic tests. This represent the importance of Acute Palliative Care Units in advanced cancer patients with complicated situations to achieve comfort when transitioning to EOL. [Table: see text]
Abstract 21190: A New Biologic Targeting mAKAPβ Diminishes Post-Ischemic Systolic Dysfunction and Heart Failure
Authors: Eliana C Martinez, Jinliang Li, Hrishikesh Thakur, Michael S Kapiloff
Journal: Circulation (2017)

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) morbidity and mortality remain significant, mandating the continued development of new therapeutics. The scaffold protein muscle A-kinase anchoring protein β (mAKAPβ) is a regulator of pathological remodeling. Our unpublished data show that induction before myocardial infarction (MI) of cardiac myocyte-specific mAKAPβ gene deletion decreases infarct size and preserves cardiac function long-term in mice. To develop a therapeutic providing the benefit of mAKAPβ targeting, we designed a new gene therapy vector, a self-complementary, serotype 9 adeno-associated virus (scAAV) that expresses a mAKAP-specific small hairpin RNA (shRNA) under the control of the cardiac troponin T promoter. We have tested whether post-MI suppression of mAKAPβ expression in the cardiomyocyte as provided by this new biologic prevents HF. Methods: MI was induced by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery in adult C57BL/6 mice. Mice with ejection fraction (EF) ≤40% 2 days post-MI and sham-operated controls were randomized and injected the following day with 5x10 11 vg I.V. of either mAKAP- or control-shRNA scAAV. Results: EF pre-treatment was 31.7% and 32.8% for mAKAP-MI (n=10) and control-MI (n=6) cohorts, respectively. mAKAP-shRNA treatment resulted in amelioration of systolic dysfunction as evidenced by normalization of EF from day 2 to weeks 2, 4 and 8 post-MI, while control-MI mice displayed progressive EF deterioration. At 8 weeks post MI, EF for the mAKAP-MI cohort was comparable to mAKAP- and control-Sham animals (44.3±3.3% vs. 54.6±1.7% &amp; 54.5±2.0%), whereas it was markedly higher than for control-MI animals (18.0±4.3%, P&lt;0.0001). mAKAP-MI mice also had a greater left ventricular (LV) anterior wall thickness in systole (0.9±0.1mm vs. 0.5±0.1mm, P&lt;0.05) and decreased LV end-systolic-volumes than control-MI mice (72.1±8.6μL vs. 137.3±26.3μL, P&lt;0.01). In addition, treatment with mAKAP-shRNA attenuated the development of pulmonary edema (a sign of HF), as wet lung weight for mAKAP-MI mice was less than for control-MI mice (7.7±0.2 vs. 10.6±1.2mg/mm tibial length, P&lt;0.01). Conclusion: Inhibition of mAKAPβ expression using a novel gene therapy vector ameliorates post-MI cardiac dysfunction and prevents the development of HF.
Abstract 12841: Association Between Left Atrial Regional Function Assessed by Novel Tissue Tracking MRI and the Risk of Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Yuko Inoue, Abdullah Alissa, Mohammadali Habibi, Kotaro Fukumoto, Irfan Khurram, Saman Nazarian, Hugh Calkins, Joao A Lima, Hiroshi Ashikaga
Journal: Circulation (2014)

Introduction: Recent evidence suggests that left atrial (LA) fibrosis detected by late gadolinium enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is significantly associated with the risk of stroke in...
Pharmacists delivered 60% more flu vaccines through NHS scheme last winter, figures show
Authors: Gareth Iacobucci
Journal: BMJ (2017)

Community pharmacists administered almost a million flu vaccinations to adults at risk in England last winter through the NHS’s national scheme, up 60% from the previous year, official figures have shown.

A total of 950 765 vaccines were provided by 8451 community pharmacies in 2016-17, showed figures published by NHS Digital, …
Nbeal2 interacts with Dock7, Sec16a, and Vac14
Authors: Louisa Mayer, Maria Jasztal, Mercedes Pardo, Salvadora Aguera de Haro, Janine Collins, Tadbir K. Bariana, Peter A. Smethurst, Luigi Grassi, Romina Petersen, Paquita Nurden, Rémi Favier, Lu Yu, Stuart Meacham, William J. Astle, Jyoti Choudhary, Wyatt W. Yue, Willem H. Ouwehand, Jose A. Guerrero
Journal: Blood (2017)
Association of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder With Objective Indicators of Educational Attainment
Authors: Ana Pérez-Vigil, Lorena Fernández de la Cruz, Gustaf Brander, Kayoko Isomura, Andreas Jangmo, Inna Feldman, Eva Hesselmark, Eva Serlachius, Luisa Lázaro, Christian Rück, Ralf Kuja-Halkola, Brian M. D’Onofrio, Henrik Larsson, David Mataix-Cols
Journal: JAMA Psychiatry (2017)

To our knowledge, the association of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and academic performance has not been objectively quantified.
AKR1C1 Activates STAT3 to Promote the Metastasis of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Hong Zhu, Lin-Lin Chang, Fang-Jie Yan, Yan Hu, Chen-Ming Zeng, Tian-Yi Zhou, Tao Yuan, Mei-Dan Ying, Ji Cao, Qiao-Jun He, Bo Yang
Journal: Theranostics (2017)

Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality for human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, it is difficult to target tumor metastasis because the molecular mechanisms underlying NSCLC invasion and migration remain unclear. Methods: GEO data analyses and IHC analyses were performed to identify that the expression level of AKR1C1, a member of human aldo-keto reductase family, was highly elevated in patients with metastasis or metastatic foci of NSCLC patients. Functional analyses (in vitro and in vivo) and quantitative genomic analyses were preformed to confirm the pro-metastatic effects of AKR1C1 and the underlying mechanisms. The correlation of AKR1C1 with the prognosis of NSCLC patients was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Results: in NSCLC patients, AKR1C1 expression was closely correlated with the metastatic potential of tumors. AKR1C1 overexpression in nonmetastatic cancer cells significantly promoted metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, whereas depletion of AKR1C1 in highly metastatic tumors potently alleviated these effects. Quantitative genomic and functional analyses revealed that AKR1C1 directly interacted with STAT3 and facilitated its phosphorylation-thus reinforcing the binding of STAT3 to the promoter regions of target genes-and then transactivated these genes, which ultimately promoted tumor metastasis. Further studies showed that AKR1C1 might facilitate the interaction of STAT3 with its upstream kinase JAK2. Intriguingly, AKR1C1 exerted these pro-metastatic effects in a catalytic-independent manner. In addition, a significant correlation between AKR1C1 and STAT3 pathway was observed in the metastatic foci of NSCLC patients, and the AKR1C1-STAT3 levels were highly correlated with a poor prognosis in NSCLC patients. Conclusions: taken together, we show that AKR1C1 is a potent inducer of NSCLC metastasis. Our study uncovers the active function of AKR1C1 as a key component of the STAT3 pathway, which promotes lung cancer metastasis, and highlights a candidate therapeutic target to potentially improve the survival of NSCLC patients with metastatic disease.