Investigating boundary-geometry use by whip spiders (Phrynus marginemaculatus) during goal-directed navigation.

Previous studies have shown that whip spiders (Amblypygi) can use a variety of cues to navigate to and recognize a home refuge. The current study aimed to determine whether whip spiders were capable of using the boundary geometry of an experimental space (geometric information) to guide goal-directed navigation and to investigate any preferential use of geometric or feature (visual) information. Animals were first trained to find a goal location situated in one corner of a rectangular arena (geometric information) fronting a dark-green-colored wall, which created a brightness contrast with the other three white walls (feature information).

A prospective, controlled trial of a protocol-based strategy to discontinue mechanical ventilation.

Weaning protocols can improve outcomes, but their efficacy may vary with patient and staff characteristics. In this prospective, controlled trial, we compared protocol-based weaning to usual, physician-directed weaning in a closed medical intensive care unit (ICU) with high physician staffing levels and structured, system-based rounds. Adult patients requiring mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours were assigned to usual care (UC) or protocol weaning based on their hospital identification number.

Epoetin alfa in patients not on chemotherapy - Canadian data.

A prospective open-label study was designed to evaluate the safety, efficacy, and impact on quality of life of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO, epoetin alfa) therapy for cancer-related anemia. Of the 401 patients enrolled at 34 centers from across Canada, a cohort of 183 patients did not receive chemotherapy during the 16-week study period. All patients received epoetin alfa 150 IU/kg subcutaneously 3 times per week.

Epoetin alfa therapy increases hemoglobin levels and improves quality of life in patients with cancer-related anemia who are not receiving chemotherapy and patients with anemia who are receiving chemotherapy.

Purpose: To evaluate efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QOL) changes with epoetin alfa therapy for anemia in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies.

Patients And Methods: Anemic cancer patients were enrolled onto this prospective, open-label study from 34 centers across Canada. The trial had two cohorts: patients who were and were not receiving chemotherapy during the 16-week study.

The perception of teratogenic risk of cocaine.

While there has been a substantial increase in recreational use of cocaine by young adults, conclusive evidence for cocaine teratogenicity in humans is lacking, and even those believing the drug is teratogenic agree that the rates are quite small. While counseling pregnant women on their teratogenic risk, it was our impression that there is an unrealistically high perception of reproductive risk of cocaine. We wished to quantify the perception of teratogenic risk of cocaine by the public, physicians, and by pregnant women who were counseled following gestational exposure to the drug.