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As a genomic resource provider, grappling with getting a handle on how your resource is utilized can be extremely challenging. At the same time, being able to thus document the plethora of use cases is vital to demonstrate sustainability. Herein, we describe a flexible workflow, built on readily available software, that the Human Disease Ontology (DO) project has utilized to transition to semi-automated methods to identify uses of the ontology in the published literature. The novel R package DO.utils (https://github.com/DiseaseOntology/DO.utils) has been devised with a small set of key functions to support our usage workflow in combination with Google Sheets. Use of this workflow has resulted in a 3-fold increase in the number of identified publications that use the DO and has provided novel usage insights that offer new research directions and reveal a clearer picture of the DO's use and scientific impact. The DO's resource use assessment workflow and the supporting software are designed to be useful to other resources, including databases, software tools, method providers and other web resources, to achieve similar results. Database URL: https://github.com/DiseaseOntology/DO.utils [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Aspirin may reduce the risk of several types of cancer. Objectives: To evaluate if folic acid is associated with risk of basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Methods: BCC incidence was evaluated in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial of aspirin (81 mg daily or 325 mg daily for ~3 years) and/or folic acid (1 mg daily for ~6 years) for the prevention of colorectal adenomas among 1121 participants with a previous adenoma. BCC was confirmed by blinded review of pathology reports. Results: One hundred and four of 958 non‐Hispanic white participants were diagnosed with BCC over a median follow‐up of 13·5 years. Cumulative incidence of BCC was 12% [95% confidence interval (CI) 7–17] for placebo, 16% (95% CI 11–21) for 81 mg aspirin daily and 15% (95% CI 10–20) for 325 mg aspirin daily [hazard ratio (HR) for any aspirin 1·45 (95% CI 0·93–2·26); HR for 81 mg daily 1·57 (95% CI 0·96–2·56); HR for 325 mg daily 1·33 (95% CI 0·80–2·20)]. BCC risk was higher with aspirin use in those without previous skin cancer but lower with aspirin use in those with previous skin cancer (Pinteraction = 0·02 for 81 mg aspirin daily; Pinteraction = 0·03 for 325 mg aspirin daily). Folic acid supplementation was unrelated to BCC incidence (HR 0·85; 95% CI 0·57–1·27). Conclusions: Neither aspirin nor folic acid treatment had a statistically significant effect on risk of BCC. Subgroup analysis suggested that chemopreventive effects of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs may be specific to those at high risk for BCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the patterns of structural and metabolic brain alterations in Alzheimer's disease are being refined and discrepancies between them are being underlined, the exact relationships between atrophy and hypometabolism are still unclear. In this study, we aimed to provide a direct comparison between grey matter atrophy and hypometabolism in a sample of patients with clinically probable Alzheimer's disease, using a voxel-based method specially designed to statistically compare the two imaging modalities. Eighteen patients with probable Alzheimer's disease of mild severity and 15 healthy aged controls underwent both high-resolution T1 MRI and resting-state (18)FDG-PET. The MRI data sets were handled using optimized VBM. The PET data were coregistered to their corresponding MRI, corrected voxel-wise for partial volume averaging and spatially normalized using the same parameters as those of their corresponding MRI volume. A differential smoothing was applied on the MRI and PET data sets to equalize their effective smoothness and resolution. For each patient, Z-score maps of atrophy and hypometabolism were created by comparing to the controls data set, respectively averaged to provide the profile of hypometabolism and atrophy, and entered in a voxel-by-voxel SPM analysis to assess the statistical differences between hypometabolism and atrophy. The observed patterns of hypometabolism and atrophy were consistent with previous studies. However, the direct comparison revealed marked regional variability in the relationship between hypometabolism and atrophy. Thus, the hypometabolism significantly exceeded atrophy in most altered structures, particularly in the posterior cingulate-precuneus, orbitofrontal, inferior temporo-parietal, parahippocampal, angular and fusiform areas. In contrast, a few hypometabolic structures among which the hippocampus exhibited similar degrees of atrophy and hypometabolism, a profile that significantly differed from the posterior cingulate. Excessive hypometabolism relative to atrophy suggests the intervention of additional hypometabolism-inducing factors, such as disconnection and amyloid deposition, resulting in genuine functional perturbation ahead of actual atrophy and perhaps of pathology as well. Conversely, in the hippocampus, where disconnection processes are also likely to occur, relative synaptic compensatory mechanisms may be taking place, maintaining neuronal activity in the face of structural alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen major advances in the imaging of cerebrovascular disease. Although quantitative positron emission tomography (PET) has continued to be the gold standard in acquiring functional imaging data, with recent developments continuing to bear fruit, it remains a complex, costly, and not readily available technique. The emphasis in this overview is in the development of the newer magnetic resonance (MR) techniques, such as diffusion-weighted (DWI) and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI), which allow rapid assessment of the underlying pathophysiology in acute ischaemic stroke. This is of major importance in classifying patients according to pathophysiology rather than clinical and structural imaging data, which may be essential in deciding therapy such as thrombolysis (which has proven benefit within 3–6 h of clinical onset, but can also lead to harmful haemorrhagic transformation) and/or neuroprotection, as well as patient selection in clinical trials. In conjunction with magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), DWI-PWI has been shown to improve the diagnosis and clinical management of stroke. Other novel MR techniques which have yet to reach the clinician, such as spectroscopic imaging, diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and blood oxygenation level-dependent functional MRI (BOLD-fMRI), are currently established research tools which provide data about infarct evolution, fibre disruption and the mechanisms of stroke recovery. Electrophysiological methods including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and magneto-encephalography (MEG) will not be addressed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Guidelines for Counselling in Infertility describe the purpose, objectives, typical issues and communication skills involved in providing psychosocial care to individuals using fertility services. The Guidelines are presented in six sections. The first section describes how infertility consultations differ from other medical consultations in obstetrics and gynaecology, whereas the second section addresses fundamental issues in counselling, such as what is counselling in infertility, who should counsel and who is likely to need counselling. Section 3 focuses on how to integrate patient-centred care and counselling into routine medical treatment and section 4 highlights some of the special situations which can provoke the need for counselling (e.g. facing the end of treatment, sexual problems). Section 5 deals exclusively with third party reproduction and the psychosocial implications of gamete donation, surrogacy and adoption for heterosexual and gay couples and single women without partners. The final section of the Guidelines is concerned with psychosocial services that can be used to supplement counselling services in fertility clinics: written psychosocial information, telephone counselling, self-help groups and professionally facilitated group work. This paper summarizes the different sections of the Guidelines and describes how to obtain the complete text of the Guidelines for Counselling in Infertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A growing body of literature suggests that physical activity may be a protective factor against hip fracture.Methods: To study the association between hip fracture risk and recreational physical activity at various ages, changes in activity during adult life, occupational physical activity and how risks vary by adult weight change, we performed a population-based case-control study among postmenopausal women aged 50-81 years residing in six counties in Sweden in 1993-1995. The analysis consisted of 1327 women with hip fracture and 3262 randomly selected controls. Information on leisure physical activity before age 18, at 18-30 years and during recent years was based on a questionnaire. Data on occupational physical activity were collected through an independent classification of job titles obtained from record linkage with census data from 1960, 1970 and 1980.Results: There was a protective effect of recent leisure physical activity. Compared to women who reported no leisure activity, the odds ratios (OR) were 0.79 (95% CI: 0.62-1.00), 0.67 (95% CI: 0.54-0.84) and 0.48 (95% CI: 0.39-0.60) for women who exercised <1 h per week, 1-2 h per week, and 3+ h per week, respectively. These decreased OR were more pronounced in women who had lost weight after 18 years of age than in those who had gained weight. Women with high physical activity at both 18-30 years and during recent years did not have a stronger protection than those with isolated high activity late in life, after accounting for recent activity. Occupational physical activity was not associated with hip fracture risk in this study.Conclusions: Recent physical activity is protective against hip fracture. The protective effect is most pronounced in women who had lost weight after age 18. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A road construction ‘flagger’ is a construction crew member whose responsibility it is to safely co-ordinate vehicle traffic through road worksites. Flaggers are suffering injuries and fatalities at the worksite as a result of being struck by moving vehicles, both construction and commuter. These incidents are largely preventable with a more defensive flagger training programme. A cross-Canada provincial survey of occupational health and safety organizations revealed no national co-ordination and standardization in flagperson training. Statistics concerning flagger injury and fatality are disjointed and incomplete, and as such are not useful for evaluating and validating training and job performance. We recommend a revisiting of flagperson training standards and that greater effort is taken in gathering data specifically on flagger injuries and fatalities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Recent evidence suggests that folic acid (and derivatives) could contribute to the protective effect of fruits and vegetables against the risk of large-bowel cancer. Other evidence indicates that alcohol drinking and cigarette smoking may impair the biologic actions of folate. We used data from an adenoma prevention trial to investigate the occurrence of colorectal adenomas (possible precursors of colorectal cancer) in association with folate intake, alcohol consumption, and cigarette smoking.Methods: Patients with at least one recent large-bowel adenoma were followed with colonoscopy 1 year and 4 years after their qualifying colon examinations. Adenomas detected after the year 1 examination were used as end points. A food-frequency questionnaire was administered at study entry and at study completion; nutrient intake at study entry was used in this analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided.Results: After adjustment for caloric intake, dietary folate had a significant protective association with the risk of recurrence of large-bowel adenoma (P for trend = .04). However, this inverse association was attenuated by further adjustment for intake of dietary fiber and fat. Use of folate supplements was not associated with a reduction in risk. Alcohol intake (seven or more drinks/week) was associated with increased risk (odds ratio = 2.04; 95% confidence interval = 1.28-3.26). Cigarette smoking, even smoking for long duration, was not related to adenoma recurrence.Conclusions: These data provide only modest support for previous findings suggesting beneficial effects of folate on colorectal adenoma risk. We find no evidence that cigarette smoking increases risk. These findings do suggest a substantial increase in risk with alcohol consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human evidence that ionizing radiation is carcinogenic first came from reports of nonmelanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) on the hands of workers using early radiation devices. An increased risk of NMSC has been observed among uranium miners, radiologists, and individuals treated with x rays in childhood for tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp) or for thymic enlargement; NMSC is one of the cancers most strongly associated with the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Although exposure to ionizing radiation is a known cause of NMSC, it is not yet clear whether therapeutic radiation causes both major histologic types of NMSC, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Additionally, the potentially modifying effects, such as latency, age when treated, and type of treatment, are not well understood.Purpose: We investigated the relative risks of BCC and SCC associated with previous radiation therapy and evaluated these risks in relation to age and time since initial treatment and the medical condition for which radiation therapy was given.Methods: The study group comprised individual diagnosed with at least one BCC or SCC from January 1980 through February 1986, who were recruited to participate in a skin cancer prevention trial designed to test whether oral beta-carotene supplementation would reduce the risk of new NMSCs. Patients were identified through the dermatology and pathology records of academic medical centers in Hanover, NH; Los Angeles, CA; San Francisco, CA; and Minneapolis, MN. Each participant completed a questionnaire detailing lifetime residence, pigmentary characteristics, occupational and recreational sun exposure, and history of radiation therapy. At enrollment, a study dermatologist assessed skin type (tendency to burn or tan) and extent of actinic skin damage. Participants were followed with an annual dermatologic examination for an average of 4 years. Of the 5232 potentially eligible individuals, 1805 were enrolled in the trial. We excluded 112 patients who reported previous radiation therapy for skin cancer only and three with missing information on whether they were ever treated with radiation therapy, leaving 1690 patients for the analysis. Approximately 4% of the patients died or discontinued participation for other reasons during each study year. We examined time to occurrence of first new histopathologically confirmed BCC and SCC during the follow-up period in relation to history of radiation therapy (for reasons other than NMSC) using a proportional hazards model. A multiple end points survival model was used to compare the rate ratios (RRs) for BCC and SCC. We also used a longitudinal method of analysis to compute the RR of total new BCC and SCC tumors per person per study year associated with radiation therapy. Using this method, we additionally assessed the potential modifying effects of age at treatment, latency, and type of therapy. All P values were derived from two-sided statistical tests of significance.Results: Among the participants we studied, 597 developed a new BCC (n = 1553 tumors) and 118 developed a new SCC (n = 179 tumors). The time to first new BCC, but not SCC, was associated with prior radiation therapy (RR = 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.4-2.0 and RR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.6-1.7, respectively; P = .03 for the difference between the RRs). The RR of total BCC tumors was slightly higher (RR = 2.3; 95% CI = 1.7-3.1), but it was still unity for SCC (RR = 1.0; 95% CI = 0.5-1.9). BCC risk appeared to increase with younger age at exposure and time since initially treated, although these effects were only marginally statistically significant (P for trend = .06 and .07, respectively). Also, risk of BCC was more strongly related to treatment for acne (RR = 3.3; 95% CI = 2.1-5.2) than other conditions.Conclusions and Implications: Our data suggest that exposure to therapeutic radiation is associated with BCC but not with SCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Epidemiological studies have indicated that aspirin consumption can lower the risk of large-bowel cancer. These studies are not entirely consistent, however, and their interpretation has been complicated by the possibility that cancer symptoms may have led patients to avoid aspirin or that aspirin may have influenced cancer diagnosis and treatment.Purpose: Our purpose was to determine the effect of aspirin on risk of large-bowel neoplasms in a study in which aspirin use would not be expected to affect tumor detection and tumor-related symptoms would not likely influence aspirin use. A less complicated assessment of the relationship between aspirin and large-bowel tumors should thus be possible.Methods: We studied 793 patients enrolled in a clinical trial of nutrient supplements to prevent large-bowel adenomas. Unlike invasive cancers, adenomas usually do not cause symptoms or detectable gastrointestinal bleeding; thus, adenomas are unlikely to influence aspirin use. Each patient had at least one large-bowel adenoma diagnosed and removed shortly before study entry and had been judged to be free of further tumors by colonoscopy. Use of aspirin was assessed by responses on questionnaires administered 6 and 12 months after enrollment. We performed complete colonoscopies on all patients 1 year after they entered the study and removed all polyps.Results: Patients who reported taking aspirin on both questionnaires (consistent users) had a lower risk of new adenomas at their 1-year follow-up colonoscopy (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval = 0.31-0.89) compared with patients who did not report using aspirin on either of the questionnaires. The apparent protective effect of consistent aspirin use was present among both men and women and did not appear to be influenced by the number of prior adenomas.Conclusions: These data further support the hypothesis that aspirin has an antineoplastic effect in the large bowel. Nevertheless, the question of whether aspirin should be used to prevent large-bowel tumors would be best answered by a randomized controlled clinical trial specifically designed to address this issue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary cutaneous B cell lymphomas have a high recurrence rate after treatment with surgery and/or local radiation therapy. Two men are described in whom radiotherapy-relapsing cutaneous B-cell lymphomas were successfully treated with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. Both patients had a complete response with no recurrence at follow-up at 17 and 24 months for the large B-cell lymphoma of the leg and the follicle centre cell lymphoma, respectively. These are two of the few cases in the literature showing that rituximab is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for radiotherapy-relapsing primary cutaneous B cell lymphoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The differential diagnosis of herpes simplex and zoster may require virological confirmation, yet virus typing is not regarded as necessary in routine dermatological assessment. En an attempt to evaluate the clinical benefits of the routine detection of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV). we analysed skin swabs from 1 10 patients who were diagnosed at the first clinical visit as having herpes simplex (n = 45) or zoster (n = 65). Viruses were typed using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with the general primer pair GPHV-RU. PCR analysis showed that at the initial clinical presentation, herpes simplex in these patients was not mistaken for zoster but that zoster Was incorrectly diagnosed as herpes simplex in nine cases. Thus these results suggest that initial zoster often mimics herpes simplex. hence routine PCR diagnosis of HSV and VZV or alternative rapid diagnostic approaches may be beneficial in these cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An obituary for dermatologist Martin Leverkus is presented.

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Summary: Patients with the genetic disorder basal cell naevus syndrome are at risk of developing multiple basal cell carcinomas, a form of skin cancer. Treatment with the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug called celecoxib appears to reduce the risk. There is some evidence that other non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, including aspirin, may slightly reduce the risk of non‐melanoma skin cancers in general. High amounts of folic acid in the diet may be linked to a slightly increased risk of basal cell carcinoma. Adenomas are polyps of the large bowel (colon and rectum) which are often multiple; they can develop into bowel cancer. They can be detected and removed by colonoscopy, which is repeated at regular intervals. Aspirin and folic acid may prevent the recurrence of these adenomas. The authors of this study, based in the United States and Canada, studied over a thousand patients with colorectal adenomas (aged 21‐80) who were participating in a trial of aspirin and folic acid in prevention of further polyps, over a 3‐6 year period. The authors looked at pathology reports to see if there was a different incidence of basal cell carcinoma in patients on aspirin/folic acid or placebo (no treatment). 104 of 958 patients eligible for the study developed basal cell carcinoma. Overall, aspirin and/or folic acid therapy had no significant effect on the development of basal cell carcinoma, although aspirin appeared to reduce the risk of further skin cancers in the small group who had been previously diagnosed with skin cancer. They conclude that the protective effect of aspirin against skin cancer is limited to individuals with a high risk of developing skin cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ectopic gastric mucosa in an intramesenteric ileal diverticulum caused fatal bleeding after total gastrectomy in a patient with the Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (ZES). [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents an abstract of the study 'Transient Global Amnesia; Implicit/Explicit Memory Dissociaton and PET Assessment of Brain Perfusion and Oxygen Metabolism in the Acute Stage,' by E. Eustache, B. Desgranges, M.-C. Petit Taboue, V. de la Sayette, V. Piot, C. Sable, G. Marchal and J.-C. Baron, published in the 1997 issue of the 'Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.'

Presents an abstract of the study 'Episodic Memory in Transient Global Amnesia: Encoding, Storage, or Retrieval Deficit?,' by F. Eustache, B. Desgranges, P. Laville, B. Guillery, C. Lalevee, S. Schaeffer, V. de la Sayette, S. Iglesias, J.C. Baron and D. Viader, published in the 1999 of the 'Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.'