Resolution of cystic enhancement to add-on tumor treating electric fields for recurrent glioblastoma after incomplete response to bevacizumab.

The NovoTTF-100A device emits alternating tumor treating electric fields (TTFields) that interfere with cytokinesis and chromosome segregation during mitosis. Because it has a similar efficacy to cytotoxic chemotherapy, the device has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma. Although bevacizumab has been in use for recurrent glioblastoma, patients who experience incomplete or no response to bevacizumab may be predisposed to early bevacizumab treatment failure.

Characterization and management of dermatologic adverse events with the NovoTTF-100A System, a novel anti-mitotic electric field device for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma.

The NovoTTF-100A System (NovoTTF™ Therapy, Novocure Inc.) is a device that delivers alternating electric fields (TTFields) to tumor cells and interferes with mitosis. It is approved for use as monotherapy for the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (rGB).

Clinical evaluation of a PHMB-impregnated biocellulose dressing on paediatric lacerations.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical benefits, primarily tolerability and reduction in pain levels, associated with the use of a PHMB-impregnated biosynthetic cellulose dressing (Suprasorb X + PHMB) on paediatric heel lacerations.

Method: These lacerations were caused when children, who were being transported on their parents' bicycles, got their heels trapped in the wheel spokes. Where these injuries just comprised skin contusion and laceration, treatment had previously comprised cleansing followed by application of conventional dressings and moist wound healing dressings.

The crucial role of the K+-aluminium oxide interaction in K+-promoted alumina- and hydrotalcite-based materials for CO2 sorption at high temperatures.

CO(2)-free hydrogen can be produced from coal gasification power plants by pre-combustion decarbonisation and carbon dioxide capture. Potassium carbonate promoted hydrotalcite-based and alumina-based materials are cheap and excellent materials for high-temperature (300-500 degrees C) adsorption of CO(2), and particularly promising in the sorption-enhanced water gas shift (SEWGS) reaction. Alkaline promotion significantly improves CO(2) reversible sorption capacity at 300-500 degrees C for both materials.

Addressing the health workforce crisis: towards a common approach.

The challenges in the health workforce are well known and clearly documented. What is not so clearly understood is how to address these issues in a comprehensive and integrated manner that will lead to solutions. This editorial presents--and invites comments on--a technical framework intended to raise awareness among donors and multisector organizations outside ministries of health and to guide planning and strategy development at the country level.

Addressing the health workforce crisis: towards a common approach.

The challenges in the health workforce are well known and clearly documented. What is not so clearly understood is how to address these issues in a comprehensive and integrated manner that will lead to solutions. This editorial presents--and invites comments on--a technical framework intended to raise awareness among donors and multisector organizations outside ministries of health and to guide planning and strategy development at the country level.

Tuberculosis control in the era of HIV.

Without HIV, the tuberculosis (TB) epidemic would now be in decline almost everywhere. However, instead of looking forward to the demise of TB, countries that are badly affected by HIV are struggling against a rising tide of HIV-infected patients with TB. As a consequence, global TB control policies have had to be revised and control of TB now demands increased investment.

Human resources for control of tuberculosis and HIV-associated tuberculosis.

The global targets for tuberculosis (TB) control were postponed from 2000 to 2005, but on current evidence a further postponement may be necessary. Of the constraints preventing these targets being met, the primary one appears to be the lack of adequately trained and qualified staff. This paper outlines: 1) the human resources and skills for global TB and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) TB control, including the human resources for implementing the DOTS strategy, the additional human resources for implementing joint HIV-TB control strategies and what is known about human resource gaps at global level; 2) the attempts to quantify human resource gaps by focusing on a small country in sub-Saharan Africa, Malawi; and 3) the main constraints to human resources and their possible solutions, under six main headings: human resource planning; production of human resources; distribution of the work-force; motivation and staff retention; quality of existing staff; and the effect of HIV/AIDS.

Human resources for health: overcoming the crisis.

In this analysis of the global workforce, the Joint Learning Initiative-a consortium of more than 100 health leaders-proposes that mobilisation and strengthening of human resources for health, neglected yet critical, is central to combating health crises in some of the world's poorest countries and for building sustainable health systems in all countries. Nearly all countries are challenged by worker shortage, skill mix imbalance, maldistribution, negative work environment, and weak knowledge base. Especially in the poorest countries, the workforce is under assault by HIV/AIDS, out-migration, and inadequate investment.

Responding to the global human resources crisis.

The global community is in the midst of a growing response to health crises in developing countries, which is focused on mobilising financial resources and increasing access to essential medicines. However, the response has yet to tackle the most important aspect of health-care systems--the people that make them work. Human resources for health--the personnel that deliver public-health, clinical, and environmental services--are in disarray and decline in much of the developing world, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.

Scale up: meeting targets in global tuberculosis control.

Despite great progress, global targets for tuberculosis case detection and cure might not be reached by 2005. In particular, there is a serious case-detection gap between estimated annual incident cases and those reported under the strategy for tuberculosis control branded as DOTS. Delays in reaching targets result in lack of effect on incidence of disease, which is of particular concern in regions where incidence is increasing-eg, sub-Saharan Africa and the former Soviet Union.

['Public health status and perspectives' 1997. I. Introduction].

The 'Public health status and forecasts' 1997 presents a comprehensive and integrated overview of health, disease and health care in the Netherlands, to which more than 250 experts contributed. On the basis of the findings, policy recommendations are formulated regarding target groups, planning, prevention, health care, monitoring and research.

Mechanical and energy characteristics during shortening in isolated type-1 muscle fibres from Xenopus laevis studied at maximal and submaximal activation.

The mechanical and energy characteristics of isolated fast-twitch muscle fibres (type 1) of Xenopus laevis in isometric- and isovelocity contractions were measured at 20 degrees C. The fibres were stimulated at either 60 Hz or 20 Hz to produce contractions at different levels of activation. The high stimulation frequency gave fused contractions, while at the low stimulation frequency tension fluctuated.

Force and myosin content variation in isolated intact single muscle fibres from Rana temporaria.

We studied the relation between force normalized by dry mass per unit length and the myosin fraction of muscle dry mass. The two tibialis anterior muscles were dissected from 12 frogs (Rana temporaria). Then, from one muscle, two single fast-twitch fibres were isolated.

Variation in normalized isometric tetanic force of isolated fast-twitch muscle fibres of Rana temporaria.

The origin of the threefold variation found previously in isometric force normalized to cross-sectional area of single fast-twitch tibialis anterior muscle fibres of the frog Rana temporaria was studied by using (1) a strictly defined stimulus protocol, and (2) influencing the condition of the frog using artificial hibernation. Variation in normalized force was found to be influenced by the length of the rest period between tetani. After a long rest (> 6h), tetanic force production was less than for a tetanus produced after 1 h.

Mitochondrial function is not decreased in stunned papillary muscle at 20 degrees C.

It is unclear to what extent mitochondrial function in vivo is changed after brief anoxia. Heat measurements allow evaluation of mitochondrial function within intact cardiac muscle. Heat production was determined using fast metal-film thermopiles, during contraction and post-contractile recovery in control and stunned superfused rabbit papillary muscles at 20 degrees C.

The effect of hyperosmolality on the rate of heat production of quiescent trabeculae isolated from the rat heart.

We have measured the rate of heat production of isolated, quiescent, right ventricular trabeculae of the rat under isosmotic and hyperosmotic conditions, using a microcalorimetric technique. In parallel experiments, we measured force production and intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). The rate of resting heat production under isosmotic conditions (mean +/- SEM, n = 32) was 100 +/- 7 mW (g dry wt)-1; it increased sigmoidally with osmolality, reaching a peak that was about four times the isosmotic value at about twice normal osmotic pressure.

The effects of the level of activation and shortening velocity on energy output in type 3 muscle fibres from Xenopus laevis.

We investigated the effect of shortening velocity on the efficiency of single intact slow-twitch muscle fibres (type 3) of Xenopus laevis, at different levels of activation (10, 15, 20 and 40 Hz). Fused contractions were obtained at 40 Hz stimulation. When maximal isometric force had been reached, the fibres were shortened by 10% of the fibre length (L0) at 0.

Force-dependent and force-independent heat production in single slow- and fast-twitch muscle fibres from Xenopus laevis.

1. The origin of labile heat production, i.e.

Energetics of shortening depend on stimulation frequency in single muscle fibres from Xenopus laevis at 20 degrees C.

Single intact slow-twitch (type 3) muscle fibres from the iliofibularis muscle of Xenopus laevis were shortened at a constant velocity (0.4 L0/S, where L0 is the initial length at different levels of activation (40, 15, 12.5, and 10 Hz).

Exposure of energy-depleted rat trabeculae to low pH improves contractile recovery: role of calcium.

The beneficial effect of low pH during cardiac ischemia on reperfusion injury has often been attributed to its energy-saving effect due to inhibition of contraction. The role of low pH on Ca2+ accumulation and muscle tension was assessed in energy-depleted tissue by changing the pH of the medium from 7.4 to 6.

ATP utilization for calcium uptake and force production in skinned muscle fibres of Xenopus laevis.

1. A method has been developed to discriminate between the rate of ATP hydrolysis associated with calcium uptake into the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and force development of the contractile apparatus in mechanically or saponin-skinned skeletal muscle fibres. The rate of ATP hydrolysis was determined in fibres of different types from the iliofibularis muscle of Xenopus laevis by enzymatic coupling of ATP re-synthesis to the oxidation of NADH.

Lactate efflux from fatigued fast-twitch muscle fibres of Xenopus laevis under various extracellular conditions.

1. Isolated, fast-twitch, low-oxidative muscle fibres from the iliofibularis muscle of Xenopus laevis were fatigued by intermittent tetanic stimulation at 20 degrees C in different Ringer solutions and the amount of lactate released was determined. 2.