Application of probabilistic neural network in the clinical diagnosis of cancers based on clinical chemistry data

As a recently developed and powerful classification tool, probabilistic neural network was used to distinguish cancer patients from healthy persons according to the levels of nucleosides in human urine. Two datasets (containing 32 and 50 patterns, respectively) were investigated and the total consistency rate obtained was 100% for dataset 1 and 94% for dataset 2. To evaluate the performance of probabilistic neural network, linear discriminant analysis and learning vector quantization network, were also applied to the classification problem. The results showed that the predictive ability of the probabilistic neural network is stronger than the others in this study. Moreover, the recognition rate for dataset 2 can achieve to 100% if combining, these three methods together, which indicated the promising potential of clinical diagnosis by combining different methods. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Artificial neural network classification based on high-performance liquid chromatography of urinary and serum nucleosides for the clinical diagnosis of cancer

Nucleosides in human urine and serum have frequently been studied as a possible biomedical marker for cancer, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the whole-body turnover of RNAs. Fifteen normal and modified nucleosides were determined in 69 urine and 42 serum samples using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Artificial neural networks have been used as a powerful pattern recognition tool to distinguish cancer patients from healthy persons. The recognition rate for the training set reached 100%. In the validating set, 95.8 and 92.9% of people were correctly classified into cancer patients and healthy persons when urine and serum were used as the sample for measuring the nucleosides. The results show that the artificial neural network technique is better than principal component analysis for the classification of healthy persons and cancer patients based on nucleoside data. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Clinical significance and prognostic value of urinary nucleosides in breast cancer patients

Objective: Thirteen urinary nucleosides, primarily degradation products of tRNA, were evaluated as potential tumor markers for breast cancer patients.

PROTRACTED HYPOFRACTIONATED RADIOTHERAPY for GRAVES' OPHTHALMOPATHY: A PILOT STUDY of CLINICAL and RADIOLOGIC RESPONSE

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiologic response of patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy given low-dose orbital radiotherapy (RT) with a protracted fractionation.Methods and Materials: Eighteen patients (36 orbits) received orbital RT with a total dose of 10 Gy, fractionated in 1 Gy once a week over 10 weeks. of these, 9 patients received steroid therapy as well. Patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically at 6 months after treatment. Clinical response assessment was carried out using three criteria: by physical examination, by a modified clinical activity score, and by a verbal questionnaire considering the 10 most common signs and symptoms of the disease. Radiologic response was assessed by magnetic resonance imaging.Results: Improvement in ocular pain, palpebral edema, visual acuity, and ocular motility was observed in all patients. Significant decrease in symptoms such as tearing (p < 0.001) diplopia (p = 0.008), conjunctival hyperemia (p = 0.002), and ocular grittiness (p = 0.031) also occurred. Magnetic resonance imaging showed decrease in ocular muscle thickness and in the intensity of the T2 sequence signal in the majority of patients. Treatments were well tolerated, and to date no complications from treatment have been observed. There was no statistical difference in clinical and radiologic response between patients receiving RT alone and those receiving RT plus steroid therapy.Conclusion: RT delivered in at a low dose and in a protracted scheme should be considered as a useful therapeutic option for patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc.

Clinical Use of the Volume-Time Curve for Endotracheal Tube Cuff Management

BACKGROUND: Previous investigation showed that the volume-time curve technique could be an alternative for endotracheal tube (ETT) cuff management. However, the clinical impact of the volume-time curve application has not been documented. the purpose of this study was to compare the occurrence and intensity of a sore throat, cough, thoracic pain, and pulmonary function between these 2 techniques for ETT cuff management: volume-time curve technique versus minimal occlusive volume (MOV) technique after coronary artery bypass grafting. METHODS: A total of 450 subjects were randomized into 2 groups for cuff management after intubation: MOV group (n = 222) and volume-time curve group (n = 228). We measured cuff pressure before extubation. We performed spirometry 24 h before and after surgery. We graded sore throat and cough according to a 4-point scale at 1, 24, 72, and 120 h after extubation and assessed thoracic pain at 24 h after extubation and quantified the level of pain by a 10-point scale. RESULTS: the volume-time curve group presented significantly lower cuff pressure (30.9 +/- 2.8 vs 37.7 +/- 3.4 cm H2O), less incidence and intensity of sore throat (1 h, 23.7 vs 51.4%; and 24 h, 18.9 vs 40.5%, P < .001), cough (1 h, 19.3 vs 48.6%; and 24 h, 18.4 vs 42.3%, P < .001), thoracic pain (5.2 +/- 1.8 vs 7.1 +/- 1.7), better preservation of FVC (49.5 +/- 9.9 vs 41.8 +/- 12.9%, P = .005), and FEV1, (46.6 +/- 1.8 vs 38.6 +/- 1.4%, P = .005) compared with the MOV group. CONCLUSIONS: the subjects who received the volume-time curve technique for ETT cuff management presented a significantly lower incidence and severity of sore throat and cough, less thoracic pain, and minimally impaired pulmonary function than those subjects who received the MOV technique during the first 24 h after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Advanced interatrial block: A well-defined electrocardiographic pattern with clinical arrhythmological implications

3.050 JCR (2013) Q2, 44/125 Cardiac & cardiovascular systems

North Wales Clinical Librarian project. Final project report

Urquhart, C., Durbin, J. & Turner, J. (2005). North Wales Clinical Librarian project. Final project report. Aberystwyth: Department of Information Studies. Summary report, plus individual site summary reports also available from http://users.aber.ac.uk/cju/ Sponsorship: NHS Trusts in North Wales

Evaluating the contribution of the clinical librarian to a multidisciplinary team

Urquhart, C., Turner, J., Durbin, J. & Ryan, J. (2006). Evaluating the contribution of the clinical librarian to a multidisciplinary team. Library and Information Research, 30(94), 30-43. Sponsorship: NHS Trusts in North Wales

Evaluating SWICE-R (South West Information for Clinical Effectiveness - Rural). Final report for South West Workforce Development Confederations (Knowledge Resources Development Unit)

Yeoman, A., Durbin, J. & Urquhart, C. (2004). Evaluating SWICE-R (South West Information for Clinical Effectiveness - Rural). Final report for South West Workforce Development Confederations, (Knowledge Resources Development Unit). Aberystwyth: Department of Information Studies, University of Wales Aberystwyth. Sponsorship: South West WDCs (NHS)

Changes in information behavior in clinical teams after introduction of a clinical librarian service

Urquhart, C., Turner, J., Durbin, J. & Ryan, J. (2007). Changes in information behavior in clinical teams after introduction of a clinical librarian service. Journal of the Medical Library Association, 95(1), 14-22. Available via PubMed central Sponsorship: North Wales NHS Trusts