Stopping a medical research project for financial reasons

Sir, We are writing to provide some clarifications on the EditorialComment by Drüeke et al. [1]. We would have been happyto provide these very same clarifications had we been fairlyinvited to do so before the publication of the article. First of all, we would like to     

Implementing a parent involvement/parent education program in a children's residential treatment center

Two prominent trends in contemporary child welfare, permanency planning and the family-centered model of care, are old theoretical ideas that have had great difficulty in finding corresponding practice methodologies. This article presents a practical model and discussion of the strategy and tactics involved in the process of developing and implementing a family-centered model by providing an effective parent involvement program in the residential treatment setting. Both didactic and experiential components are suggested, with emphasis on the latter in the context of planned change and the needs of children, parents, staff, and agency administration.     

Rat interscapular brown adipose tissue at different ages: a morphometric study

Interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) was studied in newborn and 1, 3, 5, 7, 13, 26, 52, 78 and 104-week-old rats maintained under standard laboratory conditions in order to define its morphological modifications and assess previous statements on an involution phase of IBAT after the first weeks of extrauterine life. Serial sections were analysed morphometrically to quantify the multilocular, the monolocular and the connective-vascular components of IBAT. Morphometry shows that the IBAT weight and volume progressively increase up to the twenty-sixth week of age, these figures remaining almost constant thereafter. The volume of the unilocular and connective components increased with age. The volume of the multilocular component increases up to the sixth month of age, and slightly reduces thereafter. The number of the multilocular adipocytes is almost constant from the third week up to the second year of life. Our results suggest that, in IBAT of adult animals, despite a slight prevalence of unilocular adipocytes, the number of multilocular cells is not reduced with respect to younger animals.     

Clinical classification of bone defects concerning the placement of dental implants

The goal of this classification of bone defects related to dental implant placement is to help clinicians accurately discuss proposed treatment regimens and organize treatment for clinical correction. A further goal of this effort to categorize bone defects requiring bone augmentation for implant placement is to standardize terminology to allow for more accurate dental communication. The 5 most encountered categories of bony defects are described.     

Inhibitory action of quercetin on intestinal transit in mice

The effects of quercetin have been investigated on the gastrointestinal propulsion of charcoal meal in mice. Quercetin reduced the rate of intestinal transit and this effect was potentiated by verapamil.     

Non invasive estimation of mean right atrial pressure utilizing the 2D-Echo transverse diameter of the left hepatic vein

Aim of our study was to assess if the 2D-Echo transverse diameter of the left hepatic vein (LHV) obtained from the subcostal approach is correlated with invasive mean right atrial pressure (RAP). Thirty-two consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction were studied by simultaneous 2D-Echo and right heart catheterization. LHV could be adequately imaged in 90% of patients. Mean RAP values at catheterization ranged from 0 to 15mmHg (mean 6±3.5 mmHg). A correlation was found between mean RAP and LHV diameter calculated after inspiration (r=0.81, SEE=1.54 mm, slope=0.71,p< 0.001) as well as after expiration (r=0.82, SEE=1.32mm, slope=0.62,p< 0.001) or during post-expiratory apnoea (r=0.85, SEE=1.3 mm, slope=0.71,p< 0.001). Moreover, percent increments of LHV diameter correlated well with percent changes of mean RAP during rapid infusion of 250–500 cc of saline in 4 patients (r=0.98,p< 0.001). Thus, the 2D-Echo LHV diameter is a feasible measurement that seems to correlate well with invasive mean RAP over a wide range of mean RAP values in patients with myocardial infarction; the changes in LHV diameter correlate well with the percent increase in central venous pressure obtained with saline infusion. Underestimation of invasive RAP occurs when mean RAP value exceeds 12 mmHg and can be explained by limited venous compliance. However these preliminary results suggest that this method may represent a valid alternative to obtain a non invasive estimate of mean RAP with 2D-Echocardiography.