The Wasp System: an open source environment for managing and analyzing genomic data.

The challenges associated with the management, analysis and interpretation of assays based on massively-parallel sequencing (MPS) are both individually complex and numerous. We describe what we believe to be the appropriate solution, one that represents a departure from traditional computational biology approaches. The Wasp System is an open source, distributed package written in Spring/J2EE that creates a foundation for development of an end-to-end solution for MPS-based experiments or clinical tests.

The Einstein Genome Gateway using WASP - a high throughput multi-layered life sciences portal for XSEDE.

Massively-parallel sequencing (MPS) technologies and their diverse applications in genomics and epigenomics research have yielded enormous new insights into the physiology and pathophysiology of the human genome. The biggest hurdle remains the magnitude and diversity of the datasets generated, compromising our ability to manage, organize, process and ultimately analyse data. The Wiki-based Automated Sequence Processor (WASP), developed at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (hereafter Einstein), uniquely manages to tightly couple the sequencing platform, the sequencing assay, sample metadata and the automated workflows deployed on a heterogeneous high performance computing cluster infrastructure that yield sequenced, quality-controlled and 'mapped' sequence data, all within the one operating environment accessible by a web-based GUI interface.

Making the first fracture the last fracture: ASBMR task force report on secondary fracture prevention.

Fragility fractures are common, affecting almost one in two older women and one in three older men. Every fragility fracture signals increased risk of future fractures as well as risk of premature mortality. Despite the major health care impact worldwide, currently there are few systems in place to identify and "capture" individuals after a fragility fracture to ensure appropriate assessment and treatment (according to national guidelines) to reduce future fracture risk and adverse health outcomes.

Medical and surgical procedures experienced by young children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: To determine the variation in medical and surgical procedures experienced by children with cerebral palsy (CP) by Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels and geographical region.

Methods: A secondary analysis of an existing database was completed on 386 children with CP (56% male) between the ages of 18 months and 5 years (mean of 38 months, SD = 11.5).

Evolution of concept, but not action, in addiction treatment.

The Western approach to addiction treatment involves a medical or disease orientation to understanding the onset, course, and management of addiction, and a clinical goal of abstinence or very significant reductions in drug use, usually with a combination of behavioral and pharmacological interventions. Even within this Western approach, and despite several consensually accepted features of addiction, a significant mismatch remains between what this culture has come to accept as the nature of the disease and how that same culture continues to treat the disease. This paper discusses the evolution of these Western concepts over the past decade without a corresponding evolution in the nature, duration, or evaluation standards for addiction treatment.