An investigation to offer conclusive recommendations on suitable benefit/cost criteria-based normalization methods for TOPSIS.

Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is a popular multi-criteria decision-making method that ranks the available alternatives by examining the ideal-positive and ideal-negative solutions for each decision criterion. The first step of using TOPSIS is to normalize the presence of incommensurable data in the decision matrix. There are several normalization methods, and the choice of these methods does affect TOPSIS results.

Peripheral tryptophan, serotonin, kynurenine, and their metabolites in major depression: A case-control study.

Aim: Tryptophan is the sole precursor of both peripherally and centrally produced serotonin and kynurenine. In depressed patients, tryptophan, serotonin, kynurenine, and their metabolite levels remain unclear. Therefore, peripheral tryptophan and metabolites of serotonin and kynurenine were investigated extensively in 173 patients suffering from a current major depressive episode (MDE) and compared to 214 healthy controls (HC).

Development of an Automated and Sensitive Microfluidic Device for Capturing and Characterizing Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) from Clinical Blood Samples.

Current analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is hindered by sub-optimal sensitivity and specificity of devices or assays as well as lack of capability of characterization of CTCs with clinical biomarkers. Here, we validate a novel technology to enrich and characterize CTCs from blood samples of patients with metastatic breast, prostate and colorectal cancers using a microfluidic chip which is processed by using an automated staining and scanning system from sample preparation to image processing. The Celsee system allowed for the detection of CTCs with apparent high sensitivity and specificity (94% sensitivity and 100% specificity).

Five methods of calcium hydroxide intracanal placement: an in vitro evaluation.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate root canal dressing with calcium hydroxide paste using 5 techniques of placement.

Study Design: After endodontic preparation, each of 50 single-rooted premolars was filled with calcium hydroxide paste through use of one of the following techniques: Gutta-Condensor, MecaShaper, K-type ultrasonic file, Lentulo, and Pastinject. Radiographs of all 3 third root zones were made after cleaning and shaping and obturation.

Multicentric study of monitoring alarms in the adult intensive care unit (ICU): a descriptive analysis.

Objectives: To assess the relevance of current monitoring alarms as a warning system in the adult ICU.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Settings: Two university hospital, and three general hospital, ICUs.

Influence and optimisation of operating parameters with a new binder in wet granulation. I: use in powder form.

It is very important to know the properties of a new binder in wet granulation because it involves the good or poor quality of the grain and the tablets. To estimate the effects of various procedural parameters on the tablet properties, to evaluate the optimal quantity of binder and solvent, the consequences of excess solvent or time mixing and to limit the number of experiments, the authors use the method of design of experiments. The experiments were carried out on a classical blend of lactose and maize starch and the binder was LYCATAB DSH, a maltodextrin.

Glial reaction in the hippocampal formation is highly correlated with aging in human brain.

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a biochemical marker of astrocytes and glial reaction, was quantified by immunoblotting in different brain areas from 33 non-demented patients with a Mini Mental State Examination score above 26 and aged from 12 to 98 years. An increase of GFAP with age was first found in the hippocampus and then in the entorhinal cortex. In both regions, GFAP amounts were correlated with age (r = 0.

Laboratory evaluation of the Abbott Cell DYN 3500 5-part differential.

The study reports the performance of the Abbott CD3500 automated hematology analyzer for the enumeration and delineation of leukocyte populations for both adult and pediatric samples, and the ability of this instrument to detect the presence of abnormal cells. Samples from 542 individual patients either attending medical practitioners or during hospitalization were examined and then subdivided for the purposes of this study into 106 samples from newborn infants (< days), 145 samples from older children (15 days to 14 years) with non-oncologic disorders, 100 samples from normal adults, and 191 samples from oncology patient (97 adults and 94 children). The leukocyte differentials provided by both the Abbott CD3500 and the Coulter STKS were compared with those obtained from conventional morphology (two observers, total of 400 leukocytes).

[Evaluation of Abbott CD 3500 in severe leukopenia].

Leucopenia patient follow-up remains, in terms of laboratory turnaround, a heavy workload due to the leucoconcentrations necessary for evaluating leucocytic formulas. We tested the CD 3500 with the objective of defining its' analytical performances and routine practice. 101 leucopenia samples (< 2.

Expression of ps2 and cathepsin-d in breast-cancer.

Cytosolic levels of pS2 and Cathepsin D (Cath D) were compared in 145 primary breast cancer patients using the immunoradiometric (IRMA) assays ELSA-pS2-degrees and ELSA-Cath. D-degrees of Cis biointernational. The mean values were 20.

Endoscopic palliation for inoperable malignant dysphagia: long term follow up.

This prospective non-randomised trial of 128 selected patients with unresectable oesophageal or gastrooesophageal junction cancers aims to evaluate the initial relief of malignant obstruction by means of bipolar electrocoagulation for both circumferential and submucosal strictures of Nd:YAG laser for the other patients. A limited dilatation was performed initially if a small calibre endoscope was unable to pass through the stricture. Prompt and significant relief of dysphagia without complications was achieved in 83% of patients.

Bacterial microleakage of Cavit, IRM, and TERM.

In this in vitro study, a model system was developed and tested to evaluate the sealing ability of temporary restorative materials used in endodontic access preparations. The materials studied, Cavit, IRM, and TERM, were tested on 40 premolars against a known bacterial species, Streptococcus sanguis. The leakage of bacterial cells was checked 4 and 8 days after initial immersion in the culture.

An evaluation of CA 549, a circulating marker of breast cancer using a procedure for comparison with CA 15.3.

A serum assay of CA 549 (Hybri-BREScan CA 549 degrees, Hybritech), a new tumor marker, was performed in 129 patients with breast cancer and 35 healthy women, in parallel with CA 15.3 (ELSA-CA 15.3 degrees, CIS Biointernational).

[Laser treatment of rectosigmoidal tumors: long-term results].

Over a 10 year period, 530 patients were treated at the Lille Laser Center for a rectosigmoid tumour. Both argon and Nd:YAG lasers were used. Two hundred patients were treated for palliation of symptoms from a rectosigmoid cancer, 313 patients were treated for a rectosigmoid villous adenoma, and 17 patients with a familial polyposis were treated for the rectal polyposis remaining after total colectomy.

Endoscopic laser treatment for rectosigmoid villous adenoma: factors affecting the results.

Endoscopic laser treatment is reported in 264 patients with benign rectosigmoid villous adenomas revealed by biopsy. Patients include 100 who had contraindications to surgery, 60 who had a tumor recurrence after a nonlaser treatment, 101 for whom surgical resection appeared to be too drastic for a tumor found benign on biopsy, and 3 who refused surgery. Two types of lasers were used: the Nd:YAG and the argon laser.

Parameters affecting laser palliation in patients with advanced digestive cancers.

Ninety-nine nonsurgical patients (group I) with esophagogastric cancer were referred to the laser center for palliation of dysphagia, and another 142 nonsurgical patients (group II) with a rectosigmoid cancer were referred for palliation of abnormal rectal discharge (125 patients) or occlusion (17 patients). The immediate success rate was 83% in group I and 90% in group II. Patients were retreated monthly.

[Clinical value of the determination of urinary antitrypsin activity].

Urinary trypsin inhibitory capacity is mainly due to the excretion of a glycoprotein which is immunologically related to the inter alpha-trypsin inhibitor and may be a proteolytic degradation product of that substance. It was tested in 133 subjects divided into 7 groups: 24 healthy controls (group A), 21 patients with bacterial infection (group B), 37 with bacterial infection under antibiotic therapy (group C), 25 with connective tissue disease (group D), 8 with infected connective tissue disease (group E), 14 with cancer (group F) and 4 with infected cancer (group G). Urinary trypsin inhibitory capacity level was very low in controls (3.