Reference set for performance testing of pediatric vaccine safety signal detection methods and systems

BackgroundSafety signal detection in spontaneous reporting system databases and electronic healthcare records is key to detection of previously unknown adverse events following immunization. Various statistical methods for signal detection in these different datasources have been developed, however none are geared to the pediatric population and none specifically to vaccines. A reference set comprising pediatric vaccine-adverse event pairs is required for reliable performance testing of statistical methods within and across data sources.MethodsThe study was conducted within the context of the Global Research in Paediatrics (GRiP) project, as part of the seventh framework programme (FP7) of the European Commission. Criteria for the selection of vaccines considered in the reference set were routine and global use in the pediatric population. Adverse events were primarily selected based on importance. Outcome based systematic literature searches were performed for all identified vaccine-adverse event pairs and complemented by expert committee reports, evidence based decision support systems (e.g. Micromedex), and summaries of product characteristics. Classification into positive (PC) and negative control (NC) pairs was performed by two independent reviewers according to a pre-defined algorithm and discussed for consensus in case of disagreement.ResultsWe selected 13 vaccines and 14 adverse events to be included in the reference set. From a total of 182 vaccine-adverse event pairs, we classified 18 as PC, 113 as NC and 51 as unclassifiable. Most classifications (91) were based on literature review, 45 were based on expert committee reports, and for 46 vaccine-adverse event pairs, an underlying pathomechanism was not plausible classifying the association as NC.ConclusionA reference set of vaccine-adverse event pairs was developed. We propose its use for comparing signal detection methods and systems in the pediatric population.     

胃粘膜相关淋巴组织型淋巴瘤MAPK和Stat3磷酸化及cyclinD1蛋白表达的意义

目的:研究胃粘膜相关淋巴组织型(MALT)淋巴瘤MAPK和Stat3磷酸化与cyclinD1蛋白表达及其意义。方法:利用免疫组织化学方法检测了45例胃MALT淋巴瘤MAPK和Stat3磷酸化及cyclinD1蛋白的表达。结果:在胃MALT淋巴瘤中p-MAPK、p-Stat3及cyclinD1蛋白的阳性率分别为73.3%(33/45)、64.4%(29/45)和68.9%(31/45);低度恶性组p-MAPK和cyclinD1蛋白的阳性表达强度明显高于高度恶性组(P<0.01),而p-Stat3表达强度无明显差异(P>0.05);在低度和高度恶性胃MALT淋巴瘤中p-MAPK和cyclinD1蛋白的阳性信号强度均呈明显的正相关(r=0.6572和0.6823,P<0.01),而p-Stat3与cyclinD1蛋白表达未见明显相关性(r=0.1927,P>0.05)。结论:提示MAPK磷酸化在胃MALT淋巴瘤中发生及演进过程中起重要作用,但Stat3的磷酸化可能与该肿瘤的恶性演进关系不明显;在胃MALT淋巴瘤的发生与发展中,p-MAPK可诱导cyclinD1过度表达,从而促使该肿瘤细胞维持高增殖状态。     

112例脑动脉系统微栓子监测的临床研究

目的　研究脑动脉系统微栓子 (MES)的产生机制及其相关因素。方法　将 112例 MES监测的临床资料进行总结分析。结果　本组微栓子检出率为 33.93% ,且全部见于有明显脑卒中症状者 ;脑梗死 MES检出率为35 .87%且以原发性大面积梗死为主 ;MES阳性与病程有明显相关 ,病程 <72 h易检出微栓子 ,阳性率为 4 7.72 % ;颅内血管狭窄是微栓子产生的主要原因 ;颈动脉异常与正常组微栓子出现率无明显差异 ,但发现本组病例中微栓子出现以左侧为主 ,与颈动脉病变部位一致率为 5 5 .5 5 % ;确定微栓子来源于有病变的颅外颈动脉 2例 ,来源于有病变的颅内颈动脉系 5例 ,来源于同时伴有颅内外血管病变 12例 ,表明颅内外动脉同时伴有病变时微栓子检出率增高 ;MES的阳性率与血液成分无相关性 ,但在血液成分异常组中血粘度增高以及血小板聚集降低 MES阳性率明显增高。结论　脑动脉系统中监测到微栓子说明患者有活动的栓子来源 ,易发生或复发脑梗死 ,TCD能正确的监测、判断脑循环中微栓子 ,确定其发生率、性质、来源以及与疾病的联系     

Raf-1 kinase,epidermal growth factor receptors,and mutant ras proteins in colonic carcinomas

Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) andras mutations are known to play a significant role in controlling cell growth and tumor promotion. Both of them transmit mitogenic signals to the nucleus by activation of Raf-1 kinase. In this study, the expression of EGFR and mutant Ras proteins, and, for the first time, the expression, phosphorylation and kinase activity of Raf-1 kinase have been determined in paired samples of colorectal cancer and mucosa. The tumor and mucosa samples did not differ significantly with regard to Raf-1 kinase content and activity. A major difference between tumors and mucosa was found, however, in the phosphorylation of Raf-1. Most of the mucosa samples (13/20), but only 1/20 of the cancer samples, contained hyperphosphorylated Raf-1. EGFR were significantly (p=0.0025) decreased in the tumors. The decreased phosphorylation of Raf-1 in colonic carcinomas could be the result of activation of Raf-1 phosphatases or inactivation of kinases phosphorylating Raf-1. New forms of treatment based on EGFR overexpression do not seem to be suitable for the majority of colonic cancers.This work was supported by the state of Baden-Württemberg (Verbundforschungsprojekt: Aufklärung von Mechanismen der Tumorentstehung und Tumorabwehr).     

Le traitement du signal en électromyographie: mise au point

Automatic analysis of electromyography (EMG) signals, first operated in 1950 with analogic machines, steeply expanded from 1980 when fast computers and worthwhile programs became available. On-line measurement of response area and latency, averaging of low amplitude waves, fast sorting of motor unit potential shape parameters, computation of the “jitter” between two muscle fibers, turns/amplitude and spectral analysis of interferential pattern records, are some examples of programs currently offered in modern EMG machines. Other techniques are still reserved for research purposes: scanning EMG, decomposition of nerve and muscle compound potentials, measurement of the threshold and firing rate of motor units, trace analysis using tracking models. Finally, the credit for artificial intelligence systems (knowledge based systems, fuzzy logic, neuronal networks) is still not clearly stated.     

磷脂酶C与生殖

磷脂酶C(PLC)是磷脂酰肌醇信号转导途径中一个关键酶。目前确认的哺乳类PLC共有PLC β、PLC γ、PLC δ、PLC ε和最近新发现的PLC ζ 5种亚型 ,12种同工酶。不同亚型的结构、调控和组织分布各有差异。PLC在调控信号转导通路中的特性使其在顶体反应、卵子激活中发挥了巨大的作用。本文综述了PLC家族 5种亚型的结构、调控机制及PLC在男性生殖领域的相关内容 ,包括PLC引起卵子发生Ca2 + 振荡、激活卵子、促进胚胎发育等 ,并进一步探讨了PLC在临床上可能的应用前景。     

Signal-to-noise ratio effects in quantitative cerebral perfusion using dynamic susceptibility contrast agents.

Theoretical and simulation evidence is presented in support of the idea that the optimal manner of determining blood flow from MR perfusion studies is not necessarily obtained by setting experimental conditions to maximize either the arterial input or the measured tissue concentration level for a particular echo time (TE). The noise power in the contrast concentration curve is associated with its peak because of the nonlinear relationship between the contrast concentration and MR signal intensity curves. The optimum signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), SNR(C), for a particular contrast concentration curve can be obtained when the experimental concentration level and TE are adjusted to produce an MR intensity curve whose signal loss is 63% of the precontrast MR signal intensity. It is demonstrated that the stability of the singular valued decomposition (SVD) deconvolution approach to determine blood flow parameters is increased when the tissue curve maximum signal loss is in the range of 40-80%. The accuracy and stability of the SVD-determined blood flow parameters are affected by deviations from these optimum conditions in a manner that depends on the mean transit time (MTT) associated with the residue function. It is recommended that the experimental TE value be set so that neither the tissue nor the arterial curves are placed a region of rapidly deteriorating SNR(C).