Results: Transformations from the SF-36 to the AQoL explained up to 71.5% of variation in observed AQoL scores. Differences between mean predicted and mean observed AQoL scores from the ‘severity-specific’ item-and subscale-based SF-36 algorithms and from the ‘ moderate to severe’ index-and item-based Barthel algorithm were neither clinically nor statistically significant when ‘ low severity’ SF-36 transformations

were used to predict AQoL scores for patients in the NIHSS = 0 and NIHSS = 1-5 subgroups and when ‘ moderate to severe check details severity’ transformations were used to predict AQoL scores for patients in the NIHSS = 6 subgroup. In contrast, the difference between mean predicted and mean

observed AQoL scores from the NIHSS algorithms and from the ‘low severity’ Barthel algorithms reached levels that could mask minimally important differences on the AQoL scale.

Conclusion: While our NIHSS to AQoL transformations proved unsuitable for most applications, our findings demonstrate that stroke-relevant outcome measures such as the SF-36 and Barthel Index can be adequately transformed to preference-based measures for the purposes of economic evaluation.”
“Background: Phenobarbital LBH589 clinical trial induces specific hepatic cytochrome P-450 enzyme pathways causing increased clearance of hepatically metabolized drugs. In this XL184 study, we investigated the duration and additional anesthetic requirement during Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in epileptic children with or without phenobarbital monotherapy.

Methods: In ASA I-II, 128 children, aged 1-10 years, were included. Group I: epileptic children

without anti-epileptic therapy and Group II: children with phenobarbital monotherapy. The initial sedative drugs were 0.1 mg.kg(-1) midazolam with 2 mg.kg(-1) ketamine. An additional 1 mg.kg(-1) ketamine was administrated if required. Rescue propofol (0.5 mg.kg(-1)) was provided and repeated to maintain sedation. The duration and consumption of additional sedative requirements was recorded.

Results: The duration of initial and two consequent additional sedative requirements was shorter in Group 11 (P = 0.0001, P = 0.001 and P = 0.27, respectively). Additional ketamine doses required for adequate sedation were lower in Group I (P = 0.016).

Conclusion: We suggest that the variability in response to the initial sedative agents during MRI requires titration of additive sedation with ketamine in epileptic children on phenobarbital monotherapy.”
“Background: Mpumalanga Province, South Africa is a low malaria transmission area that is subject to malaria epidemics. SaTScan methodology was used by the malaria control programme to detect local malaria clusters to assist disease control planning.