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PubMed1994

Portable software tools for 3D radiation therapy planning.

PURPOSE: Produce a collection of software tools (computer programs) that support three-dimensional (3D) radiation therapy planning. The tools are not a complete 3D planning system. Instead, they work with any 3D planning system that meets certain minimal specifications. The tools assist in deriving anatomic data from images, generating target volume contours, evaluating treatment plans, and verifying accurate treatment delivery. The tools are portable: they can run without source code changes in any computing environment that provides a library of functions and data definitions called the Foundation. The Foundation couples the portable tools to the (usually nonportable) file system and dose calculation associated with a particular 3D planning system. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Tools were written at three different (geographically separated) institutions. Software developers from all three sites specified the Foundation. The programmers' interface to the Foundation is portable, but a Foundation implementation need not be portable. Each group implemented a Foundation adapted to the (different) 3D planning system used at their site. RESULTS: All tools run at all three sites without source code changes. Each Foundation was implemented in a few person-months of programming effort. The program text and documentation for the tools have been placed in the public domain. CONCLUSIONS: It is practical and economical to produce portable radiotherapy treatment planning tools. Providers of 3D planning programs should offer Foundations for their systems, so they can be used with tools. Researchers considering new computer programs should write them as tools, so they can work with any 3D planning system.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Property-based design of GPCR-targeted library.

The design of a GPCR-targeted library, based on a scoring scheme for the classification of molecules into "GPCR-ligand-like" and "non-GPCR-ligand-like", is outlined. The methodology is a valuable tool that can aid in the selection and prioritization of potential GPCR ligands for bioscreening from large collections of compounds. It is based on the distillation of knowledge from large databases of GPCR and non-GPCR active agents. The method employed a set of descriptors for encoding the molecular structures and by training of a neural network for classifying the molecules. The molecular requirements were profiled and validated by using available databases of GPCR- and non-GPCR-active agents [5736 diverse GPCR-active molecules and 7506 diverse non-GPCR-active molecules from the Ensemble Database (Prous Science, 2002)]. The method enables efficient qualification or disqualification of a molecule as a potential GPCR ligand and represents a useful tool for constraining the size of GPCR-targeted libraries that will help speed up the development of new GPCR-active drugs.

Databases, Factual↗
PubMed2006

Toward a census of bacteria in soil.

For more than a century, microbiologists have sought to determine the species richness of bacteria in soil, but the extreme complexity and unknown structure of soil microbial communities have obscured the answer. We developed a statistical model that makes the problem of estimating richness statistically accessible by evaluating the characteristics of samples drawn from simulated communities with parametric community distributions. We identified simulated communities with rank-abundance distributions that followed a truncated lognormal distribution whose samples resembled the structure of 16S rRNA gene sequence collections made using Alaskan and Minnesotan soils. The simulated communities constructed based on the distribution of 16S rRNA gene sequences sampled from the Alaskan and Minnesotan soils had a richness of 5,000 and 2,000 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), respectively, where an OTU represents a collection of sequences not more than 3% distant from each other. To sample each of these OTUs in the Alaskan 16S rRNA gene library at least twice, 480,000 sequences would be required; however, to estimate the richness of the simulated communities using nonparametric richness estimators would require only 18,000 sequences. Quantifying the richness of complex environments such as soil is an important step in building an ecological framework. We have shown that generating sufficient sequence data to do so requires less sequencing effort than completely sequencing a bacterial genome.

Alaska↗
PubMed2003

Intramuscular penicillin is more effective than oral penicillin in secondary prevention of rheumatic fever--a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: People with a history of rheumatic fever (RF) are at high risk of recurrent attacks and of developing rheumatic heart disease following a streptococcal throat infection. Giving penicillin to these people can prevent recurrent attacks of RF and subsequent rheumatic heart disease. However, there is no agreement on the most effective method of giving penicillin. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of different penicillin regimens and formulations for preventing streptococcal infection and RF recurrence. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Controlled Trials Register (Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2001), Medline (January 1966-July 2000), Embase (January 1985-July 2000), reference lists of articles, and contacted experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised and quasi-randomised studies comparing: (i) oral with intramuscular penicillin; and (ii) 2- or 3-weekly with 4-weekly intramuscular penicillin in patients with previous RF. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS: Six studies were included (1,707 patients). Data were not pooled because of clinical and methodological heterogeneity of the trials. Four trials (1,098 patients) compared intramuscular with oral penicillin and all showed that intramuscular penicillin was more effective in reducing RF recurrence and streptococcal throat infections than oral penicillin. One trial (360 patients) compared 2-weekly with 4-weekly intramuscular penicillin. Penicillin given every 2 weeks was better at reducing RF recurrence (relative risk (RR) 0.52, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.33-0.83) and streptococcal throat infections (RR 0.60, 95% CI: 0.42-0.85). One trial (249 patients) showed that 3-weekly intramuscular penicillin injections reduced streptococcal throat infections (RR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.48-0.92) compared with 4-weekly intramuscular penicillin. CONCLUSIONS: Intramuscular penicillin seemed to be more effective than oral penicillin in preventing RF recurrence and streptococcal throat infections. Two-weekly or 3-weekly injections appeared to be more effective than 4-weekly injections. However, the evidence is based on poor-quality trials and the use of outdated formulations of oral penicillin.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Can-Dial. An experiment in health education and cancer control.

A dial-access public information system providing information about cancer to the populace has been developed by Roswell Park Memorial Institute. The system is comprised of a tape library consisting of 36 pre-recorded tapes in English on a variety of cancer-related topics and Spanish translations of 28 of the tapes. Interested persons can select and listen to topics of their choice over the telephone. Telephones are manned by operators 16 hours a day, 7 days a week. Persons who call are asked to volunteer certain descriptive information such as name, address, telephone number, sex, age, occupation, and source of information about Can-Dial. These data are used in evaluating the program. Two types of evaluation are being conducted. The first entails a constant monitoring of the system based upon information collected by operators concerning each call. The second type consists of interviews with a sample of callers and a sample of noncallers for the purpose of comparing the characteristics of both groups and ascertaining the impact of Can-Dial on the behavior of its users. Preliminary assessments indicate that Can-Dial is being used by all socioeconomic status groups, by more urban than rural residents, and by the younger rather than older age groups. In its first 23 months of operation, the system handled more than 68,700 calls, at an average cost of $1.58 per call. A tentative conclusion is that Can-Dial is fulfilling a public need and may have a favorable impact in improving health behavior.

Communication↗
PubMed2005

Identification of karyopherin beta as an immunogenic antigen of the malaria parasite using immune mice and human sera.

A differential immunoscreening of the lambdagt11 Plasmodium falciparum genomic expression library was carried out using anti-P. yoelii sera (convalescent-phase mouse sera) and immune sera collected from healthy adults, to identify novel cross-reactive and possibly protective antigens of the parasite. One clone, with an insert size of 1132 bp that reacted strongly with both the sera was selected. The insert was found to be a part of the P. falciparum karyopherin beta (PfKbeta) homologue. RT-PCR and Northern blot analysis confirmed the expression of PfKbeta in the blood stages of the parasite. The approximately 110 kDa protein was localized in the cytoplasm at the ring and trophozoite, and in the parasitophorous vacuole at the schizont stage. Two large fragments of PfKbeta representing the N- and C-terminal halves were expressed in E. coli. The recombinant proteins were highly immunogenic in mice, and also found to be the target for immune response in natural infections of Plasmodium spp. Anti-sera against the protein showed a low level of anti-parasitic activity. Immunization with recombinant PfKbeta fragments was only partially protective against a heterologous challenge infection in mice. Our results show that the parasite releases a highly immunogenic, cytoplasmic protein into the host which may not contribute to the development of protective immunity.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Zonisamide add-on for drug-resistant partial epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: The majority of people with epilepsy have a good prognosis and their seizures can be well controlled with the use of a single antiepileptic agent, but up to 30% develop refractory epilepsy, especially those with partial seizures. In this review we summarize the current evidence regarding zonisamide, when used as an add-on treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of zonisamide when used as an add-on treatment for people with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group Specialized Register (August 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2005). In addition, we contacted Eisai Limited (makers and licensees of zonisamide) and experts in the field to seek any ongoing/unpublished studies. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized placebo controlled add-on trials of zonisamide in people with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors independently selected trials for inclusion and extracted data. Outcomes were: (1) 50% or greater reduction in total seizure frequency; (2) treatment withdrawal; (3) adverse events. Primary analyses were intention-to-treat. Summary relative risks (RRs) were estimated for each outcome. MAIN RESULTS: Four trials (850 participants) were included. The overall RR with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 50% reduction in seizure frequency compared to placebo for 300 to 500 mg/day of zonisamide was 2.44 (95% CI 1.81 to 3.30). The RR for any dose zonisamide (100 to 500 mg per day) was 2.35 (1.74 to 3.17). Two trials provide evidence of a dose response relationship for this outcome. The RR for treatment withdrawal for 300 to 500 mg/day zonisamide compared to placebo was 1.64 (1.20 to 2.26), and for 100 to 500 mg per day was 1.47 (1.07 to 2.02). The CIs of the following adverse effects indicate that they are significantly associated with zonisamide: ataxia 4.50 (99% CI 1.05 to 19.22); dizziness 1.77 (99% CI 1.00 to 3.12); somnolence 1.96 (99% CI 1.12 to 3.44); agitation 2.37 (99% CI 1.00 to 5.64); and anorexia 3.00 (99% CI 1.31 to 6.88). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Zonisamide has efficacy as an add-on treatment in people with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. Minimum effective and maximum tolerated doses cannot be identified. The trials reviewed were of 12 week duration and results cannot be used to confirm longer periods of effectiveness in seizure control. The results cannot be extrapolated to monotherapy or to people with other seizure types or epilepsy syndromes.

Anticonvulsants↗
PubMed2000

Oxcarbazepine add-on for drug-resistant partial epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Most people with epilepsy have a good prognosis and their seizures can be well controlled with the use of a single antiepileptic drug, but up to 30 % develop refractory epilepsy, especially those with partial seizures. In this review we summarise the current evidence regarding oxcarbazepine when used as an add-on treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of oxcarbazepine when used as an add-on treatment for drug-resistant partial epilepsy. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Epilepsy Group's trials register, the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (Cochrane Library Issue 1, 2000), MEDLINE (January 1966 to December 1999) and reference lists of articles. We also contacted Novartis (manufacturers of oxcarbazepine) and experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, add-on trials of oxcarbazepine in patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed trials for inclusion and extracted the relevant data. The following outcomes were assessed : (a) 50 % or greater reduction in seizure frequency; (b) treatment withdrawal (any reason); (c) side effects. Primary analyses were intention to treat. Summary odds ratios were estimated for each outcome. MAIN RESULTS: Overall Odds Ratio (OR) (95 % Confidence Interval (CIs)) for 50 % or greater reduction in seizure frequency compared to placebo 2.96 (2.20,4.00). Treatment withdrawal OR (95 % CIs) compared to placebo 2.17 (1.59,2.97). Side effects: OR (99 % CIs) compared to placebo, ataxia 2.93(1.72,4.99); dizziness 3.05 (1.99, 4. 67); fatigue 1.80 (1.02, 3.19); nausea 2.88 (1.77, 4.69); somnolence 2.55 (1.84, 3.55); diplopia 4.32 (2.65, 7.04), were significantly associated with oxcarbazepine. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: Oxcarbazepine has efficacy as an add-on treatment in patients with drug-resistant partial epilepsy, both in adults and children. However, trials reviewed were of relatively short duration, and provide no evidence about the long term effects of oxcarbazepine. Results cannot be extrapolated to monotherapy or to patients with other epilepsy types.

Adult↗
PubMed1970

Development of methodologic tools for planning and managing library services. IV. Bibliography of studies selected for methods and data useful to biomedical libraries.

This selective bibliography is intended to serve as a guide to empirical studies reporting data and methods that can be used by medical librarians to assess their own efforts objectively and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of services they offer. The decision rules that governed selection of items for the bibliography are specified in detail. A total of 178 items published between 1915 and mid-1968 met the selection criteria. The list of items is supplemented by a keyword index derived from titles. Half the items are journal articles; a third of these articles appeared in the Bulletin, and most of the remainder in thirteen other library and information science journals. Most of the non-journal items are technical reports issued by the organization that conducted or sponsored the work. The characteristics of this literature suggest that few medical libraries, unless they are part of a university system that includes the collection of a library or information science school, are likely to have quick access to the literature base needed to support a comprehensive program of self-evaluation studies and the continuing education of their own staff. Regional medical libraries might well undertake to ensure both ready access to, and awareness of, literature on the scientific aspects of librarianship.

Bibliographies as Topic↗
PubMed2005

Atovaquone-proguanil for treating uncomplicated malaria.

BACKGROUND: Many conventional treatments for uncomplicated malaria are failing because malaria parasites develop resistance to them. One way to combat this resistance is to treat people with a combination of drugs, such as atovaquone-proguanil. OBJECTIVES: To compare atovaquone-proguanil with other antimalarial drugs (alone or in combination) for treating children and adults with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register (June 2005), CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library Issue 2, 2005), MEDLINE (1966 to June 2005), EMBASE (1980 to June 2005), LILACS (1982 to June 2005), reference lists, and conference abstracts. We also contacted relevant pharmaceutical manufacturers and researchers. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized controlled trials comparing atovaquone-proguanil with other antimalarial drugs for treating children and adults confirmed to have uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Three authors independently assessed trial eligibility and methodological quality, and extracted data for an intention-to-treat analysis (where possible). We used relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous data. We contacted trial authors for additional information where needed. MAIN RESULTS: Ten trials, with a total of 2345 participants, met the inclusion criteria. The trials were conducted in four geographical regions and were often small, but they included comparisons across eight drugs. Nine trials were funded by a pharmaceutical company, only three carried out an intention-to-treat analysis, and allocation concealment was unclear in seven. Atovaquone-proguanil had fewer treatment failures by day 28 than chloroquine (RR 0.04, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.57; 27 participants, 1 trial), amodiaquine (RR 0.22, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.36; 342 participants, 2 trials), and mefloquine (RR 0.04, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.73; 158 participants, 1 trial). There were insufficient data to draw a conclusion for this outcome from comparisons with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (172 participants, 2 trials), halofantrine (205 participants, 1 trial), artesunate plus mefloquine (1063 participants, 1 trial), quinine plus tetracycline (154 participants, 1 trial), and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine-trimethoprim-primaquine (161 participants, 1 trial). Adverse events were mainly common symptoms of malaria and did not differ in frequency between groups. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Data are limited but appear to suggest that atovaquone-proguanil is more effective than chloroquine, amodiaquine, and mefloquine. There are insufficient data for comparisons against sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine, halofantrine, artesunate plus mefloquine, quinine plus tetracycline, and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine-trimethoprim-primaquine in treating malaria. There are not enough data to assess safety, but a number of adverse events were identified with all drugs. Large trials comparing atovaquone-proguanil with other new combination therapies are needed.

Antimalarials↗
PubMed2002

Generation of expressed sequence tags from a normalized porcine skeletal muscle cDNA library.

Recent developments in microarray technologies permit scientists to analyze expression of thousands of genes simultaneously in diverse biological systems. In an effort to provide integrated resources for application of microarray technologies to studies of skeletal muscle growth and development in swine, we have constructed a normalized cDNA library from porcine skeletal muscle. The effectiveness of normalization was evaluated by DNA sequencing of clones randomly picked from the library before and after normalization, and also by Southern blot hybridization using probes representing abundant transcripts. Our data suggests that the normalization procedure successfully reduced the highly abundant cDNA species in the normalized library. To date, a total of 782 EST (expressed sequence tag) sequences have been generated from this normalized library (687 ESTs) and the original library (95 ESTs). The sequence information of these ESTs plus their BLAST results has been made available through a web accessible database (http://nbfgc.msu.edu). Cluster analysis of the data indicates that a total of 742 unique sequences are present in this collection. BLASTN search of the 742 EST sequences against the public database (dbEST) revealed that 139 had no significant matches (E-value > 10(-15)) to porcine ESTs already entered in the database, suggesting the possibility of their specific expression in porcine skeletal muscle. Generation of non-redundant ESTs from this library will allow us to construct cDNA microarrays for identification of gene expression changes that regulate muscle growth and affect meat quality in swine.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

NCL: a C++ class library for interpreting data files in NEXUS format.

UNLABELLED: The NEXUS Class Library (NCL) is a collection of C++ classes designed to simplify interpreting data files written in the NEXUS format used by many computer programs for phylogenetic analyses. The NEXUS format allows different programs to share the same data files, even though none of the programs can interpret all of the data stored therein. Because users are not required to reformat the data file for each program, use of the NEXUS format prevents cut-and-paste errors as well as the proliferation of copies of the original data file. The purpose of making the NCL available is to encourage the use of the NEXUS format by making it relatively easy for programmers to add the ability to interpret NEXUS files in newly developed software. AVAILABILITY: The NCL is freely available under the GNU General Public License from http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/ncl/ SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Documentation for the NCL (general information and source code documentation) is available in HTML format at http://hydrodictyon.eeb.uconn.edu/ncl/

Databases, Bibliographic↗
PubMed2006

Phylogenetic comparisons of bacterial communities from serpentine and nonserpentine soils.

I present the results of a culture-independent survey of soil bacterial communities from serpentine soils and adjacent nonserpentine comparator soils using a variety of newly developed phylogenetically based statistical tools. The study design included site-based replication of the serpentine-to-nonserpentine community comparison over a regional scale ( approximately 100 km) in Northern California and Southern Oregon by producing 16S rRNA clone libraries from pairs of samples taken on either side of the serepentine-nonserpentine edaphic boundary at three geographical sites. At the division level, the serpentine and nonserpentine communities were similar to each other and to previous data from forest soils. Comparisons of both richness and Shannon diversity produced no significant differences between any of the libraries, but the vast majority of phylogenetically based tests were significant, even with only 50 sequences per library. These results suggest that most samples were distinct, consisting of a collection of lineages generally not found in other samples. The pattern of results showed that serpentine communities tended to be more similar to each other than they were to nonserpentine communities, and these differences were at a lower taxonomic scale. Comparisons of two nonserpentine communities generally showed differences, and some results suggest that the geographical site may control community composition as well. These results show the power of phylogenetic tests to discern differences between 16S rRNA libraries compared to tests that discard DNA data to bin sequences into operational taxonomic units, and they stress the importance of replication at larger scales for inferences regarding microbial biogeography.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2006

Neoadjuvant chemoradiation for advanced primary vulvar cancer.

BACKGROUND: In advanced stage primary vulvar cancer, treatment is tailored to individual patient needs. Combined treatment modalities have been developed, using chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the combined treatment strategy using concurrent neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy followed by surgery is effective and safe in vulvar cancer patients with advanced primary disease. Main outcomes of interest were: types of surgical intervention following chemoradiation and survival, recurrence and complication rates. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Review Group Specialised Register. The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library), MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CANCERLIT, other databases and reference lists of articles. The latest search was conducted on 12 March 2005. SELECTION CRITERIA: Studies of curative treatment of patients with advanced, primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva were included. Treatment included concurrent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, followed by surgery. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Twenty-eight abstracts and papers were selected either by the search strategy or by checking the cross references. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were not available. Five studies met the inclusion criteria. (Eifel 1995; Landoni 1996; Montana 2000; Moore 1998; Scheistroen 1993). Two authors (HCvD, MV-L) independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Study authors were contacted for additional information. Adverse effects information was collected from the trials. MAIN RESULTS: Chemotherapy was given uniformly within each of the five selected studies. However, four different chemoradiation schedules were applied. Radiotherapy dose fractionation techniques, fields and target definitions varied. Skin toxicity was observed in nearly all patients. Wound breakdown, infection, lymphedema, lymphorrhea and lymphoceles were also common. Operability was achieved in 63 to 92% of cases in the four studies using 5FU and CDDP or 5FU and MMC. In contrast, only 20% of the patients who received Bleomycin were operable after chemoradiation. After a follow up of 5 to 125 months, 26 to 63% of participants were alive and well. A total of 27 to 85% of participants died due to treatment related causes or disease. The five studies included in this review show that preoperative chemoradiotherapy reduces tumour size and improves operability. However, complications of treatment are considerable and information on the effects of quality of life (QOL) is not available. Furthermore, treatment results of the respective studies diverge considerably. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Patients with inoperable primary tumours or lymph nodes benefit from chemoradiation if an operation can be performed. In patients with large tumours that can only be treated with anterior and/or posterior exenteration complications of neoadjuvant therapy might outweigh complications of exenterative surgery. With the current knowledge neoadjuvant therapy is not justified in patients with tumours that can be adequately treated with radical vulvectomy and bilateral groin node dissection alone.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗
PubMed1978

Hospital-based patient education programs and the role of the hospital librarian.

This paper examines current advances in hospital-based patient education, and delineates the role of the hospital librarian in these programs. Recently, programs of planned patient education have been recognized by health care personnel and the public as being an integral part of health care delivery. Various key elements, including legislative action, the advent of audiovisual technology, and rising health care costs have contributed to the development of patient education programs in hospitals. As responsible members of the hospital organization, hospital librarians should contribute their expertise to patient education programs. They are uniquely trained with skills in providing information on other health education programs; in assembling, cataloging, and managing collections of patient education materials; and in providing documentation of their use. In order to demonstrate the full range of their skills and to contribute to patient care, education, and research, hospital librarians should actively participate in programs of planned patient education.

Cost-Benefit Analysis↗
PubMed2004

Intramuscular arteether for treating severe malaria.

BACKGROUND: Quinine and artemisinin drugs are used in severe malaria, but quinine resistance is increasing. Arteether is a recently developed artemisinin derivative that is oil soluble, has a long elimination half life, and is more stable than other derivatives. OBJECTIVES: To compare intramuscular arteether with other antimalarial drugs to treat severe malaria. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register (August 2004), CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2004), MEDLINE (1966 to August 2004), EMBASE (1980 to August 2004), U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) Gateway (1953 to 1965), Web Science Citation (1981 to August 2004), LILACS (August 2004), Google search engine (August 2004), conference proceedings, and reference lists. We also contacted researchers, organizations, and pharmaceutical companies to help identify trials. SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomized and quasi-randomized controlled trials of intramuscular arteether in adults and children with severe malaria. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We independently assessed the methodological quality of the trials and extracted data, and analysed data using Review Manager 4.2. MAIN RESULTS: Two small trials (n = 194) met the inclusion criteria. Both trials compared arteether with quinine in children with cerebral malaria and reported on similar outcomes. There was no statistically significant difference in the number of deaths (relative risk 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.43 to 1.30; n = 194, 2 trials), neurological complications (relative risk 1.18, 95% confidence interval 0.31 to 4.46; n = 58, 1 trial), or other outcomes including time to regain consciousness, parasite clearance time, and fever clearance time. The meta-analyses lack statistical power to detect important differences. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS: More trials with a larger number of participants are needed before a firm conclusion about the efficacy and safety of arteether can be reached.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

The multimod application framework: a rapid application development tool for computer aided medicine.

This paper describes a new application framework (OpenMAF) for rapid development of multimodal applications in computer-aided medicine. MAF applications are multimodal in data, in representation, and in interaction. The framework supports almost any type of biomedical data, including DICOM datasets, motion-capture recordings, or data from computer simulations (e.g. finite element modeling). The interactive visualization approach (multimodal display) helps the user interpret complex datasets, providing multiple representations of the same data. In addition, the framework allows multimodal interaction by supporting the simultaneous use of different input-output devices like 3D trackers, stereoscopic displays, haptics hardware and speech recognition/synthesis systems. The Framework has been designed to run smoothly even on limited power computers, but it can take advantage of all hardware capabilities. The Framework is based on a collection of portable libraries and it can be compiled on any platform that supports OpenGL, including Windows, MacOS X and any flavor of Unix/linux.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Molecular characterization of AtNAM: a member of the Arabidopsis NAC domain superfamily.

The petunia NAM and ArabidopsisATAF1 and CUC2 genes define the conserved NAC domain. In petunia, loss-of-function nam mutants result in embryos that fail to elaborate shoot apical meristems (SAM), and nam seedlings do not develop shoots and leaves. We have isolated a NAC domain gene, AtNAM, from an Arabidopsis developing seed cDNA library. Expression of AtNAM mRNA is restricted primarily to the region of the embryo including the SAM. The AtNAM gene contains three exons and is located on Chromosome 1. In vivo assays in yeast demonstrate that AtNAM encodes a transcription factor and that the NAC domain includes a specific DNA binding domain (DBD). The AtNAM DBD is contained within a 60 amino acid region which potentially folds into a helix-turn-helix motif that specifically binds to the CaMV 35S promoter. The putative transcriptional activation domain is located in the C-terminal region of the protein, a highly divergent region among NAC domain-containing genes. The Arabidopsis genome contains 90 predicted NAC domain genes; we refer to these collectively as the AtNAC superfamily. The first two exons of all members of this superfamily encode the NAC domain. Most AtNAC genes contain three exons with the last exon encoding an activation domain. A subfamily of AtNAC genes contains additional terminal exons coding for protein domains whose functions are unknown.

Amino Acid Sequence↗