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Background/Aims: Amyloid beta (Abeta) is the principal component of senile plaques, one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Evidence is accumulating that soluble aggregates (oligomers) of Abeta are important in the pathogenesis of AD. Methods: We compared three different methods for quantification of the 40 amino acid form of Abeta (Abeta(40)) in CSF, two based on antibodies [ELISA and surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (SELDI-TOF) with antibody-coated arrays] and one based on direct binding of proteins to a protein array [SELDI-TOF and immobilized metal affinity [copper] (IMAC30)]. Results: CSF Abeta(40) concentration was only found to be significantly elevated in AD (127% of control levels; p = 0.0095) using SELDI-TOF with IMAC30 arrays. Conclusions: These data suggest that the measured Abeta level in CSF may differ depending on whether antibody-based methods are used or not, possibly caused by epitope masking due to Abeta oligomerization or to binding of Abeta to carrier proteins. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CONTEXT: Only a patient and his or her family can judge many of the most important aspects of the doctor-patient interaction. This study evaluates the feasibility and reliability of children and their families assessing the quality of paediatricians' interactions using a rating instrument developed specifically for this purpose. METHODS: A reliability analysis using generalisability theory on the ratings from 352 doctor-patient interactions across different speciality clinics. RESULTS: Ratings were normally distributed. They were highest for 'overall' performance, and lowest for giving time to discuss the families' agenda. An appropriate sample of adults' ratings provided a reliable score (G = 0.7 with 15 raters), but children's ratings were too idiosyncratic to be reproducible (G = 0.36 with 15 raters). CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER WORK: Accompanying adults can provide reliable ratings of doctors' interactions with children. Because an adult is usually present at the consultation their ratings provide a highly feasible and authentic approach. Sampling doctors' interactions from different clinics and with patients of both genders provides a universal picture of performance. The method is ideal to measure performance for in-training assessment or revalidation. Further work is in progress to evaluate the educational impact of feeding ratings back to the doctors being assessed, and their use in a range of clinical contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1 The effect on gastric acid secretion of a mast cell stabiliser FPL− 52694 was examined in nine healthy volunteers. 2 The compound which is moderately well absorbed after oral ingestion, was taken for 5 days prior to the measurement of acid secretion and was also given intravenously during part of the gastric test. A submaximal dose of pentagastrin (0.3 microgram/kg/h) was given by intravenous infusion for 2 h in a controlled test and then after administration of FPL-52694. 3 There was a significant reduction (37%) in acid secretion during the second test which was probably due to the effect of the compound on mast cell degranulation in the gastric mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of combination chemotherapy and cranial irradiation on final height and body proportions was retrospectively examined in a cohort of 142 children treated for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Eighty four children (48 girls, 36 boys) received 24 Gy cranial irradiation and 58 (35 girls, 23 boys) 18 Gy. None had received testicular or spinal irradiation. A significant reduction in standing height SD score from diagnosis to final height was seen in all groups. Of the 109 children in whom sitting height measurements were available, 88 (81%) had relatively shorter backs than legs and in 25 (23%) this disproportion was of a marked degree. After mathematical correction for sitting height loss there was no longer a significant reduction in standing height SD score at final height in all except the 24 Gy group of girls. These data suggest that disproportion is a common finding after treatment for ALL and that, at least in some children, much if not all of the height loss seen is due to a reduction in sitting height. Possible explanations for this disproportion include a disturbance of puberty or an effect of chemotherapy on spinal growth, or both. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]