Memories from the Rome Conference

I was delighted to attend to 14th European Association Health Information Libraries Conference in Rome. It was a great opportunity for exposure to current best practices in the field of medical libraries and librarianship. Three days of the conference were launched with a keynote speech entitled “The open paradigm and the knowledge society recomposing the fragmentation: The role of the librarians” which was delivered by Maria Cassella. The speech emphasized the transformation of information, importance of digitization and “openness”.From the beginning to the end I have witnessed significant content and contributions to the conference by both participants and presenters. During the conference I acquired knowledge which will help to enrich my professional development as a medical librarian. The flow of the conference from general topics to each specific initiative, from challenging projects to hands on experiences allowed me to gain a considerable overview of healthand medical libraries. From attending the conference I gained deeper understanding of my profession and I feel more confident and comfortable in day to day duties.The conference also afforded me an opportunity to network with valuable medical library professionals and practitioners. EAHIL has created a platform for me to observe and update myself on the on-going projects in different medical libraries around Europe!I am looking forward to attending to future EAHIL conferences and workshops

Collaborative virtual reference services in Norway : a case study

With the increasing availability of electronic information services, and the emergence of digital libraries, Virtual Reference Services have occurred as natural extensions of library works and, the Virtual Reference Services have taken a central place in the era of digital libraries. This study demonstrates the perceptions of librarians towards collaborative virtual reference services thorough exploring the motivations that led the libraries to participate in collaborative virtual referencing. This thesis is a case study which examines the Norway‘s country wide virtual reference service, Biblioteksvar. The population of the survey includes librarians that actively participated in Biblioteksvar from various public libraries in Norway. A questionnaire and interviews were used to collect the primary data. The findings of this study show that collaborative virtual reference services are an effective way to provide information services to the patrons and it increases the competences of library professionals. The results also reveal that all members of the consortium must benefit from the collaboration to make it successful. The results of this research will provide an insight to library professionals in their attempt to build and improve collaborative virtual reference services while providing information about digital reference services.Joint Master Degree in Digital Library Learning (DILL

Noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis with the aspartate transaminase to platelet ratio index (APRI): Usefulness in patients with chronic liver disease: APRI in chronic liver disease

Background: The aspartate aminotransferases (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI) may serve as a noninvasive marker to assess liver fibrosis. Objectives: To assess the diagnostic ability of the APRI for prediction of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), chronic hepatitis C (CHC), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Patients and Methods: This retrospective study included 207 patients with CHB,108 with CHC, and 140 patients with NAFLD. The APRI was calculated as (AST level/upper normal limit for AST)/platelet counts (109/L) x 100. The stage of liver fibrosis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis was graded using the METAVIR scale. The Kleiner system for grading fibrosis was used in patients with NAFLD. Results: Bivariate correlation analyses showed that the APRI was significantly associated with fibrosis scores in patients with CHC (p = 0.2634, p = 0.0059) and NAFLD (p = 0.2273, p = 0.0069), but not in those with CHB (p = 0.1005, p = 0.1495). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used for assessing the ability of the APRI as a predictor of the absence or presence of liver fibrosis (fibrosis score of 0 vs fibrosis scores of 1-4). In patients with CHC, the APRI showed a sensitivity of 72.7% and a specificity of 62.4% for detection of fibrosis (p<0.01). In the NAFLD group, the APRI showed a sensitivity of 60.0% and specificity of 73.3% for detection of fibrosis (p<0.01). In patients with CHB, the APRI showed a sensitivity of 55.0% and a specificity of 75.4% for fibrosis (p=NS). Conclusions: The APRI shows an acceptable accuracy for the assessment of liver fibrosis in patients with CHC and NAFLD, but not in those with CHB

A simple alternative method for the purification of Citrus tristeza virus

A simple method for the purification of Citrus tristeza virus is described, based on virus extraction from liquid-nitrogen frozen midribs and cortical tissue of infected Mexican lime, precipitation with polyethylene glicol mol. wt 6000 (PEG 6000) column chromatography on Sephacryl S-300-HR columns, and concentration of viruscontaining fractions by PEG 6000, followed by low-speed (17,200 g) centrifugation. Virus preparations were satisfactorily clean, and were successfully used for the production of an antiserum which is now being evaluated

Effects of 2,4-DP- P (2,4-Dichlorophenoxypropionic Acid-P) Plant Growth Regulator on Fruit Size and Yield of Star Ruby Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi Osb.)

Star Ruby is the main grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) variety grown in Turkey; however, small fruit size is a common problem in ‘Star Ruby’ grapefruit. Fruit size is a decisive external quality parameter in citrus at the marketing of fresh citrus fruits. Fruit size can be enhanced by several techniques such as girdling and thinning. Various plant growth regulators are known to affect the growth and size of citrus fruit. The objective of the present study was to observe the effects of 2,4 dichlorophenoxypropionic acid-p (2,4-DP-P) on the fruit size, yield and quality of Star Ruby from 20-year-old trees budded on sour orange rootstock in Adana, Turkey in 2007. Four concentrations (50, 100, 150 and 300 ppm) of 2,4-DP-P were applied 8 weeks after anthesis during physiological fruit drop when the mean fruit diameter was 13-15 mm. The results indicated that the application of 2,4-DP-P increased the fruit size of Star Ruby grapefruit without reducing yield. The application had a significant effect on fruit yield except for trees treated with 50 ppm 2,4-DP-P. Compared with the control trees, applications of 2,4-DP-P increased the number of large, commercially valuable Star Ruby (>93 mm, 89-93 mm and 84-89 mm). No effects were determined on fruit internal quality parameters. Thus, the results of the present study revealed that 2,4-DP-P can be used to improve the fruit size of Star Ruby fruitlets during the June drop

GROUND BASED AUGMENTATION SYSTEM (GBAS)

The purpose of this article is to introduce the new technology of Ground Based Augmentation System by taking many factors into consideration such as, what this system is, the system equipment, its operating principle, installation costs, and advantages compared to other systems. Nowadays, many airports are not able to use their capacity adequately due to some disadvantages of approach systems, which is a serious cost for the enterprises. On the other hand, the fact that the number of equipment in the GBAS system is low and the transceiver signals are not influenced by the air traffic around the system ensures the system to be more reliable and preferable in low visibility conditions while reducing the costs greatly

Post-intervention Status in Patients With Refractory Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab During REGAIN and Its Open-Label Extension

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether eculizumab helps patients with anti-acetylcholine receptor-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) achieve the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA) post-intervention status of minimal manifestations (MM), we assessed patients' status throughout REGAIN (Safety and Efficacy of Eculizumab in AChR+ Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis) and its open-label extension. METHODS: Patients who completed the REGAIN randomized controlled trial and continued into the open-label extension were included in this tertiary endpoint analysis. Patients were assessed for the MGFA post-intervention status of improved, unchanged, worse, MM, and pharmacologic remission at defined time points during REGAIN and through week 130 of the open-label study. RESULTS: A total of 117 patients completed REGAIN and continued into the open-label study (eculizumab/eculizumab: 56; placebo/eculizumab: 61). At week 26 of REGAIN, more eculizumab-treated patients than placebo-treated patients achieved a status of improved (60.7% vs 41.7%) or MM (25.0% vs 13.3%; common OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1-4.5). After 130 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 88.0% of patients achieved improved status and 57.3% of patients achieved MM status. The safety profile of eculizumab was consistent with its known profile and no new safety signals were detected. CONCLUSION: Eculizumab led to rapid and sustained achievement of MM in patients with AChR+ refractory gMG. These findings support the use of eculizumab in this previously difficult-to-treat patient population. CLINICALTRIALSGOV IDENTIFIER: REGAIN, NCT01997229; REGAIN open-label extension, NCT02301624. CLASSIFICATION OF EVIDENCE: This study provides Class II evidence that, after 26 weeks of eculizumab treatment, 25.0% of adults with AChR+ refractory gMG achieved MM, compared with 13.3% who received placebo

Minimal Symptom Expression' in Patients With Acetylcholine Receptor Antibody-Positive Refractory Generalized Myasthenia Gravis Treated With Eculizumab

The efficacy and tolerability of eculizumab were assessed in REGAIN, a 26-week, phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody-positive (AChR+) refractory generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG), and its open-label extension