SII and fit-to-target analysis of compression system performance as a function of number of compression channels.

This work was undertaken to answer the question, 'How does the speech audibility/fit-to-gain-target provided by compression change with number of channels?' For each of 957 audiograms and a given number of compression channels, the channel crossover frequencies were set either to maximize the SII (speech intelligibility index) for low- and high-level speech spectra, or to optimize the fit-to-gain targets from the Cambridge method for loudness equalization (CAMEQ). The audiograms comprised all common configurations, and losses ranged from mild to severe. Use of these computational procedures allowed the predicted, channel-number-based performance to be determined separately from the effects of other compression parameters.

Bathhouse-based voluntary counseling and testing is feasible and shows preliminary evidence of effectiveness.

The goal of this study was to provide evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of conducting voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for HIV in a bathhouse setting. Four hundred ninety-two men participated in bathhouse-based VCT offered at a single venue over a 13-month period. A convenience sample of 133 of these testers was assessed at 2 points: immediately before and 3 months after testing.

Comparison of childhood myelodysplastic syndrome, AML FAB M6 or M7, CCG 2891: report from the Children's Oncology Group.

Background: Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), acute erythroleukemia (FAB M6), and acute megakaryocytic leukemia (FAB M7) have overlapping features.

Procedure: Children without Down syndrome or acute promyelocytic leukemia who were newly diagnosed with primary myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia (AML) M6 or M7 were compared to children with de novo AML M0-M5. All children were entered on the Children's Cancer Group therapeutic research study CCG 2891.

FLT3 internal tandem duplication in CD34+/CD33- precursors predicts poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a clonal disease characterized by heterogeneous involvement of hematopoietic stem cell/progenitor cell populations. Using FLT3 internal tandem duplication (FLT3/ITD) as a molecular marker, we tested the hypothesis that clinical outcome in AML correlates with disease involvement of CD34(+)/CD33(-) precursors. Diagnostic specimens from 24 children with FLT3/ITD-positive AML were sorted by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS), and resultant CD34(+)/CD33(-) and CD34(+)/CD33(+) progenitors were analyzed directly and after colony-forming cell (CFC) assay for the presence of FLT3/ITD.

Uncovering implicit theories of HIV prevention providers: it takes a community.

The Implicit Theories Project was a formative research study about what HIV prevention providers believe promotes risk behavior and facilitates behavior change. The study focused on providers who worked directly with clients to uncover providers' implicit theories. We conducted this work across several communities and targeted "risk groups" to uncover any commonalties among these various groupings.

A novel mechanism of interaction between alpha-synuclein and biological membranes.

Conformational abnormalities and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) have been linked to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's (PD) and related diseases. It has been shown that alpha-syn can stably bind artificial phospholipid vesicles through alpha-helix formation in its N-terminal repeat region. However, little is known about the membrane interaction in cells.

New therapeutic approaches for equine protozoal myeloencephalitis: pharmacokinetics of diclazuril sodium salts in horses.

Diclazuril is a triazine-based antiprotozoal agent which may have clinical application in the treatment of equine protozoal myeloencephalomyelitis (EPM). In this study, the use of the sodium salt diclazuril to increase the apparent bioavailability of diclazuril for the treatment and prophylaxis of EPM and various other Apicomplexan mediated diseases is described. In this study, diclazuril sodium salt was synthesized and administered to horses as diclazuril sodium salt formulations.

Treatment complications in children diagnosed with neuroblastoma during a screening program.

Purpose: The Québec Neuroblastoma Screening Program was put in place to investigate the possibility of decreasing mortality from high-risk neuroblastoma through early screening. We assess treatment complications in the patients diagnosed during this screening program.

Patients And Methods: A total of 476,603 patients born during the screening period were eligible.

Preparation of alpha-synuclein fibrils for solid-state NMR: expression, purification, and incubation of wild-type and mutant forms.

We report the expression and purification of alpha-synuclein, a protein implicated in Parkinson's disease, from isotopically (13C, 15N) labeled bacterial growth media, as required for solid-state NMR structural studies. Expression from Escherichia coli (BL21(DE3)) was performed with a protocol optimized for time efficiency and yield. Chemical lysis, crude purification by ammonium sulfate precipitation, and two chromatography steps (hydrophobic interaction and size exclusion) yield 30-35 mg/L of growth medium.

Analysis of prognostic factors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in infants: report on CCG 1953 from the Children's Oncology Group.

Infant acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) has a poor therapeutic outcome despite attempts to treat it based on prognostic factor-guided therapy. This is the first cooperative group trial characterizing all infants at the molecular level for MLL/11q23 rearrangement. All infants enrolled on Children's Cancer Group (CCG) 1953 were tested for MLL rearrangement by Southern blot and the 11q23 translocation partner was identified (4;11, 9;11, 11;19, or "other") by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Air embolism--a case series and review.

Venous or arterial air embolism may be a life threatening event. The condition is seen in many fields of medicine, including intensive care. We present a series of three cases of air embolism encountered in the intensive care unit, which demonstrate different pathophysiologies for air embolism in critically ill patients.

Ethnicity and survival in childhood acute myeloid leukemia: a report from the Children's Oncology Group.

We evaluated differences in outcome by ethnicity among children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). We analyzed 791 children in the CCG 2891 trial and confirmed positive findings in 850 children in the CCG 2961 trial. Hispanic and black children treated with chemotherapy in CCG 2891 had significantly inferior overall survival (OS) from study entry compared with white children (37%+/- 9% vs 48%+/- 4% [P = .

Risk factors and therapy for isolated central nervous system relapse of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia.

Purpose: CNS relapse of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an infrequent occurrence. This review examines the risk factors and therapy used for patients with an isolated CNS relapse.

Patients And Methods: Records of 886 patients with de novo AML were reviewed, and patients who entered remission at the end of one course of therapy and developed an isolated CNS relapse as their first event were analyzed (n = 690).

Curing childhood acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at the half-way point: promises to keep and miles to go before we sleep.

Childhood and adolescent acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is traditionally one of the hardest childhood cancers to successfully treat and had an overall survival well under 10% in the 1960s. Initial progress was made by three major events: (1) active chemotherapeutic agents were identified which led to remissions for the first time in this disease; (2) cooperative groups were instituted leading to important clinical trials; and (3) several single institutions began experimenting with the role of allogeneic matched sibling donor (MSD) BMT as effective intensification. Over the last 25 years, the cure rate has improved from <20% to 50% or higher.

Cardiovascular emergencies in the pediatric patient.

Children who have heart disease may present to the emergency department (ED) in many stages of life with a range of cardiovascular manifestions, from minimally irritating palpitations to the life-threatening derangements of shock or lethal dysrhythmia. They can present with congenital heart disease, after a temporizing procedure has been performed or after their definitive repair. Children can also present with fever, weakness, dyspnea, syncope, or chest pain; alternatively, children may present to the ED with active dysrhythmia, pulmonary edema, or cardiogenic shock .

Building an HIV/STI prevention program in a gay bathhouse: a case study.

Gay bathhouses have long been subject to community and public health pressures owing to the perceived link between the behaviors associated with these settings and various sexually transmitted infections. The straightforward solution of closing gay bathhouses has not worked for long when it has been tried. The more complex approach of working with management to develop holistic prevention programs can be problematic also, because developing successful HIV/STD prevention programs requires the collaboration of multiple stake-holders.

Bringing HIV/STI testing programmes to high-risk men.

The aim of this study was to examine the meaning of significantly higher proportions of positive test results through outreach HIV/sexually transmitted infection testing programmes at gay bathhouses compared with clinic programmes among high-risk men who have sex with men. We conducted a random digit dial survey of men who have sex with men in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco. Half of the men in the sample did not test in the past year.

Intraoperative oesophageal Doppler guided fluid management shortens postoperative hospital stay after major bowel surgery.

Background: Occult hypovolaemia is a key factor in the aetiology of postoperative morbidity and may not be detected by routine heart rate and arterial pressure measurements. Intraoperative gut hypoperfusion during major surgery is associated with increased morbidity and postoperative hospital stay. We assessed whether using intraoperative oesophageal Doppler guided fluid management to minimize hypovolaemia would reduce postoperative hospital stay and the time before return of gut function after colorectal surgery.

Long-term results of children with acute myeloid leukemia: a report of three consecutive Phase III trials by the Children's Cancer Group: CCG 251, CCG 213 and CCG 2891.

The Children's Cancer Group (CCG) conducted three Phase III prospective clinical trials for children with de novo acute myeloid leukemia between the years 1979 and 1995. A total of 1903 eligible children ages birth to 21 years of age were enrolled on CCG 251 (n=485), CCG 213 (n=532) and CCG 2891 (n=886). Follow-up is ongoing, with medians of 7.

Health and economic benefits of well-designed evaluations: some lessons from evaluating neuroblastoma screening.

Background: Well-designed evaluations of health services are frequently made today. However, the extent of the evaluations' benefits and costs is not well documented, creating uncertainty whether their use is optimal from society's perspective. We examined these costs and benefits using data from one well-designed evaluation, the Quebec Neuroblastoma Screening Project (QNSP).