Critical review and appraisal of published clinical literature: useful skill in biotechnology product development.

Critical review of published literature may be necessary during several stages of biotechnology product development. The reviewer should develop a standardized method for reviewing and comparing published papers on a given topic and should be aware of common errors found in published papers.

Phanerozoic trends in the global diversity of marine invertebrates.

It has previously been thought that there was a steep Cretaceous and Cenozoic radiation of marine invertebrates. This pattern can be replicated with a new data set of fossil occurrences representing 3.5 million specimens, but only when older analytical protocols are used.

Desmoplastic melanoma: the role of radiotherapy in improving local control.

Background: Desmoplastic melanoma (DM) is a rare subtype of cutaneous malignant melanoma reported to have a high local recurrence rate with surgical excision alone. The incidence of regional and distant metastasis is considered to be lower than traditional cutaneous melanoma, warranting more aggressive treatment of local disease. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with DM treated through the Princess Alexandra Hospital Melanoma Clinic to address the role of radiotherapy in the local control of this tumour.

Antigen-specific B-cell responses by neonatal calves after early vaccination.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of early vaccination on the phenotype (i.e., activation marker expression) and functional capacity of B cell populations in neonatal calves.

Using nanotechnology to improve the characteristics of antineoplastic drugs: improved characteristics of nab-paclitaxel compared with solvent-based paclitaxel.

Nanotechnology refers to the use of very small pieces of matter, typically < or =200 nm in diameter. Nanoparticle albumin-bound (nab) paclitaxel, a soluble form of the cytotoxin paclitaxel that has demonstrated utility in the setting of cancer chemotherapy, is produced by nab technology using the protein albumin. nab-Paclitaxel targets tumors, enhances tumor penetration by the novel mechanism of albumin receptor-mediated (gp60) endothelial transcytosis, and avoids the use of surfactants and solvents such as Cremophor and Tween.

Improving cancer incidence estimates for American Indians in Wisconsin.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to improve the measurement of cancer incidence among American Indians in Wisconsin and compare incidence rates with state and national incidence rates.

Methods: The Wisconsin Cancer Reporting System (WCRS) entered into a data linkage project with CDC and the Indian Health Service (IHS) to improve classification of American Indian cancer cases in Wisconsin. WCRS data were linked to IHS patient registration files to identify American Indian cases that were misclassified as a non-Indian race for the years 1998-2002.

An ESAT-6:CFP10 DNA vaccine administered in conjunction with Mycobacterium bovis BCG confers protection to cattle challenged with virulent M. bovis.

The potency of genetic immunization observed in the mouse has demonstrated the utility of DNA vaccines to induce cell-mediated and humoral immune responses. However, it has been relatively difficult to generate comparable responses in non-rodent species. The use of molecular adjuvants may increase the magnitude of these suboptimal responses.

Successful pregnancy following both endometrial ablation and uterine artery embolization.

Objective: To present a description of the management of a pregnancy in a woman who had undergone endometrial ablation and uterine artery embolization for fibroids.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine within a tertiary community-based teaching hospital.

Vacuum and forceps training in residency: experience and self-reported competency.

Objective: Determine chief residents' experience with vacuum and forceps deliveries and self-perceived competencies with the procedures.

Study Design: Study 1: A written questionnaire was mailed to all fourth year residents in US RRC approved Ob/Gyn programs. Study 2: The study was replicated using a web-based survey the following year.

Murine neonatal CD4+ cells are poised for rapid Th2 effector-like function.

Murine neonates typically mount Th2-biased immune responses. This entails a cell-intrinsic component whose molecular basis is unknown. We found that neonatal CD4(+) T cells are uniquely poised for rapid Th2 function.

High growth rate fails to enhance adaptive immune responses of neonatal calves and is associated with reduced lymphocyte viability.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of 3 targeted growth rates on adaptive (i.e., antigen-specific) immune responses of preruminant, milk replacer-fed calves.

Medical writing departments in biopharma companies: how to establish a department.

Medical writers have important roles in preparing the documentation for approval for marketing of new products, writing manuscripts for publication, and other nonclinical, clinical, and promotional materials. Medical writing departments can be organized in different ways to accommodate the needs of the company. When organizing a new department or when determining metric for an existing department, it is important to understand what medical writers in the biopharma industry do, how they are recruited and trained, and how metrics are developed.

Clinical trial registries and clinical trial result posting: new paradigm for medical writers.

Clinical trial registries and posting of clinical trial results have recently become standard procedures for drug development. Several groups, including journal editors and professional trade organizations have called for legislation or have mandated terms or both for the public disclosure of current trials and the results of the clinical trials within a short timeframe after the trial has ended.

Effects of increased dietary protein and energy on composition and functional capacities of blood mononuclear cells from vaccinated, neonatal calves.

Effects of increased protein and energy provided by an intensified milk replacer on the antigen-specific, cell-mediated immune response of the neonatal calf were examined. Calves were fed a standard (0.45 kg/day of a 20% crude protein, 20% fat milk replacer; n=11) or intensified (1.

A prospective, non-randomised phase 1-2 trial of VACOP-B with filgrastim support for HIV-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) remains an important complication of associated HIV infection despite advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), and the optimum chemotherapy regimen for this disease remains to be defined. A dose-escalation trial was performed to determine the maximum tolerated doses of etoposide and doxorubicin as part of the 12-week VACOP-B regimen, supported by filgrastim (r-metHuG-CSF). Patients with aggressive histology HIV-related NHL who were previously untreated with chemotherapy, and who had no active opportunistic infection were eligible for the study.

Effects of age and nutrition on expression of CD25, CD44, and L-selectin (CD62L) on T-cells from neonatal calves.

Effects of the plane of nutrition and age on the proliferation and activation of lymphocyte subsets from milk replacer-fed calves were investigated in vitro. Holstein calves were fed a standard (0.45 kg/d of a 20% crude protein, 20% fat milk replacer, n = 4) or intensified (1.

Racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer rates by age: NAACCR Breast Cancer Project.

Objective: To examine age-specific rates of breast cancer incidence among racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Methods: Subjects were 363,801 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer diagnosed during 1994--1998 and reported in the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) data set. Variables analyzed included race, ethnicity, 5-year age group (from 10 years through 85+years), and stage at time of diagnosis (localized, regional, distant).

Development of an adult-like cell-mediated immune response in calves after early vaccination with Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Effects of neonatal vaccination on antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses of dairy calves have not been well described. The purpose of this study was to characterize the ontogeny of the adaptive immune response in calves sensitized to the attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis, bacillus Calmette-Guerín. Holstein bull calves were nonvaccinated (n = 6, vaccination controls) or vaccinated subcutaneously (n = 6) with bacillus Calmette-Guerín at 1 and 7 wk of age.