Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “workshop”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,189 records · Page 66Linked to original sources

Immunoassays (ELISA) of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA): report of an EORTC/BIOMED-1 workshop.

The urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) is considered to play a key role in the process of invasion and metastasis. In several independent studies, in a variety of cancer types (e.g. of the breast, colon, stomach, lung, ovary), high antigen levels of uPA in tumour extracts have been associated with rapid disease progression. In these studies, different sets of antibodies and standards (often as commercially available uPA ELISA kits) have been used. The standards provided with the different uPA ELISA kits are different from each other in both composition and source. In addition, the different uPA ELISA kits use antibodies which differ in specificity and affinity for the various forms of uPA including pro-uPA, HMW-uPA, LMW-uPA, the aminoterminal fragment (ATF) and complexes with inhibitors (PAI-1 and PAI-2) and the receptor (uPAR). Further, the composition of tumour tissue extraction buffers differ significantly among the published studies. Thus, it is not surprising that the ranges of cytosolic uPA levels reported differ considerably even when measured within the same tumour type. These discrepancies led the EORTC Receptor and Biomarker Study Group, in conjunction with the BIOMED-1 consortium on 'Clinical Relevance of Proteases in Tumour Invasion and Metastasis', to organise a workshop to study the characteristics associated with six different uPA immunoassays (ELISA) used in clinical studies reported in the literature. Although the absolute uPA antigen values measured with the respective uPA ELISA kits differed, high correlations were obtained for any two of the four uPA ELISA kits finally applied to sets of breast cancer cytosol preparations. The preparations used at present as standards in the various uPA ELISA kits are not representative of actual human breast cancer cytosols. Thus absolute standardisation is only possible by using a common reference sample (breast cancer cytosol) and similarly composed ELISA uPA kits. Then it will be possible to generate comparable data on clinical tissue as well as to check for batch-to-batch variations within particular ELISA kits.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Cholesterol and heart disease in older persons and women. Review of an NHLBI workshop.

The value of serum total cholesterol measurement in predicting coronary heart disease (CHD) is well established in middle-aged men, but has been questioned in middle-aged women and older people of both sexes. To address this, the most recent follow-up data from 25 populations in 22 US and international cohort studies were presented and analyzed at a recent National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) workshop. Crude relative and absolute excess risks of fatal CHD were determined for individual studies and pooled across studies to determine pooled risk estimates. Serum total cholesterol and low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels predicted fatal CHD in middle-aged (< 65 years) and older (> or = 65 years) men and women, though the strength and consistency of these relationships in older women were diminished. High-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels inversely predicted CHD in middle-aged men and women and in older women, but not in older men. Data for minority groups and for overseas populations were similar to those for white people in the United States. Relative risk estimates were generally lower for older than for middle-aged subjects, but absolute excess risk was greater. Older people and middle-aged women with elevated cholesterol levels are clearly at increased risk of coronary disease; whether this risk can be modified by dietary or drug therapy, and at what level intervention is appropriate, must not be determined.

Age Factors↗

Standardization of uveitis nomenclature for reporting clinical data. Results of the First International Workshop.

PURPOSE: To begin a process of standardizing the methods for reporting clinical data in the field of uveitis. DESIGN: Consensus workshop. METHODS: Members of an international working group were surveyed about diagnostic terminology, inflammation grading schema, and outcome measures, and the results used to develop a series of proposals to better standardize the use of these entities. Small groups employed nominal group techniques to achieve consensus on several of these issues. RESULTS: The group affirmed that an anatomic classification of uveitis should be used as a framework for subsequent work on diagnostic criteria for specific uveitic syndromes, and that the classification of uveitis entities should be on the basis of the location of the inflammation and not on the presence of structural complications. Issues regarding the use of the terms "intermediate uveitis," "pars planitis," "panuveitis," and descriptors of the onset and course of the uveitis were addressed. The following were adopted: standardized grading schema for anterior chamber cells, anterior chamber flare, and for vitreous haze; standardized methods of recording structural complications of uveitis; standardized definitions of outcomes, including "inactive" inflammation, "improvement'; and "worsening" of the inflammation, and "corticosteroid sparing," and standardized guidelines for reporting visual acuity outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: A process of standardizing the approach to reporting clinical data in uveitis research has begun, and several terms have been standardized.

Humans↗

Report of an International Network of Cancer Treatment and Research workshop on non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in developing countries.

The International Network of Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR) recently organized a workshop on non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) in selected developing countries with the purpose of examining existing information relating to the pathology and management of these neoplasms, and identifying potential areas for research. This report provides a summary of the information presented and is focused primarily on the pathology of NHLs in children and adults. In most countries, the WHO classification of lymphomas was used and most participating centers included immunohistochemistry using a wide array of lymphoid antibodies as part of routine diagnosis. Some of the series had been reviewed by an external panel of experts. B-cell lymphomas accounted for 82-88% of all NHLs. The proportions of chronic lymphatic leukemia (4-6%), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL, 3-5%), and plasmacytoma (2-4%) were similar in the series presented. However, there was a significant variation in the proportion of follicular lymphoma (FL), which accounted for 15% and 11% in India and Kuwait, but less than 5% in Pakistan and Egypt. All of these frequencies are significantly lower than those reported in Western series. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma accounted for about 35% of cases in India but for more 50% in other countries, but this difference was not accounted for by an increased incidence in a single lymphoma subtype in India, but rather an apparent paucity of several subtypes (such as mantle cell and marginal zone lymphomas (MZL)) in other series. There were relatively high frequencies of Burkitt lymphoma in Egypt (7%) and precursor T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in India (6-7%). Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) (not otherwise specified and angioimmunoblastic subtypes) accounted for 3-5% of NHLs, and extranodal lymphoma of T/NK cell type was rare (<1%). These differences in the relative proportions of NHL subtypes among developing countries and between developing countries and the rest of the world presumably arise from differences in environmental and genetic factors that influence lymphomagenesis and strongly suggest that more research in developing countries would provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of lymphoid neoplasms.

Adult↗

Characterization of antibodies submitted to the B cell section of the 8th Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens Workshop by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry.

The aim of this study was to characterize the reactivity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that had been submitted to the HLDA8 Workshop. The lineage specificity of target molecules was tested by analyzing their expression patterns on blood cells, leukocytes, and lymphocyte subsets. The expression of target molecules during B cell development, ranging from early precursors to plasma cells, was analyzed using a large panel of B cell lines. Our results have permitted us to characterize the expression of 10 new CD molecules: CD316 (HM1.24, BST2), CD268 (BAFF-R, TNFRSF13C), CD269 (BCMA, TNFRF17), CD267 (TACI, TNFRSF13B), CD275 (ICOSL, B7H2), CD254 (TRANCE, TNFSF11), CD252 (OX40L TNFSF4), CD315 (CD9-P), CD316 (EWI-2, PGRL), and CD307 (IRTA-2 or FcRH5). Three of these new CDs, CD267, CD269, and CD307 presented a B cell-restricted expression pattern. MAbs against these novel cell-surface molecules may offer new tools for research, diagnosis, and therapy.

Animals↗

Cytokine/Chemokine HLDA8 Workshop panel report: analysis of receptors on lymphocytes from cord blood, normal and asthmatic subjects, and HIV positive patients.

Chemokines and cytokines are involved in many processes, both physiological and pathological, particularly the recruitment, differentiation, activation, and proliferation of immune cells taking part in ontogenesis, inflammation, and cancer. It was assumed that chemokines and cytokines receptors are expressed in a regulated manner by human lymphocytes during ontogeny and later on, under the environmental stimulation of antigens they contribute to organogenesis, angiogenesis, and tissue remodeling, as well as modulating leukocyte effector functions. Using monoclonal antibodies classified by the Cytokine/Chemokine section of the 8th International Workshop on Human Leukocyte Differentiation Antigens, we analyzed human lymphocytes in blood samples drawn from the umbilical cord, normal adults, allergic and non-allergic asthma patients, HIV infected, and AIDS positive subjects. The main differences noted between adult and cord blood lymphocytes were related to CCR7 and CXCR4 receptors, which were more strongly expressed on cord blood lymphocytes, confirming the important role of these chemokines during development of the immune system. As with the HIV, CXCR4, and CCR5 co-receptors, we found no differences in CXCR4 expression between HIV and AIDS patients. However CCR5 was more strongly expressed in AIDS patients, which is likely to be associated with the evolution of disease. Further studies are needed to gain a better understanding of the functions of these molecules in the underlying pathogenesis of many diseases and to probe the use of the chemokine receptors as targets for therapeutic intervention.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Expression of chemokine receptors in normal and inflamed human intestine, tonsil, and liver--an immunohistochemical analysis with new monoclonal antibodies from the 8th international workshop and conference on human leucocyte differentiation antigens.

Chemokines are important mediators involved in the recruitment of leucocytes to lymphoid tissues and to sites of inflammation. To identify suitable monoclonal antibodies for immunohistochemistry, we tested a panel of new reagents provided by the cytokine/chemokine receptor section of the 8th HLDA workshop on cryostat sections of normal human gut, tonsil, and liver. In addition, inflamed intestinal tissues from individuals with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis were analysed. Our results reveal an upregulated expression of chemokine receptors like CCR6, CCR7, CCR9, CXCR1, and CXCR3 in inflamed gut. Enhanced expression of such molecules likely contributes to the maintenance of inflammation in chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

The newborn drug development initiative workshop: Summary proceedings from the neurology group on neonatal seizures.

BACKGROUND: The neonatal period eclipses all other epochs of the human life span for the highest incidence of seizures. Neonatal seizures are most commonly incited by serious acute illnesses such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, birth trauma, or infection. OBJECTIVE: The goal of this article was to summarize some of the Neurology Group's discussion on neonatal seizures and their treatment with phenobarbital (PB). METHODS: Information for this article was gathered from a workshop held March 29 and 30, 2004, in Baltimore, Maryland, as part of the Newborn Drug Development Initiative. A group of national experts was invited to form the Neurology Group to review certain aspects of neonatal seizures. Literature reviews were conducted using MEDLINE searches for original research studies, commentaries, and review articles between 1980 and 2004 using the key words neonatal seizures, treatment, and phenobarbital. RESULTS: It has been empirically established that infants who experience seizures face substantially higher mortality and morbidity rates than those who do not. Basic research indicates that neonatal seizures themselves are not innocuous and actively contribute to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Current worldwide clinical practice most often includes empiric treatment with PB for definite or suspected seizures in the newborn. Unfortunately, this common practice has never been proven by even a single, rigorous, randomized controlled trial. The Neurology Group identified the treatment of neonatal seizures with PB as an important topic in the practice of neonatal neurology for further investigation. Three possible frameworks for ethically acceptable, clinical treatment trials were explored. From these, a suitable scenario was selected-an electroencephalographer-blinded study of PB versus placebo in a homogeneous group of newborns who are at high risk of developing early subclinical electroencephalographic neonatal seizures (ENSs). Prospective video-electroencephalogram monitoring performed immediately after an insult (such as major cardiac surgery for a serious congenital heart defect) would establish the presence and number of subclinical ENSs. For a brief period of time, neonates with subclinical ENSs would be randomized to PB (dosed to match the PB-binding characteristics of the individual) or placebo. Clear criteria for escape from the study to active treatment are defined. CONCLUSION: The investigation proposed here could refute or confirm the contemporary practice of PB administration as the first-line treatment of neonatal seizures.

Anticonvulsants↗

Porcine ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1/CD203a): cloning, transcription, expression, mapping, and identification of an NPP1/CD203a epitope for swine workshop cluster 9 (SWC9) monoclonal antibodies.

Swine workshop cluster 9 (SWC9) antibody identifying a porcine epitope on macrophages and thymocytes was used to precipitate and characterize the molecule from biotinylated macrophages and to obtain peptide sequence by mass spectrometry. The protein was identified as ecto-nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (NPP1/CD203a). The porcine NPP1/CD203a encoding gene was mapped to chromosome 1 using a radiation hybrid panel, and transcription was investigated by RT-PCR analysis of several tissues. The cDNA was cloned and introduced into COS7 cells resulting in expression of functionally active enzyme and verification of the specificity of an SWC9 reacting monoclonal antibody. The antibody was used for immunohistochemical examination of various porcine tissues. Most prominent expression of NPP1/CD203a was found in lung macrophages and liver sinusoids.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

An evaluation of workshop training in motivational interviewing for addiction and mental health clinicians.

We evaluated a 2-day training workshop on motivational interviewing (MI) for addiction and mental health clinicians (n = 22). Clinicians completed the helpful responses questionnaire (HRQ) and taped interactions with a standardized patient (SP). Independent, blinded coders rated the tapes using the motivational interviewing skills code (MISC). Post-training assessment showed significant increase on the HRQ and two of four MISC summary scores for SP interviews. At 2-month follow-up, means of the HRQ and two MISC summary scores remained higher than baseline, but declined from post-training. Some MI skills improved to a greater degree than others, and a subset of clinicians (> 40%) showed continued improvement at follow-up. Results were consistent across interviews with different SPs, supporting the use of this assessment method. Findings highlight the need for additional research on the use of standardized patients, alternative assessment techniques, and effective methods of technology transfer for MI skill acquisition and retention.

Adult↗

"The Art of Successful Publication" ECCO 13 workshop report.

Having your work published in a good journal is the life-blood of research. Publications are the key element in scientific communication and influence future funding and cancer development for the authors. Every year more and more manuscripts are submitted and competition for acceptance is fierce. The editors of EJC recently held a workshop to discuss ways to improve manuscript writing, and this paper summarises their recommendations. Choose a title carefully, keep the introduction short, avoid confusing methods with results, and use figures wherever possible. Discuss only the relevance of new findings to published literature. Above all read the specific "instructions to authors" -- it is surprising how often this is ignored -- at peril!

Congresses as Topic↗

Role of complementary and alternative medicine in the care of patients with breast cancer: report of the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA) Workshop, Florence, Italy, December 2004.

The aim of the European Society of Mastology (EUSOMA) Workshop, Florence, Italy, December 2004, was to produce guidelines on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for breast cancer. The widespread use of CAM has to be acknowledged and the reasons for this understood. Deficiencies in the practice of conventional medicine that lead to the adoption of CAM need to be addressed. At the same time, CAM use for breast cancer should be quality controlled, avoiding double standards in evaluation, whilst recognising the problems of CAM research. These guidelines, which appear in an accompanying paper, aim to help oncologists and cancer patients alike.

Breast Neoplasms↗

TNF-alpha, TGF-beta, IL-10, IL-6, and INF-gamma alleles among African Americans and Cuban Americans. Report of the ASHI Minority Workshops: Part IV.

Point mutations or single nucleotide substitutions in the regulatory regions of cytokine genes may affect levels of cytokine expression and have been associated with acute and chronic rejection in organ transplantation, severity of graft-versus-host disease in hematopoietic stem cell transplants, and predisposition to autoimmune disorders. Because these cytokine variants have been studied primarily among Caucasians, we defined the alleles and frequencies of five cytokines among 691 unrelated, adult African Americans and 296 Cuban Americans in the American Society for Histocompatibility/National Institutes of Health Minority HLA Workshops. The genotypes of all cytokines, except for transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta among African Americans, were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg's equilibrium. Genotype frequencies among African American and Cuban American participants were compared with those of 75 North American Caucasian bone marrow donors and with published frequencies. Significant differences were observed in all comparisons except between Cuban and Caucasian Americans for alleles of interferon (IFN)-gamma, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10. The most notable differences were in genotype frequencies of African Americans compared with those of the two other populations. The frequency of the IFN-gamma genotype A/A, which is associated with low expression, was significantly higher in African Americans than in Caucasian or Cuban Americans (0.66 vs 0.37 and 0.26, respectively; p < 0.0001 for both comparisons). The high-expression G/G genotype for IL-6 was more than twice as prevalent among African Americans as among Caucasians and 1.5 times more frequent than among Cuban Americans (respective frequencies: 0.85 vs 0.38 and 0.49; p < 0.0001 for both comparisons). In African Americans, the frequency of the high-expression genotype for IL-10, GCC/GCC, was approximately half that of the frequency in Cuban and Caucasian Americans (0.10 vs 0.19 and 0.23, respectively; p < 0.0001, p = 0.004). Because levels of expression can affect inflammation and immune regulation, differences in cytokine allele frequencies between racial or ethnic groups may contribute to different incidences of autoimmunity and allograft rejection.

Adult↗

Borderline ovarian tumors: key points and workshop summary.

This article documents major points of agreement and disagreement among experts invited to participate in a Borderline Ovarian Tumor Workshop held in Bethesda, MD, on August 27-28, 2003. It is suggested that controversies related to the diagnosis and management of these tumors are often related to lack of data in the literature (small numbers of cases, unreported or unclear criteria for diagnosis and follow-up, insufficient length of follow-up, etc), and specific recommendations are made for further investigation and for reporting of data in future studies.

Female↗

Serous borderline (low malignant potential, atypical proliferative) ovarian tumors: workshop perspectives.

Although the category of serous borderline ovarian tumor (S-BOT) was established more than 30 years ago, the nomenclature and prognostic significance of various histological features of these neoplasms continues to engender controversy. The Borderline Ovarian Tumor Workshop was held in Bethesda, MD, in August 2003 in an attempt to examine the existing data, establish areas of agreement, and identify areas needing further investigation. This report addresses 6 areas of controversy regarding S-BOT: (1) tumors with and without a micropapillary architecture (typical vs micropapillary type), (2) peritoneal implants, (3) stromal microinvasion, (4) ovarian surface involvement, (5) lymph node involvement, and (6) recurrent tumors. Each of these issues is addressed by summarizing the data in the literature on which the discussions were based, areas of agreement that emerged, divergent opinions and the reasoning behind them, and the conclusions of the participants with recommended nomenclature.

Cystadenocarcinoma, Serous↗

Workshop cluster 1, a gammadelta T cell specific receptor is phosphorylated and down regulated by activation induced Src family kinase activity.

Workshop cluster 1(+) gamma delta (WC1(+)gammadelta) T cells have been shown to play important roles in the immune response to infections. WC1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein, uniquely expressed on the surface of gammadelta T cells of ruminants and pigs. A role for WC1 in inducing a reversible growth arrest of gammadelta T cells has been previously demonstrated. WC1-induced growth inhibition has been shown to be overcome following gammadelta T cell activation with Concanavalin A (Con A). However, molecular mechanism(s) by which WC1 signalling might be modulated following activation have not been elucidated. In this paper we show that Con A activation of bovine lymphocytes induces the tyrosine phosphorylation of WC1 in a Src-family kinase-dependent manner. Src family kinases also phosphorylated WC1 in a COS-7 co-transfection system. Furthermore, a glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-WC1 cytoplasmic domain fusion protein was directly phosphorylated by recombinant Lck (rLck) in vitro. The Y(1303) of WC1 was identified by mutational analysis as the only one of the five WC1 tyrosine residues to be critical for Src family phosphorylation. The importance of activation-induced Src family activity for WC1 function was investigated with the Src-family specific inhibitor PP2. These studies show that the surface levels of WC1 are down regulated in a Src-family-dependent manner following activation of bovine lymphocytes. Down regulation of surface WC1 was accompanied by a Src-family-dependent accumulation of intracellular WC1. These data show that WC1 is modulated by activation-induced tyrosine phosphorylation thus providing a new insight into the signalling mechanisms by which WC1 and gammadelta T cell activation are regulated in this important and unique cell population.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase gene mutation assay: meeting of the International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing, San Francisco, 2005, recommendations for 24-h treatment.

The Mouse Lymphoma Assay (MLA) Workgroup of the International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing (IWGT), comprised of experts from Japan, Europe and the United States, met on September 9, 2005, in San Francisco, CA, USA. This meeting of the MLA Workgroup was devoted to reaching a consensus on issues involved with 24-h treatment. Recommendations were made concerning the acceptable values for the negative/solvent control (mutant frequency, cloning efficiency and suspension growth) and the criteria to define an acceptable positive control response. Consensus was also reached concerning the use of the global evaluation factor (GEF) and appropriate statistical trend analysis to define positive and negative responses for the 24-h treatment. The Workgroup agreed to continue their support of the International Committee on Harmonization (ICH) recommendation that the MLA assay should include a 24-h treatment (without S-9) in those situations where the short treatment (3-4 h) gives negative results.

Animals↗

Transfer of communication skills training from workshop to workplace: the impact of clinical supervision.

OBJECTIVE: Recent studies have recognised that the communication skills learned in the training environment are not always transferred back into the clinical setting. This paper reports a study which investigated the potential of clinical supervision in enhancing the transfer process. METHODS: A randomised controlled trial was conducted involving 61 clinical nurse specialists. All attended a 3-day communication skills training workshop. Twenty-nine were then randomised to 4 weeks of clinical supervision, aimed at facilitating transfer of newly acquired skills into practice. Assessments, using real and simulated patients, were carried out before the course, immediately after the supervision period and 3 months later. Interviews were rated objectively using the Medical Interview Aural Rating Scale (MIARS) to assess nurses' ability to use key skills, respond to patient cues and identify patient concerns. RESULTS: Assessments with simulated patients showed that the training programme was extremely effective in changing competence in all three key areas. However, only those who experienced supervision showed any evidence of transfer. Improvements were found in the supervised groups' use of open questions, negotiation and psychological exploration. Whilst neither group facilitated more disclosure of cues or concerns, those in the experimental group responded more effectively to the cues disclosed, reduced their distancing behaviour and increasing their exploration of cues. CONCLUSIONS: The study has shown that whilst training enhances skills, without intervention, it may have little effect on clinical practice. The potential role of clinical supervision as one way of enhancing the clinical effectiveness of communication skills training programmes has been demonstrated. PRACTISE IMPLICATIONS: This study raises questions about the effectiveness of training programmes which do not incorporate a transfer element, and provides evidence to support the need for clinical supervision for clinical nurse specialist.

Adult↗