Microswitch clusters to support responding and appropriate posture of students with multiple disabilities: three case evaluations

Purpose:?This study extended the evaluation of microswitch clusters to support responding and appropriate posture with three students with multiple disabilities.

Method:?Initially, a baseline level was established for the target response selected for each student. Then, Intervention I was implemented to increase the frequency of that response through the presentation of favourite stimuli. During Intervention II, the response was followed by favourite stimuli only if the microswitch cluster detected it in combination with appropriate posture. Post-intervention checks were carried out within 2 or 3 months from the end of Intervention II.

Results and conclusions:?All students showed an increase in the frequency of the target response during Intervention I and in the percentage of times the response occurred in combination with appropriate posture during Intervention II. These changes lasted over time. The importance of microswitch clusters to enhance the performance of students with multiple disabilities was underlined.     

The impact of adjuvant therapy for patients with high-risk diffuse WHO grade II glioma

Despite recent randomized, prospective evidence supporting use of RT and chemotherapy (CRT) for high-risk low-grade gliomas (LGG), many patients have historically received RT alone, chemotherapy alone or observation postoperatively. The purpose of this study is to evaluate outcomes for historical treatments in comparison to CRT for high-risk diffuse WHO grade II glioma patients. Records from 309 adults with WHO grade II glioma (1997–2008) eligible for RTOG 9802 (incomplete resection/biopsy or age ≥40 years) were retrospectively reviewed. Kaplan–Meier estimates were used for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). The Cox proportional hazards model was used for estimates of risk ratios for univariate and multivariate analyses. Median follow-up was 10.6 years. Adjuvant treatments included radiotherapy (RT) alone (45%), observation (31%), CRT (21%) and chemotherapy alone (3%). Non-astrocytic histology, TERT promoter mutation, 1p/19q codeletion and extensive resections were associated with improved PFS and OS on univariate analysis (all p?<?0.05). IDH mutations and adjuvant CRT was associated with improved PFS (all p?<?0.05). On multivariate analysis, histology, molecular grouping and extent of resection were significantly associated with PFS and OS. In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that CRT was associated with improved PFS and OS compared with RT alone, and improved PFS compared with observation. This study confirms the benefit of adding chemotherapy to RT compared with RT alone or observation. These findings emphasize the need for aggressive treatment in patients with high-risk LGG.     

Pretreatment serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor in non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are two proteins involved in angiogenesis. In the present study we investigated the association of pretreatment MMP-9 and VEGF serum levels with clinicopathological parameters and outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 1998 to October 1999, pretreatment serum levels of MMP-9 and VEGF were analysed in 118 patients with enzyme-linked immunoassays. At diagnosis 50 patients (42%) were staged as early disease (I/II), 27 patients (23%) as locally advanced (IIIA/IIIB), and 41 patients (35%) had metastatic disease (IV). In 72 of the 118 patients tumours were resected and 46 patients received combination chemotherapy with gemcitabine and vinorelbine. RESULTS: The median survival of all 118 patients was 602 days. The 72 patients who had undergone surgery had a median survival of 972 days and the 46 patients who were treated with chemotherapy had a median survival of 298 days (P <0.001). Resected patients with stage I/II disease and an MMP-9 serum level 相似文献   

Estimation of pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) activity in human skeletal muscle; three cases with E1 deficiency

Pyruvate dehydrogenase (E1) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. Since E1 activity of human muscle tissue is low, a sensitive method is needed for diagnostic purposes. Measurement of 14CO2 production from [1-14C]pyruvate provides a specific and sensitive assay for measuring E1 activity. We use as artificial electron acceptor dichlorophenolindophenol (DCPIP) instead of the often applied ferricyanide. The method can be applied to small muscle samples obtained by needle or open biopsy. We prefer to use total homogenate because E1 activities in homogenate are higher than in the corresponding 600-g supernatant of skeletal muscle tissue. Control values in homogenate are higher or of the same order as those reported by others.     

Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer

This article reviews the current data on human papillomavirus as the cause of most cervical cancer cases, data on the recently approved human papillomavirus vaccines, and updated information concerning the Bethesda System for interpretation of Papanicolaou test results. Current recommendations for surgical treatment, concurrent chemotherapy, and radiation therapy and recent advances in systemic therapy for advanced or metastatic cervical cancer are reviewed.     

应用诱导缓解及干细胞疗法治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病的治疗策略特点

目的:全反式维甲酸、砷剂(三氧化二砷、复方黄黛片)、化疗治疗的联合应用明显提高了急性早幼粒细胞白血病的完全缓解率,缓解后治疗则进一步提高了长期生存率,但治疗方案及治疗时间仍存在争议,本文对此进行综述。资料来源:应用计算机检索Medline和CNKI 1992-01/2007-02期间的相关文献,检索词为"白血病、早幼粒细胞、急性、治疗、干细胞、移植,leukemia,promyelocytic,acute,therapy,stem cells,transplantation"。资料选择:对资料进行初审,并查看每篇文献后的引文。纳入标准:与急性早幼粒细胞治疗相关。排除标准:重复研究。资料提炼:共收集到361篇相关文献,41篇文献符合纳入标准,排除的320篇文献为内容陈旧或重复的文献。资料综合:临床分别采用全反式维甲酸、三氧化二砷、复方黄黛片或化疗治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病,全反式维甲酸、三氧化二砷、复方黄黛片完全缓解率达60%～98%,联合化疗可提高具有高危因素患者的缓解率达90%。联合用药进行完全缓解后治疗可降低复发率,提高无病生存率,但治疗时间短者,其复发率较高,以采用长程治疗(时间大于6年)者5年无病生存率高达48%,而造血干细胞移植者5年无病生存率更可达100%。结论:全反式维甲酸或砷剂单独应用及其联合化疗治疗急性早幼粒细胞白血病均可获得较高的完全缓解率,全反式维甲酸或砷剂联合化疗和造血干细胞移植可进一步降低复发率,提高完全缓解率,以长程治疗和干细胞移植疗效较好。     

Internal podalic version for neglected shoulder presentation with fetal demise

In modern obstetrics, the role of internal podalic version (IPV) is limited to delivery of the second twin. A retrospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy of IPV in singleton neglected shoulder presentation with fetal demise. Women with live fetuses, previous CS or contracted pelvis were excluded. The procedure involved repositioning the prolapsed hand under anaesthetic followed by breech extraction. 12 women were identified over a 19 month period and all underwent successful IPV. One woman had a postpartum haemorrhage. We conclude that, in singleton pregnancies with a transverse lie, IPV has a role to play in the delivery of dead fetuses.     

Practice patterns and recommendations for pediatric image‐guided radiotherapy: A Children's Oncology Group report

This report by the Radiation Oncology Discipline of Children's Oncology Group (COG) describes the practice patterns of pediatric image‐guided radiotherapy (IGRT) based on a member survey and provides practice recommendations accordingly. The survey comprised of 11 vignettes asking clinicians about their recommended treatment modalities, IGRT preferences, and frequency of in‐room verification. Technical questions asked physicists about imaging protocols, dose reduction, setup correction, and adaptive therapy. In this report, the COG Radiation Oncology Discipline provides an IGRT modality/frequency decision tree and the expert guidelines for the practice of ionizing image guidance in pediatric radiotherapy patients.