SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Project START”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 145 records · Page 8Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

[2000 Standards, Options and Recommendations for prognostic value of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in non small cell lung cancer].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French cancer centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centers, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines for non small cell lung cancer patients according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: Data were identified by searching Medline , web sites, and using the personal reference lists of members of the expert groups. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to independent reviewers. RESULTS: This article presents the chapter "Prognosis significance of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes" from the full report "Standards, Options and Recommendation for non small cell lung cancer" validated in August 2000. The main recommendations are: 1) No clear clinical prognostic value of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes (p53, bcl-2, Ki-ras, c-erbB-2, Rb, p16) in non small cell lung cancer, can be established from the available evidences (standard, level of evidence C). 2) Prospective multicenter studies should be performed to assess prognostic significance of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in non small cell lung cancer.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung↗

PubMed1976

Differential central distribution of optic nerve components in the rat.

The distribution of Fink-Heimer positive degeneration and neurofibrillar proliferation has been examined in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) and superior colliculus of albino and pigmented rats following enucleation between post-natal days 12 and 30 and as adults. With survival times of 6 h to 5 days following enucleation, the location of maximum degenerative reaction stained by the Fink-Heimer method changes with increasing survival time in both regions. In the dLGN contralateral to the eye removal the earliest degeneration appears in a lamina occupying the medioventral extent of the nucleus and is rapidly removed; later degeneration fills a central lamina of the nucleus with a patch of degeneration extending to the outer surface of the nucleus at the mediodorsal margin. The latest occurring degeneration fills the outermost lamina and is still obvious when degeneration is largely dispersed from the inner and central laminae; this outer lamina shows an early filamentous degenerative reaction in the adult. The uncrossed optic pathway occupies a portion of the central lamina of the nucleus, and in albino animals it shows a rapid degeneration and dispersion similar to the innermost lamina on the crossed side; in the pigmented animals degeneration of the uncrossed projection starts as early as that of the albino but persists as long as the degeneration of the central lamina on the crossed side. The degeneration time of the sprouted, uncrossed pathway resulting from unilateral enucleation at birth is similar in albino and pigmented rats and resembles in timing the normal uncrossed pathway of pigmented rats. These results suggest that there are at least 3 different fiber populations in the rat optic nerve with different distribution in the dLGN. The uncrossed optic pathway of albino and pigmented rats appears to differ in fiber composition; this may relate to aberrations in mapping of uncrossed projections in the albino.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2002

[Standards, Options and Recommendations for the management of patient with carcinoma of unknown primary site].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French Cancer Centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centers, and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines for carcinoma of unknown primary site (CUPS) patients according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: Data were identified by searching Medline , web sites, and using the personal reference lists of members of the expert groups. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to 81 independent reviewers. RESULTS: The main recommendations for the management of patients CUPS are presented below: 1) An adapted immunochemistry test using a specific antibody battery should be performed for the anatomopathologic diagnosis. 2) The aim of the diagnosis is to identify specific anatomoclinical forms that can be treated by a specific treatment (standard, level of evidence B2). Except these forms, searching for the primary tumor site have no prognosis or therapeutic interest that can justify a systematic diagnosis assessment (standard, level of evidence B2). 3) The management of poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma consists of platin/etoposide based chemotherapy. There is no standard treatment for the differentiated forms. 4) Surgical node excision and adjuvant radiotherapy should be performed in case of epidermoid carcinoma with cervical node metastases. In the event of a non operable tumor, an irradiation should be performed. 5) The management of axillary node metastases in women with adenocarcinoma should be the same as the management of patients with lymph node metastases in breast cancer. If mammary MRI is negative, surgical treatment and mammary irradiation are not recommended and an axillary node excision should be performed. 6) The standard treatment for women with primary papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum is a surgical resection followed by chemotherapy, as recommended for ovarian cancer. 7) CUPS not belonging to any specific anatomoclinical forms can be treated by chemotherapy, symptomatic treatment alone or treatment based on biphosphonates in presence bone metastases.

Axilla↗

PubMed2003

[Standards, Options and Recommendations 2002 for the use of Positron Emission Tomography with [18F]-FDG (PET-FDG in cancerology (integral connection].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French cancer centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centers, scientific societies, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines for the use of positron emission tomography with [18F]-FDG in oncology according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: More than 600 articles were identified by searching Medline, web sites, and using the personal reference lists of members of the expert groups. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to independent reviewers (n = 82). RESULTS: The different steps in patient care are studied in this report: diagnosis of the primary disease, initial and secondary assessment of metastatic extension, evaluation of treatment response and examination for recurrence. The guidelines were developed for each cancer sites: bronchopulmonary and pleural cancers, melanomas, gynaecological cancers, gastrointestinal cancers, head and neck cancers, urological cancers, lymphomas, soft-tissue and bone sarcomas, cancers of the thyroid and carcinomas of unknown primary site. The recommendations were made on the basis of data published up to February 2002. Systematic monitoring of the new scientific data on FDG-PET has been set up by the working group of the FNCLCC, which will ensure dissemination of the updating on its web site: www.fnclcc.fr/sor.htm.

Fluorodeoxyglucose F18↗

PubMed2001

[Standards, options and recommendations: Good clinical practice in the dietetic management of cancer patients: hospital catering].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, involves a collaboration between the Federation of the French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French Regional Cancer Centres, some French public university and general hospitals and private Clinics and medical scientific societies. Its main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and outcome for cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review followed by a critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts to produce the draft guidelines which are then validated by specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines for hospital catering for cancer patient using the methodology developed by the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: Data were identified by a literature search of Medline and the reference lists of experts in the groups. After the guidelines were drafted, they were validated by independent reviewers. RESULTS: The main recommendations are: 1) While taking into consideration the specific needs of cancer patients, the dietician is responsible for the hygiene, the sanitary quality of alimentation, the equilibrium and nutritional quality of the hospital catering. 2) Ordering and distribution of meals, and clearing up afterwards contribute to the quality of hospital catering and the personnel who do this should have time and be willing to listen to the patients. 3) The ordering of meals should be adapted to individual patient's requirements and must take into account the patient's medication. 4) The method of transporting the food chosen by the institution (cold or warm method) should be respected. The personnel responsible should receive regular and specific training to use the method correctly. 5) The intake of patients with nutritional follow-up should be reliably and reproducibly evaluated by the personnel after every meal. 6) Patient satisfaction should be assessed once a year and the results of this assessment used to improve the quality of hospital catering. 7) The dietician is the interface between the accounts department, the medical wards, the hospital catering department and the patients.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Standards, Options and Recommendations 2000: non metastatic endometrial cancer].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French Cancer Centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French Cancer Centers, and specialists from French Public Universities, General Hospitals and Private Clinics, and some specialists learned societies. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The SORs are developed using a methodology based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients with carcinoma of the endometrium according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: Data were identified by searching Medline , web sites, and using the personal reference lists of members of the expert groups. Once the guidelines were defined, the document was submitted for review to 63 independent reviewers. RESULTS: The main recommendations for the management of carcinoma of the endometrium are: 1) The diagnosis of carcinoma of the endometrium is based on biopsy and histological examination. However, as first intention, the first elements for diagnosis can be obtain from a hysterography, or particularly, a endovaginal ultrasound examination. Ultrasound allows locoregional metastases to be detected, the CT scan allows the lymph node involvement to be assessed and magnetic resonance imaging allows the myometrium invasion to be evaluated. 2) For the majority of patients, surgery is the initial treatment, both for localised and advanced-stage carcinomas. The excised sample can be used for pathological analysis and tumour staging, using the FIGO (Fédération internationale de gynécologie obstétrique) classification. Surgery for patients with stage I and II carcinomas involves total extrafascial hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy., In patients with stage III and IV carcinomas radical surgery should be performed, when possible. If this is not possible, then surgery should be as complete as possible and be associated with a complementary treatment. In patients with the most advanced carcinomas, tumour reduction by surgery should be performed. 3) Complementary treatment includes external-beam radiotherapy and brachytherapy. The decision concerning the extent and type of irradiation should be taken taking into consideration the stage and the prognostic factors present. For patients with stage I and II carcinoma, complementary treatment with brachytherapy can be performed, if the myometrium invasion is not deep, or if the carcinoma is grade 2 or 3. Patients with stage III carcinomas can be treated with pelvic or abdominal-pelvic complementary irradiation. In patients that cannot undergo surgery, exclusive radiotherapy can be performed. 4) In the absence of any symptoms, surveillance should include a general clinical and gynaecological examination. All patients with symptoms should undergo an additional work-up.

Endometrial Neoplasms↗

PubMed2002

[Standards, options and recommendations for the use of medical analgesics for the treatment of pain arising from excess nociception in adults with cancer (update 2002)].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of french cancer centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centers, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines for the use of medical analgesics for the treatment of pain arising from excess nociception in adults with cancer according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: In 1996, a working group, set up by the FNCLCC published clinical practice guidelines for pain management in adult and paediatric patients with cancer. In the light of the evolution of our knowledge, and practice these guidelines need to be updated. The section on "medical analgesic treatments" in the document published in 1996 was examined by the working group to identify which questions should be updated. These questions and the relevant key words were used to develop a search strategy which was used to search Medline , and for particular questions, Embase , from January 1994 to March 1999, for relevant references, published in English or French. RESULTS: For this update, only a few randomised clinical trials were identified, and their conclusions were generally weak. Thus much of the information in this document is based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and represents the "state of the art" on this subject in France and is supported by expert agreement. Some changes to the original SOR are presented, eg. methods of titration, prescription of new opioids, opioid rotation. We also present a synthesis of recent pharmacological and regulatory data. The integral version is available on the FNCLCC web site (http://www.fnclcc.fr/sor.htm).

Adult↗

PubMed1988

The Sino-MONICA-Beijing Study: report on results between 1984 and 1986.

The Beijing Heart Lung and Blood Vessel Medical Center has participated in the World Health Organisation MONICA project since 1981. Our study, named Sino-MONICA-Beijing, has been carried out in Beijing and covers a population approximately of 700,000. After a 2-year pilot study, the project started formally January 1, 1984. This paper presents the organization and methodology of the study, with emphasis on the monitoring system and on how events were found. The main results of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) event monitoring are as follows: average annual mortality from all causes, for the 3-year period of 1984-86 was 319/100,000 for men and 238/100,000 for women aged 25-64; from CVD 119/100,000 for men and 101/100,000 for women; from ischemic heart disease 29/100,000 for men and 14/100,000 for women; and from cerebrovascular disease 59/100,000 for men and 52/100,000 for women. Preliminary experience has shown that Sino-MONICA-Beijing is a well-standardized project of long-term surveillance of CVD in the communities of Beijing.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Standards, options and recommendations for the use of medical analgesics for the treatment of pain arising from excess nociception in adults with cancer (update 2002): opioid analgesics with the exception of morphine by mouth and the rotation].

CONTEXT: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the federation of French Cancer Centers (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centers, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To develop clinical practice guidelines for the use of opioid analgesics with the exception of oral morphine and for opioid rotation related to the treatment of nociceptive pain in adults with cancer according to the definitions of the Standards, Options and Recommendations project. METHODS: In 1996, a working group, set up by the FNCLCC published clinical practice guidelines for pain management in adult and paediatric patients with cancer: In the light of the evolution of knowledge, and practice these guidelines need to be updated The section on "médical analgesic treatments" in the document published in 1996 was examined by the working group to identify which questions should be updated. These questions and the relevant key words were used to develop a search strategy which was used to search Medline, and for particular questions, Embase, from January 1994 to March 1999, for relevant references, published in English or French. RESULTS: For this update, only a few randomised clinical trials were identified, and their conclusions were generally weak. Thus much of the information in this document is based on the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and represents the "state of the art" on this subject in France and is supported by expert agreement. Some changes to the original SOR are presented, particularly for the prescription of new opioids and opioid rotation. The full text of this SOR is available on the FNCLCC web site (http ://www.fnclcc.fr).

Analgesics, Opioid↗

PubMedDate not supplied

The BAMSE project: presentation of a prospective longitudinal birth cohort study.

The aims of this prospective and longitudinal project are to establish crucial risk factors for asthma and other allergic diseases in childhood, and to study factors of importance for prognosis at already established allergic disease. Socio-economic factors, such as inequality in health, are also to be addressed. The project started in February 1994. To reach sufficient power, 4,000 children had to be included. In November 1996, this number was reached (4,093). Inclusion in the study was made at 3-4 months of age. At that time, and before induction of allergic disease/ asthma of the child, a questionnaire focused on exposure, genetics and socio-economic factors was answered. Settled dust was sampled for later analysis of furred animal and mite allergens. When the children were aged both 1 and 2 years, their parents were asked to fill in new questionnaires focusing on respiratory and allergic (skin, gastrointestinal) symptoms, but also key variables of exposure. Cases with asthma are identified and, for every case, two matched controls drawn. During the following winter, the homes of cases and controls were investigated and the temperature, indoor humidity, air change rate and NO2 measured. Two hundred cases (5%) were expected to be identified during the first 2 years of the children's lives. Some 479 homes have now been investigated and 97.7% of the original 4,093 children still remain in the cohort. The 2-year symptom follow-up ended in November 1998. The 4-year follow-up started on 1 September 1998 and was planned to be finished in June 2000. Questionnaires (allergic and respiratory symptoms, key variables of exposure at home and day care) are sent out to all 4,093 families. All children are invited for examination, lung function tests (PEF, flow-volume, MVV and oxygen clearance) and physical performance. Blood is taken from all children (20 ml). Allergy screening is performed and specific IgE examined. Blood cells will be frozen to allow for later DNA extraction. In subsets (children with any allergic and/or respiratory manifestation and controls), markers of inflammation in blood and urine will be examined, as well as eosinophils in nasal smear. Interviews are carried out to assess the severity of asthma, type/periodicity of health care given, asthma medication and parental sick leave when appropriate. As a separate project, financed by the EU, outdoor pollution as risk factors for asthma and allergies are to be studied within the BAMSE cohort. A follow-up of 8-9 years is underway.

Asthma↗

PubMed1997

The effect of semi-automatic external defibrillation by emergency medical technicians on survival after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: an observational study in urban and rural areas in Belgium.

The introduction of semi-automatic external defibrillators (SAEDs) allowed emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to deliver electroshocks in cases of out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation (VF) or ventricular tachycardia (VT), often many minutes before the arrival of the mobile intensive care unit (MICU) team. In this observational study we report on the results obtained by the EMTs from the fire departments of Gent, Aalter and Brugge. In Gent, an SAED project started in May 1991. By December 1995, the SAED's electrodes had been attached in 367 cardiac arrest patients. The first rhythm detected by the device was asystole or electromechanical dissociation (EMD) in 241 patients (66%): only 5 of these patients survived to hospital discharge (2%). In the remaining 126 VF/VT cases (34%) the survival rate was 21% (26/126). In 14 of these 26 patients the shock(s) delivered by the EMTs restored spontaneous circulation before the arrival of the MICU team, with only venous cannulation and/or intubation being performed by the MICU team. In 4 other VF patients, the shock(s) delivered by EMTs converted the VF, with the MICU team successfully taking care of VF/VT relapses or postcountershock EMD. In the remaining 8 VF/VT cases, only the MICU attempts could resuscitate the patient. The SAED project in Aalter was set up in April 1993. By December 1995, care was taken for only 21 patients. None of the 4 VF/VT patients and the 17 asystole/EMD patients survived. In Brugge, there were 240 cardiac arrest cases treated with SAED between January 1991 and December 1995. Among the 89 VF/VT cases, there were 20 survivors (22%): 8 cases survived thanks to SAED shock(s) delivered by EMTs, in 3 cases survival was due to the combination of SAED shock(s) by EMTs and extensive ALS treatment by the MICU team, and in 9 cases restoration of spontaneous circulation was only obtained after application of ALS techniques by the MICU team. This observational study seems to show a beneficial effect of the introduction of SAED in Gent and Brugge. In Aalter the number of treated cases is tool low to draw conclusions. Anyhow, the global survival rate in the three areas remains low. Therefore, more efforts are needed to strengthen the other links of the chain of survival (early access to the emergency medical services-system, early basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation and early advanced life support.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

An economic evaluation of the national schistosomiasis control programme in China from 1992 to 2000.

The World Bank Loan Project, by far the largest effort in China for schistosomiasis control since control activities were initiated in the mid 1950s, was carried out for a 9-year period commencing in 1992 in the 8 provinces where Schistosoma japonicum remained endemic when the project started. To evaluate its impact, a retrospective economic evaluation was done in 2001. Six representative counties, i.e. Huarong in Hunan province, Qianjiang in Hubei province, Yugan in Jiangxi province, Tongling in Anhui province, Xichang in Sichuan province and Dali in Yunnan province, were selected for the study. The total financial input in these counties from 1992 to 2000 was RMB Yuan 90.334 million with the World Bank loan accounting for 40.9%. Control efforts resulted in reduction of human prevalence rates in the six counties from 0.7-9.0% in 1992 to 0.1-2.7% in 2000. With regard to S. japonicum infection in bovines, a high reduction was observed in Qianjiang, and smaller decreases were noted in four counties, while there was an increase in Dali. In general, the areas infested by the intermediate host snail fluctuated around the initial level. The net benefit-cost ratio was 6.20, which means that this project gained US$ 6.20 for every dollar spent. The correlation coefficients of the net benefit-cost ratio to the human and bovine infection rates at the beginning of the project were 0.55 and 0.66, respectively. It is conceivable that further progress in schistosomiasis control is an important feature for sustained growth of the local economy, particularly in areas where control of the disease has been most challenging.

China↗

PubMed1999

Early development of descending supraspinal pathways: a tracing study in fixed and isolated rat embryos.

Early brainstem-spinal cord projections were studied in the rat using the carbocyanine dye DiI in fixed embryos and biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) in an isolated embryonic brain-spinal cord preparation. A system of staging embryos was used that allows direct comparison with data in other mammals. With both techniques it was shown that in embryos of at least 12 days of age (E12), i.e., at the time of closure of the posterior neuropore, already a variety of brainstem centers innervate the spinal cord. In the interstitial nucleus of the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis and various parts of the reticular formation - mesencephalic, pontine as well as medullary - DiI or BDA labelled neurons were observed. Mainly large immature, bipolar neurons were labeled. In later stages (E13, E14) the number of labeled neurons increased and more mature, multipolar cells were found. Labeled neurons were also observed in the vestibular nuclear complex and in the medullary raphe. Just below the cerebellum a conspicuous small group of neurons was found labeled in a position reminiscent of the locus coeruleus. Comparison with available data on the time of neuron origin of brainstem neurons suggests that interstitiospinal and reticulospinal neurons start projecting spinalwards shortly after they are generated. The earliest brainstem projections to the spinal cord all pass via the fasciculus longitudinalis medialis.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Sharing medical data for patient path analysis with data mining method.

The Agora Data project started in October 1997 in France. The objective was to share medical data between several medical institutions to analysis medical care pathways for patients that suffer from low back pain. The analysis of the medical records decomposed in three steps allowed us to produce knowledge on medical contacts of patients with the health care system. In order to study the relations between these contacts, we created medical path of patients within the framework of the possible contacts we had isolated. This work relates the implementation and the first results of the pilot study.

Confidentiality↗

PubMed2003

Algebraic structure of central molecular chirality starting from Fischer projections.

The construction of algebraic structure of central molecular chirality is provided starting from the empirical Fischer projections for tetrahedrons. A matrix representation is given and the algebra of O(4) orthogonal group for rotations and inversions is identified. The result can be generalized to chains of connected tetrahedrons.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2004

[Summary version of the Standards, Options and Recommendations for the use of recombinant erythropoietin (epoietin-alpha and beta, darbepoietin-alpha, EPO) in the management of anaemia in oncology - Update 2003].

UNLABELLED: The "Standards, Options and Recommendations" (SOR) project, started in 1993, is a collaboration between the Federation of French Cancer Centres (FNCLCC), the 20 French cancer centres, and specialists from French public universities, general hospitals and private clinics. The main objective is the development of clinical practice guidelines to improve the quality of health care and the outcome of cancer patients. The methodology is based on a literature review and critical appraisal by a multidisciplinary group of experts, with feedback from specialists in cancer care delivery. OBJECTIVES: To update the Standards, Options and Recommendations clinical practice guidelines for the use of recombinant erythropoietin (epoietin alpha and beta darbepoietin-alpha, EPO) in the management of anaemia in oncology. To define, on the basis of the critical appraisal of the best available evidence and expert agreement, the clinical situations in which the administration of rHuEPO is indicated, and those in which it is not indicated, except in the setting of randomised controlled trial. METHODS: The working group identified the questions requiring up-dating from the previous guideline. Medline and Embase were searched using specific search strategies from January 1999 to October 2002. Literature monitoring was performed to identify randomised clinical trials published between October 2002 to November 2003. In addition several Internet sites were searched in October 2002. RESULTS: A total of 36 new references, corresponding to 30 randomised clinical trials, were identified. The role of rHuEPO is certain when the haemoglobin concentration is below 10 g/dL, but remains uncertain when the concentration is between 10 g/dL and 12 g/dL. When the haemoglobin concentration is between 12 g/dL and 14 g/dL there is no justification to use rHuEPO to prevent anaemia, except in the setting of autologous blood transfusion programmes before major surgery. No anti-anaemic treatment is justified if the haemoglobin concentration is higher than 14 g/dL, except in the setting of a randomised clinical trial.

Anemia↗

PubMed2004

Key factors for the success of functional foods.

The concept of Functional Food originates in a research project started in 1984. It triggered the introduction of a health claim system for Foods for Specified Health Uses (FOSHU) in 1991. In parallel with the implementation and subsequent regulatory changes, the administration has been intensifying its control over so-called health foods and the FOSHU examination has become more stringent. In spite of the unfavorable regulatory circumstances, being inspired by academic society, many of the food industries have developed functional foods and launched them into the market as FOSHU products to bring about an annual increasing rate of 130% in the total sales amount. On the other hand, the public concern about health and nutrition is soaring. Consumers are becoming more alert to health claims and seeking much more advanced information about food products than before. Taking all of this into account, the key factors for the success of functional foods could be summarized in the following four points. 1) Use of innovative technology in scientific developments resulting in health benefits 2) A variety of new functional foods to be developed by the industries 3) Amendment of functional foods' regulations 4) Improving the consumer's understanding and knowledge of foods claiming a health benefit.

Food↗

PubMed1987

Longitudinal studies of femur growth in normal fetuses.

As an indicator of fetal limb growth, change in the femur diaphysis length (FDL) between 15 and 38 weeks, menstrual age, has been evaluated in a longitudinal study of 20 normal fetuses, as determined by prenatal biparietal diameter, head circumference, and abdominal circumference growth patterns as well as postnatal pediatric assessment. Individual FDL growth curves were uniformly parabolic and followed very similar trajectories. The projected start points [mean: 9.7 (+/- 1.5 SD) weeks] for these curves were in complete agreement with embryologic data, and the curves themselves were well characterized by the Rossavik model [R2 99.5 (+/- 0.5 SD)%]. No differences between males and females were detected, and good agreement was obtained between the average longitudinal growth curve and the cross-sectional growth curve derived from a previously studied data set. Individual growth curve standards, determined from Rossavik models based on data obtained before 26.1 weeks, menstrual age, were within 7% of actual measurements in 94% of the 97 time points studied after 26 weeks. These results indicate that the Rossavik model and its associated individual growth curve standards can be used to evaluate the growth of the femur and thus provide an improved means for detecting skeletal dysplasias and fetal growth retardation.

Adult↗