Accuracy of a predictive model for severe hepatic fibrosis or cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C.

Aim: To assess the accuracy of a model in diagnosing severe fibrosis/cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

Methods: The model, based on the sequential combination of the Bonacini score (BS: ALT/AST ratio, platelet count and INR) and ultrasonography liver surface characteristics, was applied to 176 patients with chronic HCV infection. Assuming a pre-test probability of 35%, the model defined four levels of post-test probability of severe fibrosis/cirrhosis: <10% (low), 10-74% (not diagnostic), 75-90% (high) and >90% (almost absolute).

The gating paradigm: effects of presentation format on spoken word recognition by children and adults.

This study focused on the impact of stimulus presentation format in the gating paradigm with age. Two presentation formats were employed--the standard, successive format and a duration-blocked one, in which gates from word onset were blocked by duration (i.e.

Abnormal cerebellar output in rats with an inherited movement disorder.

Biochemical and metabolic mapping techniques have consistently identified the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN) of the genetically dystonic rat as a site of abnormality. Extracellular single-unit recording techniques were used to assess the functional significance of these findings in affected rats and normal littermates between 16 and 25 days of age. Cells in the medial nucleus of the mutant rats had significantly increased spontaneous firing rates in comparison with cells from normal rats.

[Surveillance of adverse reactions of drugs and monitoring of drug prescriptions as routine in hospital activities].

Since January 1988 is taking place a multicentre experience on pharmaco-epidemiology named ARIES (Adverse Reaction Identification Evaluation System), with two primary aims: surveillance of drug adverse reactions and monitoring of medical prescriptions. At present 5 departments of internal medicine are involved in the study. The factual cooperation of the departmental doctors depends on the evaluation of benefits and costs of the study.

Enhanced sensitivity to quipazine in the genetically dystonic rat (dt).

Both normal and genetically dystonic (dt) rats show a high-frequency forepaw tremor in response to systemic administration of the serotonin (5-HT) agonist quipazine at 8 days of age. The response declines with age in normal, but not dystonic, rats. By 16 days of age and after the development of a generalized movement disorder, the dystonic rat exhibits enhanced sensitivity to the tremorogenic effects of the drug in comparison with normal rats.