Go beyond the limits of genetic algorithm in daily covariate selection practice.

Covariate identification is an important step in the development of a population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. Among the different available approaches, the stepwise covariate model (SCM) is the most used. However, SCM is based on a local search strategy, in which the model-building process iteratively tests the addition or elimination of a single covariate at a time given all the others.

Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Predict the Intrinsic Solubility of Drug-Like Molecules.

Machine learning (ML) approaches are receiving increasing attention from pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies, given their ability to mine knowledge from available data. In drug discovery, for example, they are employed in quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models to predict biological properties from the chemical structure of a drug molecule. In this paper, following the Second Solubility Challenge (SC-2), a QSPR model based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) was built to predict the intrinsic solubility () of the 100-compound low-variance tight set and the 32-compound high-variance loose set provided by SC-2 as test datasets.

XPG mRNA expression levels modulate prognosis in resected non-small-cell lung cancer in conjunction with BRCA1 and ERCC1 expression.

Background: Molecular markers can help identify patients with early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with a high risk of relapse. Excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1), Xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG), and breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) are involved in DNA damage repair, whereas ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1) is implicated in DNA synthesis. Expression levels of these molecules might therefore have a prognostic role in lung cancer.

Cystic adventitial disease of the popliteal artery. A case report and review of the literature.

Cystic adventitial disease is a rare form of non-atherosclerotic stenosis and one of the main causes of claudication in young and middle-aged men. Approximately 200 case reports are available in the literature to date. It is generally located in the popliteal artery, although it may be found in other arteries and even in veins.

BRCA1: a novel prognostic factor in resected non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Although early-stage non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is considered a potentially curable disease following complete resection, patients have a wide spectrum of survival according to stage (IB, II, IIIA). Within each stage, gene expression profiles can identify patients with a higher risk of recurrence. We hypothesized that altered mRNA expression in nine genes could help to predict disease outcome: excision repair cross-complementing 1 (ERCC1), myeloid zinc finger 1 (MZF1) and Twist1 (which regulate N-cadherin expression), ribonucleotide reductase subunit M1 (RRM1), thioredoxin-1 (TRX1), tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase (Tdp1), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), BRCA1, and the human homolog of yeast budding uninhibited by benzimidazole (BubR1).

Risk-scoring methods in predicting the immediate outcome after emergency open repair of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Background: Rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm (RAAA) is associated with a risk of death approaching 80%. Prediction of immediate postoperative death in this condition assumes obvious relevance because it may be helpful in preoperative risk stratification.

Methods: One hundred fourteen patients underwent emergency open repair of RAAA.

Giant non Hodgkin lymphoma of Scarpa's triangle: a case report.

A 72-year-old lady was admitted to hospital with a large, bleeding mass on the right groin and an 8-month history of deep vein thrombosis of the left leg with pulmonary microembolisation treated medically. On clinical examination there was a solid, necrotising and bleeding right inguinal mass which extended 20 cm below the right inguinal ligament. A tissue biopsy, performed under local anaesthesia, revealed the presence of a non Hodgkin lymphoma with giant B-cells of follicular origin.

Preoperative risk stratification in patients undergoing elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm surgery: evaluation of five risk scoring methods.

Objective: To evaluate five risk scoring methods in predicting the immediate postoperative outcome after elective open repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA).

Design: Retrospective evaluation of the Eagle score, Glasgow aneurysm score, Leiden score, modified Leiden score and Vanzetto score in a consecutive series of patients.

Patients: Two hundred and eighty-six consecutive patients undergoing elective infrarenal aortic aneurysm repair.

Supportive care in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

The present study describes supportive care (SC) in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), evaluating whether it is affected by concomitant chemotherapy, patient's performance status (PS) and age. Data of patients enrolled in three randomised trials of first-line chemotherapy, conducted between 1996 and 2001, were pooled. The analysis was limited to the first three cycles of treatment.

Major vessel injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report.

The aim of the study was to investigate major vascular injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, which is a rare but potentially lethal complication if not recognized and treated swiftly, usually secondary to placement of the Veress needle or trocar. We report on our experience with a 35-year-old woman presenting an aortic laceration of the anterior wall and a puncture wound penetrating the anterior wall of the inferior vena cava. Repair of the injuries was done using a 5-0 Prolene suture mounted on pledgets.

Stent graft repair for rupture of the subclavian artery secondary to infection of a subclavian-to-carotid bypass graft.

The case of anastomotic rupture of the subclavian artery following infection of a subclavian-to-carotid bypass grafting is reported. Emergency endoluminal stent graft repair was life saving and aided wound healing, but stent graft thrombosis occurred. Such a complication raises some concern about the safety of this procedure in an infected setting.

[Cranial and neck nerve injuries following carotid endarterectomy intervention. Review of the literature].

The aim of the study was to establish the operative techniques and findings that can influence the reported incidence of cranial and cervical nerve injuries. Eight main studies comprising 1,616 carotid endarterectomies and published over the period from 1990 to October 2000 were reviewed. There were no statistically significant differences between neck incision (vertical or transverse) and number of injuries.

[Surgery of the carotid artery: locoregional anesthesia versus general anesthesia: Review of the literature].

The aim of the study was to compare locoregional and general anesthesia in carotid artery surgery in order to establish whether differences exist in terms of perioperative results, use of intraoperative shunts and costs. Seventeen studies, comprising 14,776 carotid endarterectomies performed with either locoregional or general anesthetic and published over the period from 1990 to March 2000, were reviewed. There were no statistically significant differences in the cardiovascular risk factors of the patients.

A three-week schedule of gemcitabine-cisplatin in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer with two different cisplatin dose levels: a phase II randomized trial.

Background: To explore a new schedule of gemcitabine-cisplatin (GP) combination therapy using two different cisplatin doses in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: From May to December 1997, 92 chemonaive patients entered the study and 88 (28 with locally advanced and 60 with disseminated NSCLC) were evaluable for response and toxicity (45 in arm A and 43 in arm B). Patients were randomly assigned to arm A or arm B.

[Central venous access systems in the oncologic patient].

Background: A safe and dependable venous access is mandatory in order to perform cancer chemotherapy and monitor blood values in the neoplastic patient. Prolonged infusions of medications with sclerosing action may damage the vessel wall, inducing chemical thrombophlebitis. Furthermore, extravasation of necrotizing compounds may be a danger to the patient.

Five-centimeter superior mesenteric artery aneurysm. A case report.

An unusual large mesenteric artery aneurysm presented as "angina abdominis" and abdominal mass is described. Endoaneurismectomy with reverse end-to-end saphenous vein graft was performed. The incidence, pathogenesis and diagnosis are reviewed and the treatment is discussed.

[Coarctation of he abdominal aorta].

The Authors report a 49-year-old woman complaining of slight nocturnal lower limb pain in whom an uncommon type IV coarctation of the infrarenal aorta associated with multiple renal arteries, slight hypoplasia of iliac and femoral arteries bilaterally, and a retroaortic left vein were found. She underwent an aorto-aortic prosthetic repair. The correction of this vascular condition was followed by partial improvement of her symptoms.

Percutaneous embolization of an isolated hypogastric artery aneurysm. A case report.

We describe a case of an isolated aneurysm of the left hypogastric artery which came under our observation because of a syndrome of compression on the homolateral iliac vein. Having excluded the presence of aneurysms in other sites, it was decided to perform a percutaneous embolization of the hypogastric aneurysm. The follow-up revealed the disappearance of the compression on the ipsilateral iliac vein and a 30% reduction in the diameter of the thrombosed aneurysm.