02 for all). No differences were detected in other plasma markers. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Dogs with CHF have an attenuated RH response, and increased plasma CRP and NOx concentrations. Doppler assessment of RH velocity could represent a novel noninvasive method of evaluating endothelial function in the dog.”
“Objective: The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of root canal and glass fiber post diameters on the biomechanical behavior of the dentin/cement/post interface of a root-filled tooth using 3D finite

element analysis. Material and Methods: Six models were built using micro-CT imaging data and SolidWorks 2007 software, varying the root canal (C) and the glass fiber post (P) diameters: C1P1-C=1 mm and P=1 mm; C2P1-C=2 mm and P=1 mm; C2P2-C=2 mm and P=2 mm; C3P1-C=3 mm and P=1 mm; C3P2-C=3 mm and P=2 mm; and C3P3-C=3 mm and P=3 Kinase Inhibitor Library mm. The numerical analysis was conducted with ANSYS Workbench 10.0. An oblique force (180 N at 45) was applied to the palatal surface of the central incisor. PP2 Angiogenesis inhibitor The periodontal ligament surface was constrained on the three axes (x=y=z=0). Maximum principal stress (sigma(max)) values were evaluated for the root dentin, cement layer, and glass fiber post. Results: The most evident stress was observed in the glass fiber post

at C3P1 (323 MPa), and the maximum stress in the cement layer occurred at C1P1 (43.2 MPa). The stress on the root dentin was almost constant in all models with a peak in tension at C2P1 (64.5 MPa). Conclusion: The greatest discrepancy between root canal and post diameters is favorable for stress concentration at the post surface. The dentin remaining see more after the various root canal preparations did not increase

the stress levels on the root.”
“Acetabular stress shielding may be a failure mechanism of acetabular constructs promoting osteolysis, aseptic loosening and failure. We used three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) to evaluate the effect of flexible sockets on acetabular stress shielding. The sockets were made of (1) full polyethylene (PE), (2) PE with a metal bearing and (3) a PE insert with a metal backing was used as a traditional stiff implant. We compared the strain energy density and interfacial micro-motions between bone and cementless sockets during walking. In our FEA model, the most elastic socket (case 1) showed the highest levels of micro-motion during walking (400 mu m). The most rigid socket (case 3) showed smaller areas of high micro-motions. Assuming a threshold for ingrowth of 50 microns, the flexible cup showed an ingrowth area of almost 40%, whereas the other two cases showed stable areas covering 60% of the total bone-component interface. Furthermore, we found that the introduction of an implant generates a very different strain pattern directly around the implant as compared with the intact case, which has a horse-shoe shaped cartilage layer in the acetabulum.

(c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All

rights reserved.”
“Purpose: To examine secular trends, seasonal and socioeconomic differences in physical activity participation among Australian adolescents in 1997 and 2004. Methods: Repeat cross-sectional school survey, conducted in 1997 and 2004. School students were randomly selected from grades 8 and 10 in New South Wales Australia (1997, N = 2026; 2004 N = 1771). Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was assessed by self-reported participation in organized and nonorganized physical activity separately for summer and winter by sex, grade, and socioeconomic status (SES). Results: Between survey periods, the proportion of students reporting >= 60 min.d (-) (1) of MVPA increased, except among grade 10 boys during winter. MVPA (min.d (- GSK126 supplier Cytoskeletal Signaling inhibitor 1)) increased among all groups during summer school terms, During winter school

terms, MVPA was relatively stable between surveys for grade 8 students but inconsistent among grade 10 students. Organized MVPA increased among all groups in both summer (19 – 49 min.d (- 1)) and winter (7 – 21 min.d (- 1)) school terms. Participation in nonorganized MVPA increased only during summer school terms (4 – 32 min.d (- 1)) and decreased during winter school terms (7 – 17 min.d (- 1)). MVPA increased consistently among students in the high-SES group compared with other SES groups, independent of season, and in some cases MVPA decreased in low-SES groups during winter school terms. Conclusion: Overall, the patterns of change were similar for boys and girls, with substantial increases in summer school terms and insubstantial changes during winter school terms buy AR-13324 (with the exception of a decrease among grade 10 boys). There was a direct association between

change in participation in MVPA and SES, indicating that interventions are required to focus on the needs of less-advantaged students.”
“Aim Postprandial insulin pulsatility is impaired in patients with type 2 diabetes, but the effects of exogenous insulin therapy on pulsatile insulin secretion are not known. We addressed, whether pulsatile insulin secretion is related to glycaemic control, whether basal insulin supplementation increases postprandial insulin secretion, and if so, is this accomplished by a specific improvement in pulsatile insulin secretion? Methods Fourteen patients with type 2 diabetes underwent a mixed meal test before and after an 8-week treatment period with insulin glargine. Glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were measured, and insulin pulsatility was determined by deconvolution analysis. Results Insulin treatment lowered fasting glycaemia from 179.6 +/- 7.5?mg/dl to 117.6 +/- 6.5?mg/dl (p?<?0.001). Postprandial insulin and C-peptide levels increased significantly after the treatment period (p?<?0.0001).

This information is expressed through the synthesis of allelochemicals with a wide ecological radius, Epigenetics inhibitor showing broad-spectrum biota-specific interactions, including the targeting of proteins of mammals and primates. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of combination therapy of peginterferon and ribavirin in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b and low virus load.\n\nMethods Inclusion criteria were HCV-genotype 1b, serum HCV RNA level of <100 KIU/mL at

the initiation time of treatment. A total of 60 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. The treatment period of combination therapy was 39.8 +/- 16.1 weeks.\n\nResults Of the 60 study patients, 47 had sustained virological response (SVR) by the intention to treat analysis. SVR occurred when serum HCV RNA was negative 8 weeks after the

initiation of the treatment (p=0.004) and continuance of negative HCV RNA during treatment was 30 week (p=0.016). In rapid virological response, all of seven patients with continuance of negative HCV RNA 20 to 29 weeks during treatment had SVR. In early virological response nine of 10 patients with continuance of negative HCV RNA of 30 to 39 week during treatment had SVR.\n\nConclusion The duration of combination therapy for chronic hepatitis C should be determined based on the time of attainment of negative HCV RNA in patients with genotype 1b and low-virus load.”
“Background: Sample size is one of the critical factors affecting the accuracy of the estimation of population genetic diversity parameters. Small sample sizes often lead to significant selleckchem errors in determining the allelic richness, which is one of the most important and commonly used estimators of genetic diversity in populations. Correct estimation of allelic richness in natural populations is challenging since they often

do not conform to model assumptions. Here, we introduce a simple and robust approach to estimate the genetic HKI-272 nmr diversity in large natural populations based on the empirical data for finite sample sizes.\n\nResults: We developed a non-linear regression model to infer genetic diversity estimates in large natural populations from finite sample sizes. The allelic richness values predicted by our model were in good agreement with those observed in the simulated data sets and the true allelic richness observed in the source populations. The model has been validated using simulated population genetic data sets with different evolutionary scenarios implied in the simulated populations, as well as large microsatellite and allozyme experimental data sets for four conifer species with contrasting patterns of inherent genetic diversity and mating systems. Our model was a better predictor for allelic richness in natural populations than the widely-used Ewens sampling formula, coalescent approach, and rarefaction algorithm.

Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 1913-1923. (c) 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.”
“BACKGROUND & AIMS: Digital image analysis (DIA) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) can be used to evaluate biliary strictures with greater accuracy than conventional cytology (CC). We performed a prospective evaluation of the accuracy of CC, compared with that of DIA and FISH, in detection of malignancy in patients undergoing endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) fine-needle aspiration CAL-101 purchase (FNA). METHODS: We collected a minimum of 6 FNA samples from each of 250 patients during EUS. CC or DIA and FISH analyses

were performed on every other specimen (from every other FNA pass); patients were randomly assigned to the first test performed. CC slides were reviewed by gastrointestinal cytopathologists who were blinded to all data. Findings from cytohistologic analysis, after a minimum 24-month follow-up period, were used as the standard (n = 202; median age, 65 years). RESULTS: Aspirates were collected from lymph nodes (n = 111), pancreas (n = 61), gastrointestinal lumen wall (n = 9), periluminal mass

(n = 4), liver (n = 8), and miscellaneous sites (n = 9). Matched samples provided a mean of 3.2 passes for CC and 1.6 passes for DIA and selleck chemical FISH. The data indicate a potential lack of utility for DIA. The combination of CC and FISH detected malignancy with 11% greater sensitivity than CC alone (P = .0002), but specificity was reduced from 100% to 96%. CONCLUSIONS: FISH analysis identifies neoplastic lesions with significantly greater sensitivity

than CC in patients with diverse pathologies who underwent EUS with FNA, despite limited tissue sampling for FISH analysis.”
“The patterns of expression of a set of conserved developmental regulatory transcription factors and neuronal markers were analyzed in the alar hypothalamus of Xenopus laevis throughout development. Combined immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization techniques were used for the identification ARN-509 nmr of subdivisions and their boundaries. The alar hypothalamus was located rostral to the diencephalon in the secondary prosencephalon and represents the rostral continuation of the alar territories of the diencephalon and brainstem, according to the prosomeric model. It is composed of the supraoptoparaventricular (dorsal) and the suprachiasmatic (ventral) regions, and limits dorsally with the preoptic region, caudally with the prethalamic eminence and the prethalamus, and ventrally with the basal hypothalamus. The supraoptoparaventricular area is defined by the orthopedia (Otp) expression and is subdivided into rostral and caudal portions, on the basis of the Nkx2.2 expression only in the rostral portion. This region is the source of many neuroendocrine cells, primarily located in the rostral subdivision.

Metformin and salicylate both increase AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity but by distinct mechanisms, with metformin altering cellular adenylate charge (increasing AMP) and salicylate interacting directly at the AMPK beta 1 drug-binding site. Epigenetic inhibitors AMPK activation by both

drugs results in phosphorylation of ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase; P-ACC) and inhibition of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), the rate limiting enzyme controlling fatty acid synthesis (lipogenesis). We find doses of metformin and salicylate used clinically synergistically activate AMPK in vitro and in vivo, resulting in reduced liver lipogenesis, lower liver lipid levels and improved insulin sensitivity in mice. Synergism occurs in cell-free assays and is specific for the AMPK beta 1 subunit. These effects are also observed in primary human hepatocytes and patients with dysglycaemia exhibit additional improvements in a marker of insulin resistance (proinsulin) when treated with ASA and metformin compared with either

drug alone. These data indicate that metformin-salicylate combination therapy may be efficacious for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and T2D.”
“Fatty acids in milk reflect the interplay between species-specific physiological mechanisms and maternal diet. Anthropoid primates (apes, Old and New World monkeys) LDN-193189 mw vary in patterns of growth and development and dietary strategies. Milk fatty acid profiles also are predicted to vary widely. This study investigates milk

www.selleckchem.com/products/sn-38.html fatty acid composition of five wild anthropoids (Alouatta palliata, Callithrix jacchus, Gorilla beringei beringei, Leontopithecus rosalia, Macaca sinica) to test the null hypothesis of a generalized anthropoid milk fatty acid composition. Milk from New and Old World monkeys had significantly more 8:0 and 10:0 than milk from apes. The leaf eating species G. b. beringei and A. paliatta had a significantly higher proportion of milk 18:3n-3, a fatty acid found primarily in plant lipids. Mean percent composition of 22:6n-3 was significantly different among monkeys and apes, but was similar to the lowest reported values for human milk. Mountain gorillas were unique among anthropoids in the high proportion of milk 20:4n-6. This seems to be unrelated to requirements of a larger brain and may instead reflect species-specific metabolic processes or an unknown source of this fatty acid in the mountain gorilla diet. (C) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Hexagonal boron nitride carbon, h(BN)(1-x)(C-2)(x), semiconductor alloys have been grown on sapphire substrates by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition. Bandgap tuning through compositional variation has been demonstrated via optical absorption measurements. Furthermore, an enhancement of approximately 10 orders of magnitude in the electrical conductivity has been attained by increasing the carbon concentration (x) from 0 to 0.21.

Here, a diverse set of 61 Achromobacter

xylosoxidans strains was characterized by MultiLocus Sequence Typing and Phenotype MicroArray technology. The strains were further analyzed in regard to their susceptibility to 35 antibiotics and to 34 different and newly isolated bacteriophages from the environment. A large proportion of strains were resistant against numerous antibiotics such as cephalosporines, aminoglycosides and quinolones, whereas piperacillin-tazobactam, ticarcillin, mezlocillin and imipenem were still inhibitory. We also present the first expanded study on bacteriophages of the genus Achromobacter that has been so far a blank slate with respect to phage research. The phages were isolated mainly from selleck screening library several waste water treatment plants in Germany. Morphological analysis of all of these phages by electron TGF-beta signaling microscopy revealed a broad diversity with different members of the order Caudovirales, including the families Siphoviridae, Myoviridae, and Podoviridae. A broad spectrum of different host ranges could

be determined for several phages that lysed up to 24 different and in part highly antibiotic resistant strains. Molecular characterisation by DNA restriction analysis revealed that all phages contain linear double-stranded DNA. Their restriction patterns display distinct differences underlining their broad diversity.”
“Aim: Laparoscopy has replaced laparotomy in a variety of surgical abdominal Selleck Small molecule library conditions. In pediatric patients the vast majority of adnexal lesions are benign. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and feasibility of laparoscopy in adnexal pathology in children.\n\nMaterials and Methods:

The case notes of girls with confirmed adnexal disorders treated in a single center between 1998 and 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Demographic data, clinical and imaging features, surgical findings and procedures, pathologic features, complications; and outcomes were recorded.\n\nResults: Over a 10-year-period 21 patients underwent laparoscopic surgery. Median age at operation was 14 years (range: 2d to 16y). Laparoscopy was diagnostic in I patient whereas it was therapeutic in 14: 2 patients underwent a laparoscopy-assisted minilaparotomy. The procedure was converted to open in 4 patients due to technical difficulties. The most commonly performed procedures laparoscopically were cyst aspiration (n = 6), cystectomy (n = 4), unilateral oophorectomy (n = 2), and cyst aspiration with deroofing (n = 2). No operative or postoperative complications occurred. The overall mean postoperative length of stay was 2.3 days (range: 1 to 6 d); it was 1.8 days (range: 1 to 3d) for patients who had laparoscopic procedures. Pathology revealed benign lesions in all cases.\n\nConclusions: In children with benign adnexal pathology, minimally invasive surgery is a feasible and safe approach.

In order to evaluate

the groundwater-derived (222)Rn flux, we monitored the (222)Rn concentration in lake water over periods long enough (usually 1-3 d) to observe changes likely caused by variations in atmospheric PD173074 exchange (primarily a function of wind speed and temperature). We then attempt to reproduce the observed record by accounting for decay and atmospheric losses and by estimating the total (222)Rn input flux using an iterative approach. Our methodology was tested in two lakes in central Florida: one of which is thought to have significant groundwater inputs (Lake Haines) and another that is known not to have any groundwater inflows but requires daily groundwater augmentation from a deep aquifer (Round Lake). Model results were consistent with independent seepage meter data at both Lake Haines (positive seepage of similar to 1.6 x 10(4) m(3) d(-1) in Mar 2008) and at Round Lake (no net groundwater seepage).”
“Deslorelin

acetate, a GnRH agonist, is commonly used to prevent folliculogenesis in several species. However, little is known of the effect of deslorelin acetate implants on the oestrous cycle of female guinea pigs. Fifteen intact healthy female guinea pigs were investigated in this study. Signs of sexual behaviour, the presence of a vaginal membrane along with plasma concentrations of oestradiol (E-2) and progesterone (P-4), were monitored during two consecutive oestrous cycles. AZD8931 concentration At the beginning of the third oestrous cycle

each guinea pig was administered an implant of the GnRH analogue, deslorelin acetate, (4.7 mg). When compared to the untreated state, deslorelin implantation was associated with altered signs of oestrus. The average time to opening of the vaginal membrane was delayed. After opening, the vaginas were found to be variably opened and closed. A significant reduction in P-4 (to less than 1.0 ng/ml) and cessation of P-4 cyclical variation was observed. Plasma E-2 remained high during the whole experimental period. This study shows that cessation GNS-1480 purchase of the oestrous cycle by the deslorelin implant might be useful in preventing pregnancy in guinea pigs.”
“This paper describes a sample preparation method that complements a previously published liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay for acetaminophen and eight structurally-related compounds in human serum (C. Bylda, R. Thiele, U. Kobold, D.A. Volmer. Drug Test. Anal. 2014, 6, 451). The analytes (acetaminophen [APAP]+metabolites acetaminophen-glucuronide [APG], -cysteine [APC], -mercapturate [APM] and -cysteine [APC], structurally similar analogues phenacetin and p-phenetidine, as well as tricyclic antidepressants imipramine and amitryptiline) were extracted from serum using magnetized hyper-crosslinked polystyrene particles.

These results provide new insights into metazoan GST diversity and the biochemical mechanisms used by marine organisms to cope with their chemically

defended prey. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Austroplenckia populnea (Celastraceae), known as “marmelinho do campo”, Vorinostat is used in Brazilian folk medicine as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumoural agent. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the antimicrobial. antileishmanial and antimalarial activities of the crude hydroalcoholic extract of A. populnea (CHE) and some of its isolated compounds. The phytochemical study of the CHE was carried Out affording the isolation of methyl populnoate (1), populnoic acid (2), and stigmast-5-en-3-O-beta-(D-glucopyranoside) (3). This is the first time that the presence of compound

Bcl-2 expression 3 in A. populnea is reported. The results showed that the CHE presents antifungal and antibacterial activities, especially against Candida glabrata and Candida albicans, for which the CHE showed IC(50) values of 0.7 mu g mL(-1) and 5.5 mu g mL(-1), respectively, while amphotericin B showed an IC(50) value of 0.1 mu g mL(-1) against both microorganisms. Compounds 1-3 were inactive against all tested microorganisms. In the antileishmanial activity test against Leishmania donovani, the CHE showed an IC(50) value of 52 mu g mL(-1), while compounds 2 and 3 displayed an IC(50) value of 18 mu g mL(-1). In the antimalarial assay against Plasmodium falciparum (D6 and W2 clones), it was observed that all evaluated samples were inactive. In order to compare the effect on the parasites with the toxicity to mammalian cells, the cytotoxicity activity of the isolated compounds was

evaluated against Vero cells, showing that all evaluated samples exhibited no cytotoxicity at the maximum dose tested.”
“Gating of ion channels by ligands is fundamental to cellular function, and ATP serves as both an energy source and a signaling molecule that modulates see more ion channel and transporter functions. The slowly activating K+ channel I-Ks in cardiac myocytes is formed by KCNQ1 and KCNE1 subunits that conduct K+ to repolarize the action potential. Here we show that intracellular ATP activates heterologously coexpressed KCNQ1 and KCNE1 as well as I-Ks in cardiac myocytes by directly binding to the C terminus of KCNQ1 to allow the pore to open. The channel is most sensitive to ATP near its physiological concentration, and lowering ATP concentration in cardiac myocytes results in I-Ks reduction and action potential prolongation. Multiple mutations that suppress I-Ks by decreasing the ATP sensitivity of the channel are associated with the long QT (interval between the Q and T waves in electrocardiogram) syndrome that predisposes afflicted individuals to cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death.

Randomly selected cases were paired with patients with the KRAS mutation, the EGFR mutation, and KRAS/EGFR wild type patients according to tumor, node, metastasis stage, time of first visit within 1 year, and pathology. Progression-free survival (PFS)

and overall survival were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox models.\n\nThe KRAS mutation rate for lung adenocarcinoma was 5.90 %. The overall survival was 14.47, 20.57, and 42.73 months for the KRAS group, WT group, and EGFR Rabusertib cost group, respectively (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis indicated that KRAS mutation status was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio 2.69, 95 % confidence interval 1.91-3.80, P < 0.001). No difference was found in PFS and tumor responsiveness between patients with a KRAS mutation and those with wild type KRAS/EGFR for chemotherapy and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI). PFS did not significantly differ for chemotherapy among the three groups (P = 0.270).\n\nKRAS mutation is a poor prognosis factor, but it is not an independent predictor of response to EGFR-TKI or chemotherapy in patients with lung cancer.”
“PURPOSE: To compare the clinical safety and efficacy of airway placement of barbed and nonbarbed metallic

stents in the treatment of esophagorespiratory fistula (ERF) without stricture.\n\nMATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors prospectively evaluated the clinical results of 10 patients who underwent fluoroscopically guided placement of barbed, fully covered, retrievable metallic stents in the trachea or main bronchus for treatment of ERF without stricture in the esophagus and central airway between 2007 and 2009. The authors compared these outcomes GDC-0973 purchase with retrospectively evaluated clinical outcomes in seven

patients who underwent airway placement of nonbarbed, fully covered, metallic stents for treatment of ERF without stricture between 1998 and 2001. Study end points included stent migration and clinical success, defined as effective closure of the fistula with improved aspiration symptoms, or improvement of dyspnea, within 7 days after stent WH-4-023 in vitro placement.\n\nRESULTS: Clinical success was observed in nine of ten (90%) of patients who received barbed steins, compared with two of seven (29%) who were treated with nonbarbed stents (P = .035). Stent migration within 5 days occurred in zero of ten and five of seven (57%) patients, respectively (P = .015).\n\nCONCLUSIONS: Placement of barbed, covered metallic stents in the central airway is safe and effective for closure of ERF without strictures. The barbed design is effective in preventing stent migration.”
“A vinyl phosphonic acid based flame retardant coating has been applied on the surface of a glass-fibre reinforced epoxy (GRE) composite substrate using a UV polymerisation technique. On exposure to heat the poly (vinyl phosphonic acid) (PVPA) coating thus obtained, intumesces and acts as a thermal insulator, providing active fire protection to the composite structure.

(C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Background: Acute leukaemia is a group of rapidly progressing cancers of bone marrow and blood classified as either acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) or acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) LDN-193189 mouse has developed as an adjunct to or replacement for conventional chemotherapy with the aim of improving survival and quality of life.\n\nObjectives: A systematic overview of the best available evidence on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of SCT in the treatment of acute leukaemia.\n\nData sources: Clinical effectiveness:

electronic databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library, were searched from inception to December 2008 to identify published systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Science this website Citation Index (SCI) were searched from 1997 to March 2009 to identify primary studies. Cost-effectiveness: MEDLINE, EM BASE, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) and NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) were searched from inception to January 2009.\n\nStudy selection: Potentially

relevant papers were retrieved and independently checked against predefined criteria by two reviewers (one in the case of the cost-effectiveness review).\n\nStudy appraisal: Included reviews and meta-analyses were critically appraised and data extracted and narratively presented. Included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and donor versus no donor (DvND) studies were mapped to the evidence covered in existing systematic reviews and meta-analyses according to a framework of 12 decision problems (DPs): DPI related to SCT in adults with

AML in first complete remission PCI-34051 cell line (CR1); DP2 to adults with AML in second or subsequent remission or with refractory disease (CR2+); DP3 to children with AML in CRI; DP4 to children with AML in CR2+; DP5 to adults with ALL in CR1; DP6 to adults with ALL in CR2+; DP7 to children with ALL in CR1; DP8 to children with ALL in CR2+; DP9 to comparison of different sources of stem cells in transplantation; DP10 to different conditioning regimens; DP11 to the use of purging in autologous SCT; and DP12 to the use of T-cell depletion in allogeneic SCT.\n\nResults: Fifteen systematic reviews/meta-analyses met the inclusion criteria for the review of clinical effectiveness, thirteen of which were published from 2004 onwards. Taking into account the timing of their publications, most reviews appeared to have omitted an appreciable proportion of potentially available evidence.