A Bayesian approach to the probability of coronary heart disease subject to the -308 tumor necrosis factor-α SNP.

We study the correlation of the occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD) with the presence of the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at the -308 position of the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) gene. We also consider the influence of the occurrence of type 2 diabetes (t2DM). Using Bayesian inference, we first pursue a bottom-up approach to compute the working hypothesis and the probabilities derivable from the data.

The development and implementation of a software tool and its effect on the quality of provided clinical nutritional therapy in hospitalized patients.

The authors developed "DIET", a computerized system preparing dietary prescriptions in clinical settings. "DIET" has the ability to calculate the nutritional requirements and to produce daily menus of patients automatically. Also, it serves as an electronic medical and dietetic record and it can produce daily reports regarding portions, quantities and cost of meals.

Comparison of two types of TPN prescription methods in preterm neonates.

Objective: Total parenteral nutrition is commonly used in neonates' intensive care units for nutritional support of preterm neonates. Adequacy and safety of parenteral nutrition support are amongst the major concerns of neonates' therapy. Parenteral nutrition prescription in Greek hospitals is not based on standardized protocols, thus resulting in wide diversity of formulations.

Cholesterol ester transfer protein: a therapeutic target in atherosclerosis?

Background: CETP has an established role in the transport of cholesterol from the peripheral tissues to the liver for elimination. The fact that CETP was recognized as a target for raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels has led to research on CETP inhibitors to protect against atherosclerosis.

Objective: To review the role of CETP as a pivotal target for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases and the effect of its overexpression or inhibition on lipid metabolism.

Model for Osteosarcoma-9 as a potent factor in cell survival and resistance to apoptosis.

In this paper we use a simple model to explore the function of the gene Osteosarcoma-9 (OS-9). We are particularly interested in understanding the role of this gene as a potent anti-apoptotic factor. The theoretical description is constrained by experimental data from induction of apoptosis in cells where OS-9 is overexpressed.

Bioinformatic analysis of primary endothelial cell gene array data illustrated by the analysis of transcriptome changes in endothelial cells exposed to VEGF-A and PlGF.

We recently published a review in this journal describing the design, hybridisation and basic data processing required to use gene arrays to investigate vascular biology (Evans et al. Angiogenesis 2003; 6: 93-104). Here, we build on this review by describing a set of powerful and robust methods for the analysis and interpretation of gene array data derived from primary vascular cell cultures.