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[Prioritization of fertilization in vitro--a systematic analysis].

Who should be offered medically assisted conception treatment within a public health care system? This article discusses medical and ethical selection criteria in relation to general political guidelines for prioritization. Our tentative conclusion is that it is possible to differentiate between groups of patients according to disease criteria, the severity of disease, medical efficacy and cost-efficiency. We note that there is a great need for data to enable well-founded decisions when prioritizing applicants for in vitro fertilization within a public health care system.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗

[Psychopharmaceutical drugs in the mass media. Results of a systematic analysis of text contents and images].

Mental diseases and psychopharmacological drugs are frequently discussed in newspapers and popular magazines. The representations are supposed to have a great impact on people's opinions on the subject. From 1 August 1991 to 31 July 1992 all articles about psychopharmacological drugs and cardiac drugs in 19 German newspapers were collected. All statements, effects and side effects, the reason for prescription, individual details about the patient and, according to this procedure, subjects and implications of the illustrations, were registered and classified according to a code book. In contrast to the articles about cardiac drugs, half of the psychopharmacological drug reports primarily deal with the problems of side effects the drugs may produce. There was much more critical comment and emotional emphasis used to characterize the psychopharmacological drugs. Only in 9% was their therapeutic efficacy mentioned. Cardiac drugs are generally discussed objectively in a medical context and their efficacy is emphasized. Psychopharmacological drugs are often mentioned in stories about prominent persons having a life crisis, taking drugs, or turning to alcoholism, in the sense of social decline. In only 3% of these articles could a serious mental diseases be identified as the reason for the prescription. Corresponding to the more prominent emotional emphasis of these articles, compared to the articles about cardiac drugs, more pictures, mainly of prominent persons or patients are used. However, the illustration seldom adds to information provided. The reasons for and implications of these findings and the significant differences between the distinct groups of newspapers are discussed.

Cardiovascular Agents↗

Neurone decapping characterization by atomic force microscopy: a topological systematic analysis.

We tested a new approach to cell decapping on rat cerebellar neurones, and observed its effects on cell topography by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results clearly demonstrate the effectiveness of our decapping approach, and also the ability of AFM to reveal fine details of the decapped cells. Specifically, varying the conditions and duration of the decapping process modifies the extent of the decapping. Such a method can be used to investigate the cytoplasm with surface sensitive techniques.

Animals↗

Systematic analysis of domain motions in proteins from conformational change: new results on citrate synthase and T4 lysozyme.

Methods developed originally to analyze domain motions from simulation [Proteins 27:425-437, 1997] are adapted and extended for the analysis of X-ray conformers and for proteins with more than two domains. The method can be applied as an automatic procedure to any case where more than one conformation is available. The basis of the methodology is that domains can be recognized from the difference in the parameters governing their quasi-rigid body motion, and in particular their rotation vectors. A clustering algorithm is used to determine clusters of rotation vectors corresponding to main-chain segments that form possible dynamic domains. Domains are accepted for further analysis on the basis of a ratio of interdomain to intradomain fluctuation, and Chasles' theorem is used to determine interdomain screw axes. Finally residues involved in the interdomain motion are identified. The methodology is tested on citrate synthase and the M6I mutant of T4 lysozyme. In both cases new aspects to their conformational change are revealed, as are individual residues intimately involved in their dynamics. For citrate synthase the beta sheet is identified to be part of the hinging mechanism. In the case of T4 lysozyme, one of the four transitions in the pathway from the closed to the open conformation, furnished four dynamic domains rather than the expected two. This result indicates that the number of dynamic domains a protein possesses may not be a constant of the motion.

Algorithms↗

Tools for improvement: a systematic analysis and guide to accreditation by the JCAHO.

By viewing the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations' (JCAHO) standards in the context of current accreditation practice, hospital librarians can understand and clarify their role in realizing their organization's mission, goals, and objectives. By broadening their view of the information function as described in the accreditation standards, health sciences librarians can enhance their position in the hospital's management team, improve health information practice, and contribute to the overall performance of the health care organization. The role of the librarian and the library throughout the entire set of standards and interrelationships with other professionals and units are described. Examples of ways to demonstrate conformity to the standards are provide. Special emphasis is placed on Standard 9, Management of Information, to provide guidance to the librarian undergoing JCAHO accreditation.

Accreditation↗

Sinonasal cancer and occupation. Results from the reanalysis of twelve case-control studies.

A pooled reanalysis of twelve case-control studies on sinonasal cancer and occupation from seven countries was conducted in order to study associations with occupations other than wood- and leather-related occupations. The pooled data set included a total of 930 cases (680 men and 250 women) and 3,136 controls (2,349 men and 787 women). All the studies included a detailed occupational history for cases and controls. Each job was coded using the same classifications for occupation and industry. Two approaches were used in the analysis: systematic analysis of occupations; a priori analysis using a preestablished list of occupations and industries. The results confirmed associations observed in several studies not included in this analysis. For agricultural workers, significant excesses were observed for squamous cell carcinoma among women (OR = 1.69) and men (OR = 3.72 for ten years or more of employment as an orchard worker), and adenocarcinomas among men (OR = 2.98 for ten years or more of employment). Associations with textile occupations were observed for adenocarcinoma among women (OR = 2.60) and squamous cell carcinoma among men (OR = 5.09 for fiber preparers, 3.01 for bleachers). Elevated risks for both histologic types were observed among men employed in food manufacturing (OR = 3.25, adenocarcinoma), or as food preservers (OR = 13.9, squamous cell carcinoma), and among men employed as cooks (OR = 1.99, squamous cell carcinoma). A positive association with squamous cell carcinoma was observed for male transport equipment operators (OR = 1.21), and also with adenocarcinoma for male motor-vehicle drivers (OR = 2.50). A number of other associations were observed in the systematic analysis.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Solid-phase extraction procedures in systematic toxicological analysis.

In systematic toxicological analysis (STA) the substance(s) present is (are) not known at the start of the analysis. In such an undirected search the extraction procedure cannot be directed to a given substance but must be a general procedure where a compromise must be reached in that the substances of interest are isolated at a yield as high as possible and the interfering substances from the biological material are removed. When using solid-phase extraction (SPE) it is desirable to have procedures using just one column. An overview of screening procedures using diatomaceous earth, polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer and mixed-mode bonded silica as column material in SPE is given. The latter type of sorbent is most popular at the moment and the critical steps in the procedure are outlined in more detail. Recent developments of SPE disks look very promising for STA.

Adsorption↗

Keeping birth normal: research findings on midwifery care during childbirth.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes processes and outcomes of midwifery care through narratives told by exemplary midwives. DESIGN: Narrative analysis. SETTING: Midwifery practices in hospital, birth center, and home settings. PARTICIPANTS: Purposive sample of 14 midwives drawn from a large national Delphi panel on exemplary midwifery practice. DATA ANALYSIS: Systematic analysis of interview data was conducted until interpretive consensus was achieved across all text and codes. Results were compared with two prior qualitative studies conducted by the first author on midwifery practice for congruence and emergence of new findings. RESULTS: The support of normalcy was identified as a significant process of midwifery care during labor and birth. CONCLUSIONS: The midwives believed that birth is normal, and many of their actions were specifically aimed toward the support of it as a physiologic, rather than pathologic, process. Through their words, we see subtle care processes focused on meeting a woman's individual needs and tapping into her personal strength. Implications for practice and further research to link their approach to caring for women with perinatal outcomes are reviewed.

Adult↗

Systematic reviews and meta-analysis.

Systematic reviews form a potential method for overcoming the barriers faced by clinicians when trying to access and interpret evidence to inform their practice. This fourth article in the Evidence-Based Medicine and Healthcare series of the Singapore Medical Journal introduces readers to systematic reviews, outlining why they are important, describing their methods and providing readers with the skills to recognise and understand a reliable review.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

Systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

Systematic error or bias in a review is hard to avoid when the review is executed without a clearly defined research question and methodology. The methods of systematic review and meta-analysis are designed to address these and other sources of bias with the goal of producing the most valid and precise estimate of effect or risk possible. The guiding principle is the a priori establishment of a protocol which details the research question, study inclusion criteria, and methods for quantitatively combining data to provide an overall estimate of effect or risk. Randomized clinical trials generally provide the least biased estimates of treatment effect and are therefore more suitable for meta-analysis. The strengths and weaknesses of this approach are discussed in detail. Finally, a description of the goals and structure of the Cochrane Collaboration is included.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗

Improvement of chemical analysis of antibiotics. XIII. Systematic simultaneous analysis of residual tetracyclines in animal tissues using thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatography.

A simultaneous analytical system for residual tetracycline antibiotics (TCs) in animal tissues including liver has been developed. This system consists of three methods using Baker 10 C18 clean-up followed by high-performance liquid chromatography (method A), thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-UV densitometry (method B) and TLC with spray reagents (method C). Methods A and B were established for the precise determination of TCs and method C for universal screening. The recoveries from beef liver fortified at the level of 1.0 ppm and their coefficients of variation were 60.5-83.3% and 2.3-3.9% (method A) and 58.1-92.8% and 1.0-3.7% (method B), respectively. The detection limits in animal tissues were 0.01 ppm (method A) and 0.1 ppm (methods B and C). The time required for the analysis of four samples was 2.5-3 h with each method.

Animals↗

Systematic reviews of the literature: the overview and meta-analysis.

Systematic reviews in the form of overviews or meta-analyses offer a solution for busy practitioners who have difficulty keeping abreast of current literature. Because systematic reviews can condense numerous studies into reliable and valid summaries of the best available evidence for a specific clinical problem, they offer significant benefit to busy clinicians. This article has summarized the major features and advantages of systematic reviews. It has distinguished those features that attempt to increase the usefulness of reviews by limiting bias, and it provided a summary of important questions clinicians can use to appraise such reviews critically. With this knowledge, clinicians should be able to use the literature more appropriately and in a timely fashion.

Dental Research↗

Meta-analysis: when and how.

Systematic reviews have a central role in evidence-based medicine. The quantitative systematic review, also known as meta-analysis, provides a logical structure for quantifying evidence and for exploring bias and diversity in research systematically. It is essential that clinicians, educators, and researchers understand the methods that comprise this research tool, particularly the basic step-by-step process, and know when numerical pooling of data is appropriate. The essay describes how systematic reviews are best conducted and when statistical pooling of data is appropriate. Systematic reviews are scientific investigations with planned methods that use original studies as subjects and synthesize the results of multiple studies using strategies to limit bias and random error. This process requires judgments to be made explicit, and should be question driven, protocol based, reproducible, and comprehensive in scope. Meta-analysis provides a framework for research synthesis, increases power and precision, provides an overall estimate and range of effect, and identifies greater-than-expected variability among study results (heterogeneity). Meta-analysis does not remove subjectivity from the process of synthesis, identify sources of variability among studies, or obviate the need for sound, compassionate clinical reasoning. Statistical heterogeneity should be anticipated and welcomed. It forces a consideration of clinical heterogeneity as well as variation in study protocol and quality. Statistical tests for homogeneity are insensitive and do not indicate sources of heterogeneity, making such consideration imperative. The most common and popular measures of efficacy for a meta-analysis are the standardized difference between two means, the relative risk, and the odds ratio. An additional measure, the number needed to treat, with its 95% confidence interval is the most clinically useful measure of the effects of an intervention and is useful for comparing the relative effectiveness of different interventions for the same condition. Important parts of meta-analysis and sensitivity and subgroup analyses are best considered a priori and should be used to explore heterogeneity and to test for publication bias and variation in study quality.

Evidence-Based Medicine↗

Modern chromatographic procedures in systematic toxicological analysis.

The fact that the toxicologist in systematic toxicological analysis never knows what he is looking at but has to take into account a vast number of toxicologically relevant substances makes this field a very difficult, yet challenging task. Because of the strong qualitative emphasis gas and thin-layer chromatography are at present the techniques of choice, and can be used with other relevant techniques such as spray reactions on the plate, UV spectrophotometry and mass spectrometry. However, as a single chromatographic technique will never provide unequivocal identification, the techniques have to be used side by side, so that the final identification matches the results from all the techniques applied. This approach requires that the advantages and disadvantages of each technique be well-known so that a combination of techniques can be chosen that provides the optimum identification power. After the unknown substance(s) have been analysed by a number of techniques and their particular behaviour in these techniques has been established, these findings are then matched against a data bank containing the behaviour of reference substances. This data bank should be as large as possible. Moreover, the search process used with the data bank must take into account the identification power of each individual technique, otherwise a well balanced "yes-no" decision about the presence or absence of a given substance is impossible.

Chromatography, Gas↗

A systematic histologic analysis of nonablative laser therapy in a porcine model using the pulsed dye laser.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge, no systematic analysis of nonablative laser therapy has been performed. OBJECTIVE: To alter the parameters (fluence, spot size, pulse duration, and use of cooling spray) for the pulsed dye laser to determine the precise settings that would yield the most favorable dermal remodeling in a porcine model. METHODS: Research was conducted in an animal laboratory at Albany Medical College. An anesthetized Yucatan miniature pig was subjected to a pulsed dye laser at various parameters. After 10 weeks, the laser-treated areas were harvested and processed for blinded, randomized, histologic evaluation. Negative (nontreated skin) and positive (ablative carbon dioxide laser-treated skin) controls were compared with the nonablative pulsed dye laser-treated areas. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Quantitative assessment of collagen band width and cells per high-power field and qualitative assessment of epidermal and dermal changes. RESULTS: A significant difference (P<.001) in collagen band width was evident when nonablative laser-treated skin and carbon dioxide ablative laser-treated skin specimens were compared with untreated skin specimens, but no significant (P =.18) difference existed between the nonablative and ablative modalities. Similarly, cellular hypertrophy, as measured by high-power field, corroborated the previous findings. Furthermore, a higher fluence, a larger spot size, and a longer pulse duration proved statistically significant for increased collagen band width (P =.01, P<.001, and P<.001, respectively), and a larger spot size and a longer pulse duration exhibited significance for cells per high-power field (P =.02 and P =.009, respectively), with a trend toward significance for higher fluence (P =.09). Overall, the dermis was considerably thicker for nonablative and ablative laser-treated areas compared with untreated skin, but this could not be quantified because the depth exceeded the punch biopsy instrument. The epidermis remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: The nonablative pulsed dye laser has demonstrated favorable histologic evidence of dermal remodeling, and its effects were similar to histologic changes seen with the carbon dioxide ablative laser, both of which were statistically significant compared with untreated skin, as seen in this preliminary animal model.

Animals↗

[Instrumental analysis and systematic investigation on heavy oils from coal. II. Analysis of aromatic ring distribution by high performance liquid chromatography].

In this paper, the relationship of chromatographic retention index (I) and aromatic ring number (ARN) of 49 pure reagents in Zorbax-NH2 column/hepatane chromatographic system using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) have been studied. The results obtained were that log I values can be divided into several regions according to ARN. They were 0.672-1.089, 1.652-2.588, 2.629-3.241, 3.447-4.160 and 4.482-5.000 for ARN 1 through 5. Those were clear-cut and could be applied to the division of aromatic ring distribution (ARD) of heavy oil products. Hence the ARD method, which was based on the results from pure synthetic compounds, has been established. On the study of quantitation, the peak-area normalization method was used to quantify the aromatics with different ARN. The method has the features of high rapidity, high resolution and long life of column. In this paper heavy oil and pitch products from seven plants have been systematically analyzed for their ARD.

English Abstract↗