A framework for characterizing terminological systems.

Objectives: The notion of a terminological system (TS) is complex due to the broad range of systems, applications, and clinical domains. A uniform approach to describe the characteristics of TSs is lacking. This impedes furthering understanding, applicability, mutual comparison and development of TSs.

High expression of ligands for chemokine receptor CXCR2 in alveolar epithelial neoplasia induced by oncogenic kras.

CXCL8, a ligand for the chemokine receptor CXCR2, was recently reported to be a transcriptional target of Ras signaling, but its role in Ras-induced tumorigenesis has not been fully defined. Here, we investigated the role of KC and MIP-2, the murine homologues of CXCL8, in Kras(LA1) mice, which develop lung adenocarcinoma owing to somatic activation of the KRAS oncogene. We first investigated biological evidence of CXCR2 ligands in Kras(LA1) mice.

Surgery versus surgery plus pamidronate in the management of osteogenesis imperfecta patients: a comparative study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of pamidronate in the management of osteogenesis imperfecta patients. This study was carried out in two groups. The first was treated only surgically whereas the second was treated by a combined approach, medical and surgical.

Experience with acellular human dura and bovine collagen matrix for duraplasty after posterior fossa decompression for Chiari malformations.

Object: Posterior fossa decompression with duraplasty is routinely used for the treatment of Chiari malformations. It has been traditionally believed that this procedure requires a watertight seal with primary closure of the dura with either pericranium or allograft. In this study, the authors evaluated two synthetic dural substitutes in this patient population for feasibility of use and identification of perioperative morbidity.

High expression of ErbB family members and their ligands in lung adenocarcinomas that are sensitive to inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor.

Recent findings in tumor biopsies from lung adenocarcinoma patients suggest that somatic mutations in the genes encoding epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and Kirsten ras (KRAS) confer sensitivity and resistance, respectively, to EGFR inhibition. Here, we provide evidence that these genetic mutations are not sufficient to modulate the biological response of lung adenocarcinoma cells to EGFR inhibition. We found high expression of ErbB family members, ErbB ligands, or both in three models that were sensitive to EGFR inhibition, including alveolar epithelial neoplastic lesions in mice that develop lung adenocarcinoma by oncogenic KRAS, human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines, and tumor biopsies from lung adenocarcinoma patients.

Evolution of regulatory interactions controlling floral asymmetry.

A key challenge in evolutionary biology is to understand how new morphologies can arise through changes in gene regulatory networks. For example, floral asymmetry is thought to have evolved many times independently from a radially symmetrical ancestral condition, yet the molecular changes underlying this innovation are unknown. Here, we address this problem by investigating the action of a key regulator of floral asymmetry, CYCLOIDEA (CYC), in species with asymmetric and symmetric flowers.

[Admission of elderly patients to intensive care].

Elderly patients have an increased probability of dying after treatment in an intensive care unit (ICU), compared with younger patients. The risk of dying is largely determined by the admission type (patients with planned admissions have a better prognosis than those with unplanned admissions), severity of illness and functional status prior to admission. Elderly patients surviving ICU often experience a decline in functional status.

Factors that predict outcome of intensive care treatment in very elderly patients: a review.

Introduction: Advanced age is thought to be associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients. This report reviews available data on factors that determine outcome, on the value of prognostic models, and on preferences regarding life-sustaining treatments in (very) elderly intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Methods: We searched the Medline database (January 1966 to January 2005) for English language articles.

A phase II study of methylphenidate for the treatment of fatigue.

Background: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is one of the most distressing symptoms patients experience and is seen well after the completion of treatment. Methylphenidate (Ritalin) use includes the treatment of opiate-induced somnolence, depression, and reduced cognition. This phase II study was performed to evaluate the effects of methylphenidate on CRF.

Research in general dental practice.

Spurred by an initiative by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in the USA, this article presents the need for a change in clinical dental research towards practice-based research. It outlines the shortcomings of past and present-day research in dentistry, with emphasis on the lack of clinical relevance of much of the research performed. The slow transfer of sound research findings to clinical practice is also a major problem.

Abnormal long-lasting synaptic plasticity and cognition in mice lacking the mental retardation gene Pak3.

Mutations in the Pak3 gene lead to nonsyndromic mental retardation characterized by selective deficits in cognition. However, the underlying mechanisms are yet to be elucidated. We report here that the knock-out mice deficient in the expression of p21-activated kinase 3 (PAK3) exhibit significant abnormalities in synaptic plasticity, specifically hippocampal late-phase long-term potentiation, and deficiencies in learning and memory.

Evolution through genetically controlled allometry space.

Understanding evolutionary change requires phenotypic differences between organisms to be placed in a genetic context. However, there are few cases where it has been possible to define an appropriate genotypic space for a range of species. Here we address this problem by defining a genetically controlled space that captures variation in shape and size between closely related species of Antirrhinum.

Description logic-based methods for auditing frame-based medical terminological systems.

Objective: Medical terminological systems (TSs) play an increasingly important role in health care by supporting recording, retrieval and analysis of patient information. As the size and complexity of TSs are growing, the need arises for means to audit them, i.e.

Screening studies for fatigue and laboratory correlates in cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Background: To understand the pathogenesis of fatigue in cancer, we conducted a cross-sectional study using Brief Fatigue Inventory (BFI) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F) instruments to measure fatigue and assessed laboratory studies.

Patients And Methods: 174 patients with cancer, who had undergone treatment within the last six months, answered the questionnaires and the Brief Version Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (BZSDS). Blood samples were drawn for hemoglobin, albumin, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (DHEAS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF- alpha).

Increasing prevalence of gastroschisis in Utah.

Background: Recent studies provide conflicting information about gastroschisis prevalence trends. The authors proposed that prevalence of gastroschisis in live births has increased in Utah and that characteristics of these infants would provide clinically useful information about treatment and outcomes.

Methods: Primary Children's Medical Center (PCMC) is the sole pediatric surgical referral hospital for Utah.

The incidence and prevalence of type-1 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To determine the incidence, prevalence of type-1 diabetes mellitus (DM) and the presence of islet-cell antibodies (ICAs) in people of African ancestry in the Bahamas.

Method: Hospital records of type-1 DM were reviewed. Seventeen consecutive patients had postmeal C-peptide and ICA determined.

Changes in response to insulin and the effects of varying glucose tolerance on whole-body protein metabolism in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Background: Diabetes mellitus has been reported to increase whole-body protein breakdown and thus loss of lean body mass. Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) is associated with undernutrition and increased mortality.

Objective: We hypothesized that CFRD is associated with increased whole-body protein breakdown, which results in negative protein balance, and that correction of the glucose intolerance with insulin therapy would normalize whole-body protein metabolism.

Software engineering in medical informatics: the academic hospital as learning environment.

In 2001, the revised course Software Engineering has been implemented in the Medical Informatics curriculum at the Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam. This 13 weeks, full-time course consists of three parts: internship, theory and project. All parts are provided in problem-oriented manner with special attention for relevant skills such as project management, documentation and presentation.

Evaluation of a frame-based ontology: a formalization-oriented approach.

This paper describes the evaluation of our current frame-based ontology in Intensive Care. Our approach to the evaluation consists of formalizing the ontology. The motivation for formalization is twofold: a.

The specification of a frame-based medical terminological system in Protégé.

A medical terminological system (TS) is essentially a representation of concepts, attributes and relationships pertaining to medical terms. Although the requirements and structures of TSs have enjoyed some attention in the literature, the actual implementation of TSs consisted so far of ad-hoc approaches starting from scratch. Recently, Protégé has been suggested as a software environment for the development of knowledge-based systems.

Impaired conditioned taste aversion learning in APP transgenic mice.

Cognition in transgenic mouse models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been predominantly characterized in explicit spatial orientation tasks. However, dementia in AD encompasses also implicit memory systems. In the present study a line of transgenic mice (TgCRND8) encoding a double mutated allele of the human amyloid precursor protein (APP) genes was evaluated in an implicit associative learning task of conditioned taste aversion (CTA).

Evaluation of etching time on dentin bond strength using single bottle bonding systems.

Purpose: Incomplete infiltration of the demineralized collagen network may result in a weak zone within the hybrid layer and between the hybrid layer and dentin. The current study evaluates whether reducing the etching time to 5 s from the recommended 15 s or increasing it to 30 s has an effect on dentin bonding.

Materials And Methods: 108 extracted molars were assigned to 3 bonding agent groups (n = 36): (a) Single Bond (SB), (b) One-Step (OS), and (c) Syntac Single Component (SSC).

Ozone and other air quality-related variables affecting visibility in the southeast United States.

An analysis of ozone (O3) concentrations and several other air quality-related variables was performed to elucidate their relationship with visibility at five urban and semi-urban locations in the southeast United States during the summer seasons of 1980-1996. The role and impact of O3 on aerosols was investigated to ascertain a relationship with visibility. Regional trend analysis over the 1980s reveals an increase in maximum O3 concentration coupled with a decrease in visibility.

Combined amalgam and composite restorations.

All indirect restorative techniques involving cast metals, ceramics or resin-based materials are expensive compared to directly placed restorations. A restorative technique is presented that combines the esthetic properties of directly bonded resin-based composite material and the wide range of indications for dental amalgam in stress-bearing areas.

Fifteen years medical information sciences: the Amsterdam curriculum.

Objectives: To inform the medical informatics community on the rational, goals, evolution and present contents of the Medical Information Sciences program of the University of Amsterdam and our achievements.

Methods: We elaborate on the history of our program, the philosophy, contents and organizational structure of the present-day curriculum. Besides, we describe the various didactic approaches in the program and the rational for these.