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A letter to the editor is presented which is about multidrug resistance proteins in secondary acute myeloid leukemia.

To date, the role of gender in speaking tests has received limited attention in language testing research. It is possible in oral interviews, for instance, that both interviewing and rating may be highly gendered processes. In tests like the IELTS interview, where the interviewer also acts as the rater, this poses the question of whether a gender effect, if it exists, stems from the interview itself, the rating decision or a combination of both these 'events'. The data collected for this study consisted of the audio-taped performances of 8 female and 8 male test-takers who undertook a practice IELTS interview on two different occasions, once with a female interviewer and once with a male interviewer. The interviews were transcribed and analysed in relation to previously identified features of gendered language use, namely overlaps, interruptions and minimal responses. The scores later assigned by 4 raters (2 males and 2 females) to each of the 32 interviews were also examined in relation to the gender of both raters and test-takers using multi-faceted Rasch bias analyses. The results from both the discourse and test score analyses indicated that gender did not have a significant impact on the IELTS interview. These findings are interpreted in relation to more recent thinking about gender in language use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To explore the education and training experiences of intensive care unit (ICU) registered nurses in using computerised technologies and to assess the relationship it has with role performance and level of clinical experience. Design A qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews. Setting Two general ICUs, one of which was fully computerised with a Clinical Information System (CIS) and the other partially computerised with a Central Monitoring System (CMS). Subjects In each setting a clinical nurse consultant (CNC), a clinical nurse specialist (CNS) and a registered nurse (RN) with less than twelve months experience in ICU were interviewed; six nursing staff in total. Main Outcome measure Identification of the main themes underpinning ICU nurses' perceptions and experiences of education and training in using computerised equipment with regard to their perceived roles and clinical experience. Results Participants identified a range of formal and informal education and training sources available to them within their ICU setting and articulated both positive and negative experiences associated with using computerised technologies. Their level of confidence in using computerised technologies was clearly related to their years of experience and differentiated clinical nursing roles and reflected whether they worked in a fully or partially computerised unit. Conclusion Further research needs to be undertaken to investigate the training needs of ICU nurses to use computerised equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subchronic administration of (R,S)-ketamine, (R,S)-Ket, is used in the treatment of neuropathic pain, in particular Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, but the effect of this protocol on the metabolism of (R,S)-Ket is unknown. In this study, daily administration of a low dose of (R,S)-Ket for 14-days to Wistar rats was conducted to determine the impact of sub-chronic dosing on the pharmacokinetics of (R,S)-Ket and its major metabolites. The data indicate that, relative to a single administration of (R,S)-Ket, subchronic administration resulted in increased clearance of (R,S)-Ket and the N-demethylated metabolite norketamine measured as elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) and decreased plasma concentrations of these compounds. Subchronic administration produced a slight decrease in t 1/2 and an increase in plasma concentration of the major metabolite, (2S,6S;2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine, and produced significant increases in the plasma concentrations of the (2S,6R;2R,6S)-hydroxynorketamine and (2S,4R;2R,4S)-hydroxynorketamine metabolites. The metabolism of (R,S)-Ket predominately occurs via two microsomal enzyme-mediated pathways: (R,S)-Ket ⇒ (R,S)-norketamine ⇒ (2S,6S;2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine and (2S,4R;2R,4S)-hydroxynorketamine and the (R,S)-Ket ⇒ (2S,6R;2R,6S)-hydroxyketamine ⇒ (2S,6R;2R,6S)-hydroxynorketamine and (2S,6S;2R,6R)-hydroxynorketamine. The results indicate that the activity of both metabolic pathways are increased by subchronic administration of (R,S)-Ket producing new metabolite patterns and potential differences in clinical effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first World Weather Research Programme (WWRP) Forecast Demonstration Project (FDP), with a focus on nowcasting, was conducted in Sydney, Australia, from 4 September to 21 November 2000 during a period associated with the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. Through international collaboration, nine nowcasting systems from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia were deployed at the Sydney Office of the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to demonstrate the capability of modern forecast systems and to quantify the associated benefits in the delivery of a real-time nowcast service. On-going verification and impact studies supported by international committees assisted by the WWRP formed an integral part of this project. A description is given of the project, including component systems, the weather, and initial outcomes. Initial results show that the nowcasting systems tested were transferable and able to provide valuable information enhancing BOM nowcasts. The project provided for unprecedented interchange of concepts and ideas between forecasters, researchers, and end users in an operational framework where they all faced common issues relevant to real time nowcast decision making. A training workshop sponsored by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) was also held in conjunction with the project so that other member nations could benefit from the FDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary:Oral mucositis is a complication common to many cancer therapies and produces considerable pain and morbidity. The present study reports a double-blind, prospective, randomized clinical trial testing the efficacy of a calcium phosphate mouth rinse (Caphosol(registered)) with fluoride treatments vs a standard regimen of fluoride rinsing and placebo tray treatments in 95 patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The days and severity of mucositis were prospectively evaluated. There were statistically significant decreases in days of mucositis (3.72 vs 7.22 P=0.001), duration of pain (2.86 vs 7.67, P=0.0001), dose of morphine (34.54?mg vs 122.78?mg), days of morphine (1.26 vs 4.02, P=0.0001) and days to the onset of engraftment ANC (absolute neurotrophil count)>200?mm3 (11.12 vs 12.56) in the Caphosol(registered) and fluoride treatment group vs fluoride-rinse group, respectively. Caphosol(registered), a neutral, supersaturated, Ca2+/PO43- mouth rinse, used in combination with topical fluoride treatments, is superior to fluoride rinse alone in reducing the frequency, intensity and duration of oral mucositis in patients undergoing HSCT.Bone Marrow Transplantation (2003) 31, 705-712. doi:10.1038/sj.bmt.1703870 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]