John Radcliffe Hospital

About: John Radcliffe Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Antigen. The organization has 14491 authors who have published 23670 publications receiving 1459015 citations.

Annual Plasmodium falciparum entomological inoculation rates (EIR) across Africa: literature survey, Internet access and review.

Abstract: This paper presents the results of an extensive search of the formal and informal literature on annual Plasmodium falciparum entomological inoculation rates (EIR) across Africa from 1980 onwards. It first describes how the annual EIR data were collated, summarized, geo-referenced and staged for public access on the internet. Problems of data standardization, reporting accuracy and the subsequent publishing of information on the internet follow. The review was conducted primarily to investigate the spatial heterogeneity of malaria exposure in Africa and supports the idea of highly heterogeneous risk at the continental, regional and country levels. The implications for malaria control of the significant spatial (and seasonal) variation in exposure to infected mosquito bites are discussed.

Benefit of dexamethasone compared with prednisolone for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia: results of the UK Medical Research Council ALL97 randomized trial.

Abstract: Summary Corticosteroids are an essential component of treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Prednisolone is the most commonly used steroid, particularly in the maintenance phase of therapy. There is increasing evidence that, even in equipotent dosage for glucocorticoid effect, dexamethasone has enhanced lymphoblast cytotoxicity and penetration of the central nervous system (CNS) compared with prednisolone. Substitution of dexamethasone for prednisolone in the treatment of ALL might, therefore, result in improved event-free and overall survival. Children with newly diagnosed ALL were randomly assigned to receive either dexamethasone or prednisolone in the induction, consolidation (all received dexamethasone in intensification) and continuation phases of treatment. Among 1603 eligible randomized patients, those receiving dexamethasone had half the risk of isolated CNS relapse (P = 0·0007). Event-free survival was significantly improved with dexamethasone (84·2% vs. 75·6% at 5 years; P = 0·01), with no evidence of differing effects in any subgroup of patients. The use of 6·5 mg/m2 dexamethasone throughout treatment for ALL led to a significant decrease in the risk of relapse for all risk-groups of patients and, despite the increased toxicity, should now be regarded as part of standard therapy for childhood ALL.