552 research outputs found
Comparison of triple-risk assessment of fetal trisomy 21 including total human choriogonadotropin (hCG) or its free beta-subunit (Free beta hCG)
No full textObjective: Second trimester total hCG and free betahCG levels in maternal serum samples of 33 pregnancies affected by fetal trisomy 21 and of 188 matched controls were compared in a retrospective study. To find out differences of discriminating efficacy by using one of these markers a multivariate discriminant analysis was performed. Method. Statistical evaluation was performed for hCG/free betahCG frequency distributions. Discriminant analysis was carried out using the status 'affected' or 'unaffected' as the group variable and the serum markers unconjugated estriol (uE3), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and alternatively, hCG or free betahCG, as discriminant variables. Results: The median of free betahCG MoM values in affected pregnancies was slightly higher (1.90 MoM) than the median of total hCG MoM values (1.72 MoM) but a lower standard deviation was stated for the logarithmic hCG MoM values (SD = 0.49) compared with free betahCG MoM values (SD = 0.51). A two-tailed Student's t test revealed no significant differences of hCG and free hCG MoM values in both the affected and unaffected pregnancies. By inclusion of free betahCG the discriminant analysis classified 26 out of 33 affected cases correctly and 45 out of 188 unaffected cases incorrectly. For the inclusion of hCG these ratios were 25/33 and 41/188, respectively. Taking in account the individual maternal age risks at a defined false-positive rate of 5% including free hCG yielded a higher detection rate than including hCG. However, using 1:380 (age-related at-term risk of a 35-year-old woman) as a cut-off risk including hCG yielded a higher detection rate than including free betahCG. Conclusion: For the observed cases none of the markers, hCG or free hCG, was superior in Down syndrome screening. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel
Cinacalcet HCI (Sensipar/Mimpara) is an effective chronic therapy for hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism
No full textJ.R. Sterrett, J. Strom, H.-K. Stummvoll, U. Bahner, A. Disney, S.D. Soroka, C. Corpier, J.A. Arruda, L.E. Schwanauer, P.S. Klassen, K.A. Olson and G.A. Bloc
Structures of five components of the actinomycin Z complex from Streptomyces fradiae, two of which contain 4-chlorothreonine
No full textStructure elucidation of five components of the actinomycin Z complex (Z(1)-Z(5)) isolated from Streptomyces fradiae is described. The components were separated by Si gel column chromatography and TLC/PLC and analyzed by ESIMS, FABMS, LC-MS of derivatized hydrolysates, and 2D NMR techniques. This permitted determination of the complete structures of actinomycins Z(1)-Z(5). In Z(3) and Z(5), site 1 of the beta-depsipeptide is occupied by the rare 4-chloro-L-threonine, an amino acid not previously found in an actinomycin. The structural variants of the actinomycin Z complex have the molecular architecture typical of other actinomycins but possess greater structural diversity resulting from the presence of several highly unusual amino acids. Actinomycins Z(3) and Z(5), but not Z(1), were more potent than actinomycin D in cytotoxicity assays against three tumor cell lines
Interferon-beta-1b increases serum interleukin-12 p40 levels in primary progressive multiple sclerosis patients
No full textSerum levels of interleukin-12 heterodimer (IL-12p70) and its homodimeric subunit (IL-12p40) were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 18 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) during 3 months before and 3 months under treatment with interferon-beta-1b (IFNbeta-1b, Betaferon(TM), eight million units (MIU) every other day subcutaneously). Median IL-12p40 levels in MS patients before treatment (66.5 and 63.9 pg/ml) were not elevated compared to 18 healthy controls. IL-12p40 significantly increased during treatment (P < 0.0001, median 105.3 pg/ml after 1 month and 95.3 pg/ml after 3 months). Detectable serum levels of IL-12p70 before therapy were only found in one patient. IL-12p70 did not increase during treatment. These data show that immunological processes may also play a role in primary progressive MS and that IFNbeta-1b has an immunomodulating effect in this particular MS subtype. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Lt
First experiences with a noninvasive patient set-up system for radiation therapy of the prostate
No full textPurpose: Highly conformal radiotherapy techniques require precise patient positioning. We report our first experience with a new cast system for fixation of the pelvis during stereotactically guided intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) of the prostate with respect to positioning accuracy of the prostate. Material and Methods: The immobilization device consists of a custom-made wrap-around body cast that extends from the abdomen to the thighs and a separate head mask, both made from Scotchcast(R), and attaches to a frame for extracranial stereotaxy. Sixteen CT-studies (greater than or equal to 25 slices, thickness: 3 mm) of 2 patients who were immobilized for IMRT of prostate tumors were evaluated with respect to set-up accuracy of bony structures and the prostate itself. CT-studies were performed immediately before or after a treatment fraction. Deviations of bony landmarks and anatomical landmarks inside the planning target volume were measured in all 3 dimensions. Results: Mean patient movements of 0.15 +/- 0.3 mm (latero-lateral), 0.9 +/- 1 mm (anterior-posterior), 1 +/- 1 mm (transversal vectorial error) and < 3 mm slice thickness (craniocaudal) were recorded using bony landmarks and 0.9 +/- 0.9 mm (latero-lateral), 1.8 +/- 1.5 mm (anterior-postserior), 2.2 +/- 1.5 mm (transversal vectorial error) and < 3 mm (craniocaudal) using the confines of, or landmarks within the prostate. Standard deviations of absolute positioning, error as an often used metric for positioning accuracy ranged between 0.3 and 1.7 mm in the transversal plane. The worst case transversal vectorial deviation for the prostate was 4.4 mm. Figure 3 summarizes the set-up, accuracy of bony landmarks and the prostate. Conclusion: The presented combination of a body cast and head mask system in a rigid stereotactic body frame ensures reliable noninvasive patient fixation for fractionated extracranial stereotactic radiotherapy. It provides precise and reliable positioning of the prostate and meets the requirements for highly conformal radiotherapy such as IMRT. No further improvement of repositioning can be achieved with external immobilization devices since the positioning error of the target relative to the skeleton exceeds the accuracy of the positioning of the skeleton itself
The macrophage activity marker sCD14 is increased in patients with multiple sclerosis and upregulated by interferon beta-1b
No full textThe soluble form of the CD14 molecule (sCD14), a macrophage activity marker, was measured in the plasma of 17 patients with primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS) and 20 patients with relapsing remitting MS (RRMS). In patients with PPMS, sCD14 levels were determined before and after treatment with interferon beta (IFNB). In both PPMS and in RRMS, sCD14 levels were significantly elevated compared to healthy controls. In patients with PPMS, sCD14 levels increased significantly during the first 3 months of IFNB therapy, then slightly decreased, but still remained elevated compared with levels before therapy. Therefore, the elevated sCD14 levels may be a marker in evaluating biological response to IFNB therapy. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve
The role of Danish occupational pension funds in driving sustainable investments: A study case of Pension Denmark, PKA and Industriens Pension
No full textThis project investigates the role of the Danish occupational pension funds in sustainable finance. More specifically, this project addresses four issues: a) the current market conditions with regards to sustainable investments; b) the integration of ESG criteria in pension funds investment decisions; c) the relation between pension funds fiduciary duties and their ability to pursue sustainable investments; and d) the pension funds view on the upcoming regulation aimed at solving some of the challenges related to sustainable investments. The data is collected primarily through interviews with representatives from three Danish occupational pension funds: Pension Denmark, PKA and Industriens Pension. The findings reveal that the current market offers plenty of investment opportunities but it's becoming increasingly rivalrous, causing a drop in expected returns. Negative screening was found to be the most commonly used strategy associated with ESG criteria, followed by direct investments that shows pension funds acceptance of greater degree of social responsibility. It was further found the fiduciary duties do not conflict with pension funds ability to pursue sustainable investments only as long as those investments offer optimal risk-adjusted returns for the pension members. Lastly, the EU initiative to create sustainability taxonomy was met with positive reactions from the pension funds, who believe it will solve the issues related to greenwashing
Arkansas State Normal College Association
No full textGroup portrait of the Arkansas State Normal College Association, 1915.
Back row, left to right:
Charles E. Durham
Joe Frauenthal
J. J. Doyne, President of Arkansas State Normal School
William D. Cole
G. L. Bahner
J. C. Clark
J. E. Little
S. G. Smith
Henry B. Ingram
J. G. Cubage, faculty member
Benjamin Harton
Front row, left to right:
Possibly Harry Ponder
Dr. A. C. Miller, faculty member of Hendrix College
John Stubbs
Unidentified
Possible Marcellus T. Davis
Lee Cazor
Globale Biodiversitaet und die institutionelle Einbindung von NGOs
No full textAvailable from Bibliothek des Instituts fuer Weltwirtschaft, ZBW, D-21400 Kiel W 865 (N.F. 47) / FIZ - Fachinformationszzentrum Karlsruhe / TIB - Technische InformationsbibliothekSIGLEDEGerman
Reliability and Validity of Segmental Phonetic Transcriptions
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