BACKGROUND & AIMS: :It has been shown that the generalized F-statistics can give satisfactory performances in identifying differentially expressed genes with microarray data. However, for some complex diseases, it is still possible to identify a high proportion of false positives because of the modest differential expressions of disease related genes and the systematic noises of microarrays. The main purpose of this study is to develop statistical methods for Affymetrix microarray gene expression data so that the impact on false positives from non-expressed genes can be reduced. I proposed two novel generalized F-statistics for identifying differentially expressed genes and a novel approach for estimating adjusting factors. The proposed statistical methods systematically combine filtering of non-expressed genes and identification of differentially expressed genes. For comparison, the discussed statistical methods were applied to an experimental data set for a type 2 diabetes study. In both two- and three-sample analyses, the proposed statistics showed improvement on the control of false positives.

背景与目标： ：已经表明，广义的F统计量可以在用微阵列数据鉴定差异表达的基因方面提供令人满意的性能。但是，对于某些复杂的疾病，由于疾病相关基因的适度差异表达和微阵列的系统噪声，仍然有可能鉴定出较高比例的假阳性。这项研究的主要目的是为Affymetrix微阵列基因表达数据开发统计方法，以便减少未表达基因对假阳性的影响。我提出了两种新颖的广义F统计量，用于鉴定差异表达的基因和一种估算调节因子的新方法。提出的统计方法系统地结合了非表达基因的过滤和差异表达基因的鉴定。为了进行比较，将讨论的统计方法应用于2型糖尿病研究的实验数据集。在两个和三个样本的分析中，建议的统计数据显示出对假阳性的控制有所改善。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Auto-anti-idiotypic mechanisms can regulate the protective immune response against Schistosoma mansoni. Anti-idiotypic responses were stimulated by immunization of mice either with nonspecifically induced lymphoblasts, produced with Con A, or with Ag-induced lymphoblasts bearing specific idiotypic receptors. The effect of the induced anti-idiotypic response upon clonotypic cellular reactivity was assessed in vitro through the suppression of antigen-mediated blast transformation by cloned T cells and in vivo by suppression of resistance to S. mansoni and delayed-type hypersensitivity responses against specific Ag. Differential regulation of humoral immune responses was studied at the levels of specific epitopic recognition, the expression of specific Id, and the production of anti-idiotypic responses directed against mAb bearing specific Id. Anti-idiotypic sensitization resulted in variable (10 to 90%) suppression of the immune response to discrete antigenic epitopes, the expression of specific idiotypic phenotypes, and anti-idiotypic, antiparatopic responses against T cell clonotypes and antibody idiotypic phenotypes. In vitro admixture and in vivo challenge studies resulted in consonant differential suppression. Thus idiotypic regulation can mold the fine specificities of the protective immune response to S. mansoni at the clonal level and may provide an approach to optimize the expression and assessment of resistance.

背景与目标： 自动抗独特型机制可以调节针对曼氏血吸虫的保护性免疫反应。通过用Con A产生的非特异性诱导的淋巴母细胞，或用Ag诱导的携带特定独特型受体的淋巴母细胞免疫小鼠，可以刺激抗独特型应答。在体外通过抑制克隆的T细胞对抗原介导的胚泡转化的抑制来评估诱导的抗独特型反应对克隆型细胞反应性的影响，并在体内通过抑制对曼氏沙门氏菌的抗性和针对特定Ag的迟发型超敏反应来评估体内诱导的抗独特型反应的作用。 。研究了在特定表位识别，特定Id的表达水平以及针对带有特定Id的mAb的抗独特型反应水平上对体液免疫反应的差异调节。抗独特型致敏作用导致对离散抗原表位的免疫反应，特异性独特型表型的表达以及针对T细胞克隆型和抗体独特型表型的抗独特型，抗副反应的变化受到抑制（10％至90％）。体外混合和体内攻击研究导致辅音差异抑制。因此，独特型调节可以在克隆水平上塑造对曼氏链球菌的保护性免疫应答的优良特异性，并且可以提供优化抗性表达和评估的方法。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Aboriginal Australians, including Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs), smoke at rates double the non-Aboriginal population. This study utilized concept mapping methodology to identify and prioritize culturally relevant strategies to promote smoking cessation in AHWs. Stakeholder participants included AHWs, other health service employees and tobacco control personnel. Smoking cessation strategies (n = 74) were brainstormed using 34 interviews, 3 focus groups and a stakeholder workshop. Stakeholders sorted strategies into meaningful groups and rated them on perceived importance and feasibility. A concept map was developed using multi-dimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analyses. Ten unique clusters of smoking cessation strategies were depicted that targeted individuals, family and peers, community, workplace and public policy. Smoking cessation resources and services were represented in addition to broader strategies addressing social and environmental stressors that perpetuate smoking and make quitting difficult. The perceived importance and feasibility of clusters were rated differently by participants working in health services that were government-coordinated compared with community-controlled. For health service workers within vulnerable populations, these findings clearly implicate a need for contextualized strategies that mitigate social and environmental stressors in addition to conventional strategies for tobacco control. The concept map is being applied in knowledge translation to guide development of smoking cessation programs for AHWs.

背景与目标： ：包括澳大利亚原住民卫生工作者（AHWs）在内的澳大利亚原住民吸烟率是非原住民人口的两倍。这项研究利用概念图方法论来确定和优先考虑与文化相关的策略，以促进AHW中的戒烟。利益相关者的参与者包括AHW，其他卫生服务员工和烟草控制人员。通过34次访谈，3个焦点小组和一个利益相关者研讨会，集体讨论了戒烟策略（n = 74）。利益相关者将策略分为有意义的组，并根据感知到的重要性和可行性对它们进行评级。使用多维缩放和层次聚类分析开发了概念图。描绘了十个独特的戒烟策略组，这些策略针对个人，家庭和同龄人，社区，工作场所和公共政策。除更广泛的策略解决了使吸烟永久化和使戒烟困难的社会和环境压力外，还代表了戒烟资源和服务。在政府协调的卫生服务机构与社区控制的卫生服务机构中，参与者对集群的重要性和可行性的看法有所不同。对于脆弱人群中的卫生服务工作者，这些发现显然暗示着除了传统的烟草控制策略外，还需要有针对性的策略来减轻社会和环境压力。概念图已应用于知识翻译中，以指导针对AHW的戒烟计划的开发。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :The goal of the study was to elucidate the relationship between serum circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and body weight reduction via lifestyle modification and behavior therapy in obese non-diabetic patients with chronic schizophrenia. Thirty-three obese non-diabetic subjects with schizophrenia treated with stable antipsychotic medication in a day-care unit for at least 3 months were recruited. Thirty age-, body weight-matched subjects without psychiatric disorders were enrolled as controls. All participants underwent a 10-week weight reduction program, including lifestyle modification, psychosocial treatment, behavior therapy and exercise in the day-care unit. Blood biochemistry, serum BDNF, adipokine (adiponectin), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6) and oral glucose tolerance test were evaluated before and after the program. Serum BDNF concentrations were significantly lower among patients with schizophrenia compared to control subjects. Serum BDNF levels were significantly increased following the weight reduction program. Elevations in serum BDNF levels were positively correlated with body weight and body mass index reduction. Altogether, our results demonstrate that a non-pharmacological weight reduction program effectively reduces body weight with significant elevation of serum BDNF levels in obese non-diabetic patients with schizophrenia.

背景与目标： ：该研究的目的是阐明肥胖非糖尿病慢性精神分裂症患者的血清循环脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）与通过生活方式改变和行为疗法减轻体重之间的关系。招募了33例在日托室中接受稳定抗精神病药物治疗，至少3个月的精神分裂症肥胖非糖尿病患者。纳入30名年龄，体重匹配且无精神疾病的受试者作为对照。所有参与者都接受了为期10周的减肥计划，包括在日间护理室进行的生活方式改变，心理社会治疗，行为疗法和锻炼。在该程序之前和之后，评估了血液生化，血清BDNF，脂肪因子（脂联素），炎性标志物（C反应蛋白，肿瘤坏死因子-α和白介素-6）以及口服葡萄糖耐量测试。与对照组相比，精神分裂症患者的血清BDNF浓度显着降低。减重计划后，血清BDNF水平显着增加。血清BDNF水平升高与体重和体重指数降低呈正相关。总而言之，我们的结果表明，在肥胖的非糖尿病精神分裂症患者中，非药物减肥计划可以有效减轻体重，同时血清BDNF水平显着升高。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of low-level laser therapy on occlusal contact area, occlusal pressure and bite force in temporomandibular disorder patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD:Twenty patients (14 women, six men, mean age 33.1 ± 3.8 years) diagnosed with myofascial pain according to the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorder (RDC/TMD) participated in the study. Twenty healthy individuals, matched in age and gender, served as a control group. Low-level laser was applied to the mastication muscles three times per week, for a total of 10 sessions. The mandibular mobility range was evaluated. The maximum bite force, occlusal contact area and occlusal pressure were measured bilaterally with a dental pre-scale before and after treatment. All variables were analyzed descriptively. Changes in the masticatory muscle tenderness, mandibular movements, maximum bite force, occlusal contact area and occlusal pressure were compared by paired-sample Student's t-tests. RESULTS:There was a significant increase in the pressure pain threshold of the examined muscles. Mandibular movements were significantly improved in all patients. There was also a significant decrease in pain by palpation after laser exposure. However, no significant change was found in the maximum bite force, occlusal contact area or occlusal pressure after the treatment and also the values after the treatment were still significantly lower than those of the healthy individuals. CONCLUSION:This particular type of LLLT is effective at relieving pain but does not provide physical improvement.

背景与目标： 目的：探讨低水平激光治疗对颞下颌关节疾病患者的咬合接触面积，咬合压力和咬合力的影响。
患者与方法：根据《颞下颌疾病研究诊断标准》（RDC / TMD）诊断为肌筋膜疼痛的20例患者（14例女性，6例男性，平均年龄33.1±3.8岁）参加了该研究。年龄和性别相匹配的二十名健康个体作为对照组。每周三次向咀嚼肌施加低强度激光，共10次。下颌活动范围进行了评估。在治疗前和治疗后，用牙科预量尺双向测量最大咬合力，咬合接触面积和咬合压力。描述性地分析所有变量。通过成对样本的学生t检验比较了咀嚼肌压痛，下颌运动，最大咬合力，咬合接触面积和咬合压力的变化。
结果：被检查肌肉的压力疼痛阈值显着增加。所有患者的下颌运动均得到明显改善。激光照射后触诊引起的疼痛也明显减轻。然而，治疗后的最大咬合力，咬合接触面积或咬合压力没有显着变化，并且治疗后的值仍显着低于健康个体。
结论：这种特殊类型的LLLT可有效缓解疼痛，但不能改善身体状况。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: INTRODUCTION:Suicide is known as a major health concern worldwide. There is evidence for the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in suicide behavior. Therefore, this factor has been proposed as a biomarker for suicide behavior. Clinical studies have measured BDNF concentrations at central and peripheral levels. As a consequence, the aim of this study was to assess BDNF levels in blood plasma and serum to see whether there is a difference in concentrations in patients with suicide behavior when compared to those in controls, using a meta-analysis approach. METHODS:We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. The search strategy was performed using three databases: PubMed, EBSCO and ScienceDirect. The meta-analysis included a total of nine case-control studies, six measured the BDNF level in serum and three in plasma in suicide behavior. RESULTS:A decrease in BDNF levels in plasma was observed (d = -0.73, 95% CI -1.42 to -0.03 pg/ml). In the case of serum concentrations, no BDNF differences were encountered between cases and controls (d = 0.09, 95% CI -0.31 to 0.13 ng/ml, p(Q) = .92). CONCLUSIONS:According to the results found in the present meta-analysis, the plasma BDNF level could be suggest as a potential biomarker in suicide behavior. However, since the number of studies included in the analysis is limited, a larger number is necessary to determine conclusively the role of BDNF as a biomarker in suicide behavior.

背景与目标： 简介：自杀是全球公认的主要健康问题。有证据表明脑源性神经营养因子（BDNF）在自杀行为中的作用。因此，已经提出该因素作为自杀行为的生物标记。临床研究已经测量了中枢和外周水平的BDNF浓度。因此，这项研究的目的是使用荟萃分析方法评估血浆和血清中BDNF的水平，以查看自杀行为患者与对照组相比是否存在浓度差异。
方法：我们进行了系统的回顾和荟萃分析。搜索策略是使用三个数据库执行的：PubMed，EBSCO和ScienceDirect。荟萃分析包括九项病例对照研究，六项测量血清BDNF水平，三项血浆自杀行为。
结果：血浆中BDNF水平下降（d = -0.73，95％CI -1.42至-0.03 pg / ml）。就血清浓度而言，病例与对照之间未见BDNF差异（d = 0.09，95％CI -0.31至0.13ng / ml，p（Q）= 0.92）。
结论：根据目前的荟萃分析结果，血浆BDNF水平可能被认为是自杀行为的潜在生物标志物。但是，由于分析中包含的研究数量有限，因此有必要大量研究来确定BDNF作为自杀行为中生物标志物的作用。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Sound streams were generated by randomly choosing the levels of tone pips from two different distributions, A and B. Of the 18 tone pips, the first nine were drawn from distribution A and the second nine from distribution B, or the opposite. The listeners' task was to indicate order, A-B or B-A. In two conditions the A and B distributions differed in mean (condition 1) or variance (condition 2). In contrast to an ideal observer, listeners' strategies were consistent across the two conditions. Analyses suggest that listeners relied primarily on the more intense tone pips in making their decisions.

背景与目标： ：通过从两个不同的分布A和B中随机选择音高的级别来生成声音流。在这18个音高中，前9个是从分布A提取的，后9个是从分布B提取的，或者相反。收听者的任务是指示顺序，A-B或B-A。在两个条件下，A和B分布的均值（条件1）或方差（条件2）不同。与理想的观察者相反，在这两种情况下，听众的策略是一致的。分析表明，听众在做出决定时主要依靠更强烈的语调点。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) or female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common form of hair loss in men and women. Despite its common occurrence, our understanding of the etiology of AGA and FPHL remains incomplete. As such, traditional therapies demonstrate modest efficacies and new therapies continue to be sought. Low-level light therapy (LLLT) is a relatively new technique used to promote hair growth in both men and women with AGA and FPHL. Currently, there exist several LLLT devices marketed for the treatment of alopecia, which claim to stimulate hair growth; yet marketing these devices only requires that safety, not efficacy, be established. A handful of studies have since investigated the efficacy of LLLT for alopecia with mixed results. These studies suffered from power, confounding and analysis issues which resulted in a high risk of bias in LLLT studies. Due to the paucity of well-conducted randomized controlled trials, the efficacy of LLLT devices remains unclear. Randomized controlled trials of LLLT conducted and reported according to the Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials (CONSORT) statement would greatly increase the credibility of the evidence and clarify the ambiguity of the effectiveness of LLLT in the treatment of AGA and FPHL.

背景与目标： ：雄激素性脱发（AGA）或女性型脱发（FPHL）是男女最常见的脱发形式。尽管经常发生，但我们对AGA和FPHL病因的了解仍然不完整。因此，传统疗法显示出适度的功效，并且继续寻求新疗法。低水平光疗（LLLT）是一种相对较新的技术，用于在患有AGA和FPHL的男性和女性中促进头发生长。目前，有几种用于治疗脱发的LLLT设备已上市，它们声称可以刺激头发生长。然而，销售这些设备只需要确定安全性而不是功效。此后，一些研究调查了LLLT治疗脱发的疗效，但结果不一。这些研究存在能力，混淆和分析问题，导致LLLT研究存在偏见的高风险。由于缺乏进行良好的随机对照试验，LLLT装置的功效仍不清楚。根据《合并报告标准》（CONSORT）声明进行和报告的LLLT随机对照试验将大大提高证据的可信度，并阐明LLLT在AGA和FPHL的治疗中有效性的歧义。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :In May 1988, the English National Board (ENB, Statutory Body for Nursing Education for England) issued draft proposals for development of continuous assessment of theory and practice in basic nursing courses. As an integral part of a new curriculum the staff at Wolverhampton School of Nursing have developed a strategy for continuous assessment of theory and practice which now has formal ENB approval. In order to qualify as a person who can apply to be registered on one or more parts of the register students must have demonstrated their ability to acquire the competencies which are specified in Rule 18(1) of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Rules Approval Order (UKCC 1983). The strategy demonstrates the development and achievement of competencies of Rule 18(1) as they increase in complexity. We do not claim that the strategy is the only framework which could be developed for implementing continuous assessment, nor do we claim that it is flawless. The strategy is intended as a framework which may contribute in assisting other nurse teachers who are in the present position of developing such schemes of assessment.

背景与目标： ：1988年5月，英国国家委员会（ENB，英格兰护理教育法定机构）发布了关于对基础护理课程的理论和实践进行持续评估的建议草案。作为新课程的组成部分，伍尔弗汉普顿护理学院的员工制定了一项持续评估理论和实践的策略，现已获得ENB的正式批准。为了有资格成为一个人，可以申请在一个或多个登记册上注册，学生必须证明自己具有获得《护士，助产士和健康访客规则批准》规则18（1）规定的能力的能力。订单（UKCC 1983）。该策略说明了规则18（1）的能力随着复杂性的增加而得到发展和实现。我们既不声称该战略是为实施持续评估而可以制定的唯一框架，也不主张它是完美无缺的。该战略旨在作为一个框架，可能有助于协助目前处于制定此类评估计划的其他护士教师。

BACKGROUND & AIMS: :We report the fourth observation of Hb Sallanches [alpha104(G11)Cys-->Tyr, TGC-->TAC (alpha2)], an unstable alpha chain variant of intermediate severity in the homozygous state. Heterozygosity occasionally produces mild hypochromia and microcytosis in some patients. A balanced beta/alpha ratio, found in previously reported cases, points to unstable alphabeta dimers formed as a result of the Cys-->Tyr substitution at the alpha1beta1 contact site in this hemoglobin (Hb) variant. Our patient, and the previous two of the three cases reported in patients of Pakistani origin, points to a common population stock, separated by the mass population migration which occurred during the partition of Pakistan and India in 1947.

背景与目标： ：我们报告了Hb Sallanches [alpha104（G11）Cys-> Tyr，TGC-> TAC（alpha2）]的第四个观察结果，这是一种纯合度状态的中等严重程度的不稳定α链变体。杂合性有时会在某些患者中产生轻度的色素减退和微细胞增多症。在以前报道的病例中发现，平衡的beta / alpha比率表明该血红蛋白（Hb）变体中alpha1beta1接触位点的Cys-> Tyr取代形成了不稳定的字母二聚体。我们的患者以及在巴基斯坦起源的患者中报告的三例中的前两例指出了共同的种群数量，该种群与1947年巴基斯坦和印度分治期间发生的大规模人口迁移分开。