Digital and conventional chest imaging: a modified ROC study of observer performance using simulated nodules

A modified receiver operating characteristic (ROC) study was performed in which five readers were asked to locate multiple nodules on images of an anthropomorphic phantom obtained with a prototype digital radiographic chest unit and with a conventional chest unit. Results indicate that when nodules were projected over the lungs, a significantly greater number (significant at the 5% level) were identified on conventional radiographs, whereas for nodules projected over the mediastinum, the digital images were notably superior (difference significant at the 2% level). An error analysis of the multiple nodule problem and pseudo-ROC curves are presented. The modified ROC study does not suffer from the positional ambiguity inherent in most ROC studies and is efficient in acquiring data.     

Efficacy and safety of rizatriptan wafer for the acute treatment of migraine

Rizatriptan is a potent, highly selective 5HT1B/1D agonist with rapid onset of action for acute treatment of migraine. Rizatriptan wafer is a novel, freeze-dried dosage formulation of rizatriptan which rapidly disintegrates on the tongue, is swallowed with saliva, and may be taken without liquids. The efficacy and tolerability of rizatriptan wafer were examined in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, outpatient study in 555 migraineurs. The primary efficacy endpoint was pain relief at 2 h. From 30 min onwards, significantly more patients experienced pain relief and became pain-free after rizatriptan 10-mg wafer compared to placebo. At 2 h, the percentage of patients with pain relief was significantly higher after rizatriptan 10-mg wafer (74%), 5-mg wafer (59%) compared with placebo (28%). Rizatriptan 10-mg wafer was superior to rizatriptan 5-mg wafer on pain relief at 1.5 and 2 h (p < 0.05). Significantly more patients were pain-free at 2 h after rizatriptan 10-mg wafer (42%), 5-mg wafer (35%) compared with placebo (10%). Both doses of rizatriptan wafer were well tolerated. Rizatriptan wafer is a convenient, highly effective new formulation for acute treatment of migraine.     

Comparison of bleeding tendency, factor XI coagulant activity, and factor XI antigen in 25 factor XI-deficient kindreds

The relationship of clinical bleeding tendency and factor XI antigen (XI:Ag) in factor XI deficiency was studied in 78 members of 25 factor XI-deficient kindreds. Factor XI:Ag was measured in a competitive radioimmunoassay, using monospecific, heterologous anti-factor XI antibody. 125I-labeled factor XI, and staphylococcal protein A as the precipitating agent. Deficiency of factor XI clotting activity (XI:C), less than 0.62 U/mL, occurred in 48 individuals, 22 of whom experienced postoperative or posttraumatic bleeding: Their mean factor XI:C was 0.21 +/- 0.04 U/mL (SEM), and factor XI:Ag was 0.23 +/- 0.04 U/mL. The remaining 26 had no clinical bleeding, many despite surgical challenge: Their mean factor XI:C was 0.30 +/- 0.04 U/mL, and factor XI:Ag was 0.34 +/- 0.05 U/mL. In all, 13 kindreds had between 1 and 11 members with bleeding; the other 12 had none with deficient hemostasis. Two heterozygous factor XI-deficient individuals appeared to be positive for cross-reacting material (CRM+). The slope of the regression line for factor XI:C and factor XI:Ag data points in the 78 individuals tested did not differ from control, and all points fell within 95% confidence limits derived from control. In conclusion, bleeding tendency appears to be consistent within a given kindred and is not determined exclusively by factor XI:C or factor XI:Ag levels.     

Novel heteroaryl phosphonicdiamides PTPs inhibitors as anti-hyperglycemic agents

Background

Chronic and oral administration of benzylamine improves glucose tolerance. Picolylamine is a selective functional antagonist of the human adenosine A_2B receptor. Phosphonic diamide derivatives enhance the cellular permeability and in turn their biological activities.

Methods

A series of heteroaryl phosphonicdiamide derivatives were designed as therapeutics to control and manage type2 diabetes. Initially defined Lipinski parameters encouraged them as safer drugs. Molecular docking of these compounds against Protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP), the potential therapeutic target of type 2 diabetes, revealed their potential binding ability explaining their anti-diabetic activity in terms of PTP inhibition. Human intestinal absorption, Caco-2 cell permeability, MDCK cell permeability, BBB penetration, skin permeability and plasma protein binding abilities of the title compounds were calculated by PreADMET server. A convenient method has been developed for the synthesis of title compounds through the formation of 1-ethoxy-N,N’-bis(4-fluorobenzyl/pyridin-3-ylmethyl)phosphinediamine by the reaction of 4-fluorobenzylamine/ 3-picolylamine with ethyldichlorophosphite, subsequently reacted with heteroaryl halides using lanthanum(III) chloride as a catalyst.

Results

All the compounds exhibited significant in vitro anti-oxidant activity and in vivo evaluation in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat models revealed that the normal glycemic levels were observed on 12^th day by 9a and 20^th day by 5b, 5c, 9e and 9f. The remaining compounds also exhibited normal glycemic levels by 25^th day.

Conclusion

The results from molecular modeling, in vitro and in vivo studies are suggesting them as safer and effective therapeutic agents against type2 diabetes.

Graphical Abstract

Open in a separate windowDevelopment of PTPs inhibitors.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40199-014-0076-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

AIDS retrovirus antibodies in hemophiliacs treated with factor VIII or factor IX concentrates, cryoprecipitate, or fresh frozen plasma: prevalence, seroconversion rate, and clinical correlations

Antibodies to the AIDS retrovirus, specifically to human T cell lymphotropic virus, type III, and AIDS-associated retrovirus, were detected with increasing prevalence in a population of 190 hemophiliacs from western Pennsylvania between 1981 and 1984: 7.7% in 1981, 20.0% in 1982, 45.5% in 1983, and 62.5% in 1984. The seropositive included approximately three fourths of those receiving factor VIII concentrate, nearly one third of those receiving factor IX concentrate, nearly one fifth of those receiving cryoprecipitate, and none of those receiving fresh frozen plasma. The seroconversion rate, determined on 43 seropositive hemophiliacs from this group who were serially sampled, was 0% in 1977, 4.7% in 1978, 4.9% in 1979, 2.6% in 1980, 10.5% in 1981, 52.9% in 1982, 87.5% in 1983, and 100% in 1984. Of 27 seropositive for three or more years (since 1982 or before), four (15%) have developed AIDS and seven (26%), diffuse lymphadenopathy (ARC); of 16 seropositive for less than three years, none has developed AIDS and three (19%) have developed ARC. The mean time from seroconversion to onset of ARC, 0.8 +/- 0.2 years (SEM), was shorter (P less than .001) than the time to onset of AIDS, 4.1 +/- 0.6 years. These findings confirm the widespread presence of AIDS retrovirus and support the association of these retroviruses with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and related conditions.     

On duodenal stump leakage caused by adult human Taenia

To the editor： Shao Xinxin and colleagues recently described a case of duodenal stump leakage caused by Taenia saginata （T.saginata）. Apparently, they did not identify the discharged adult tapeworm recovered after the treatment neither morphologically nor molecularly. The authors concluded that the species responsible for the symptoms was T. saginata based on the fact that the patient mentioned that he had been infected by T. saginata two years ago.