Simon Says (Fall 2007)

Inside this issue: New GALILEO Databases Banned Books Information Illiteracy Access Ingenta: A CSU Faculty Development Initiative Student Assistants: Pow Wow, Practice, and Party Music Library SFX Implementation in GALILEO AV Emergency Assistance for Faculty Congratulations: Faculty and Staff Receive Promotions Beautification of Library Faculty Research Forumshttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/library_newsletters/1009/thumbnail.jp

Simon Says (Fall 2008)

Inside this issue: Addressing Student Needs: Circulating Laptops and a New Décor Information Commons Workshop Digital Microfilm Reader/Printer SHHHHH: You Are Entering the QUIET ZONE Access Ingenta: A CSU Faculty Development Initiative LIBR 1105 Online The Robert Hardaway Diary: A Piece of Historical Treasure Faculty Media Production Services Available at ITS Department Spotlight: Interlibrary Loan Milestone CSU Library Service Anniversaries Welcome Aboard Library Budgethttps://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/library_newsletters/1011/thumbnail.jp

Estimating the number needed to treat from continuous outcomes in randomised controlled trials: methodological challenges and worked example using data from the UK Back Pain Exercise and Manipulation (BEAM) trial

Background Reporting numbers needed to treat (NNT) improves interpretability of trial results. It is unusual that continuous outcomes are converted to numbers of individual responders to treatment (i.e., those who reach a particular threshold of change); and deteriorations prevented are only rarely considered. We consider how numbers needed to treat can be derived from continuous outcomes; illustrated with a worked example showing the methods and challenges. Methods We used data from the UK BEAM trial (n = 1, 334) of physical treatments for back pain; originally reported as showing, at best, small to moderate benefits. Participants were randomised to receive 'best care' in general practice, the comparator treatment, or one of three manual and/or exercise treatments: 'best care' plus manipulation, exercise, or manipulation followed by exercise. We used established consensus thresholds for improvement in Roland-Morris disability questionnaire scores at three and twelve months to derive NNTs for improvements and for benefits (improvements gained+deteriorations prevented). Results At three months, NNT estimates ranged from 5.1 (95% CI 3.4 to 10.7) to 9.0 (5.0 to 45.5) for exercise, 5.0 (3.4 to 9.8) to 5.4 (3.8 to 9.9) for manipulation, and 3.3 (2.5 to 4.9) to 4.8 (3.5 to 7.8) for manipulation followed by exercise. Corresponding between-group mean differences in the Roland-Morris disability questionnaire were 1.6 (0.8 to 2.3), 1.4 (0.6 to 2.1), and 1.9 (1.2 to 2.6) points. Conclusion In contrast to small mean differences originally reported, NNTs were small and could be attractive to clinicians, patients, and purchasers. NNTs can aid the interpretation of results of trials using continuous outcomes. Where possible, these should be reported alongside mean differences. Challenges remain in calculating NNTs for some continuous outcomes

Inhibition of RSK with the novel small-molecule inhibitor LJI308 overcomes chemoresistance by eliminating cancer stem cells

ABSTRACT The triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) subtype is enriched in cancer stem cells (CSCs) and clinically correlated with the highest rate of recurrence. Several studies implicate the RSK pathway as being pivotal for the growth and proliferation of CSCs, which are postulated to drive tumor relapse. We now address the potential for the newly developed RSK inhibitor LJI308 to target the CSC population and repress TNBC growth and dissemination. Overexpression of the Y-box binding protein-1 (YB-1) oncogene in human mammary epithelial cells (HMECs) drove TNBC tumor formation characterized by a multi-drug resistance phenotype, yet these cells were sensitive to LJI308 in addition to the classic RSK inhibitors BI-D1870 and luteolin. Notably, LJI308 specifically targeted transformed cells as it had little effect on the non-tumorigenic parental HMECs. Loss of cell growth, both in 2D and 3D culture, was attributed to LJI308-induced apoptosis. We discovered CD44+/CD49f+ TNBC cells to be less sensitive to chemotherapy compared to the isogenic CD44-/CD49f-cells. However, inhibition of RSK using LJI308, BI-D1870, or luteolin was sufficient to eradicate the CSC population. We conclude that targeting RSK using specific and potent inhibitors, such as LJI308, delivers the promise of inhibiting the growth of TNBC

The Montreal General Hospital Pain Centre (1974-2000): The Contributions of Ronald Melzack

This paper chronicles the development of the Montreal General Hospital Pain Centre from its inception in 1974 to the present. Highlighted in particular are the contributions of Ronald Melzack to this history. Data for the article arose, in the main, from an interview with Dr Melzack carried out earlier in the year. Discussions with former and present members of the pain centre team, including former graduate students, provided additional information. The article begins with a recounting of those individuals and events that inspired Ron early in his 'pain career' to pursue his dream of a multidisciplinary pain centre, the first of its kind in Canada. The forces that helped shape the development of this centre and the challenges that had to be overcome are described