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.

Effects of Epoetin Alfa on Hematologic Parameters and Quality of Life in Cancer Patients Receiving Nonplatinum Chemotherapy: Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Abstract: PURPOSE: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial assessed the effects of epoetin alfa on transfusion requirements, hematopoietic parameters, quality of life (QOL), and safety in anemic cancer patients receiving nonplatinum chemotherapy. The study also explored a possible relationship between increased hemoglobin and survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three hundred seventy-five patients with solid or nonmyeloid hematologic malignancies and hemoglobin levels ≤ 10.5 g/dL, or greater than 10.5 g/dL but ≤ 12.0 g/dL after a hemoglobin decrease of ≥ 1.5 g/dL per cycle since starting chemotherapy, were randomized 2:1 to epoetin alfa 150 to 300 IU/kg (n = 251) or placebo (n = 124) three times per week subcutaneously for 12 to 24 weeks. The primary end point was proportion of patients transfused; secondary end points were change in hemoglobin and QOL. The protocol was amended before unblinding to prospectively collect and assess survival data 12 months after the last patient completed the stud...

Crossmodal Processing in the Human Brain: Insights from Functional Neuroimaging Studies

Abstract: Modern brain imaging techniques have now made it possible to study the neural sites and mechanisms underlying crossmodal processing in the human brain. This paper reviews positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), event-related potential and magnetoencephalographic studies of crossmodal matching, the crossmodal integration of content and spatial information, and crossmodal learning. These investigations are beginning to produce some consistent findings regarding the neuronal networks involved in these distinct crossmodal operations. Increasingly, specific roles are being defined for the superior temporal sulcus, the inferior parietal sulcus, regions of frontal cortex, the insula cortex and claustrum. The precise network of brain areas implicated in any one study, however, seems to be heavily dependent on the experimental paradigms used, the nature of the information being combined and the particular combination of modalities under investigation. The different analytic strategies adopted by different groups may also be a significant factor contributing to the variability in findings. In this paper, we demonstrate the impact of computing intersections, conjunctions and interaction effects on the identification of audiovisual integration sites using existing fMRI data from our own laboratory. This exercise highlights the potential value of using statistical interaction effects to model electrophysiological responses to crossmodal stimuli in order to identify possible sites of multisensory integration in the human brain.

Strong time dependence of the 76-gene prognostic signature for node-negative breast cancer patients in the TRANSBIG multicenter independent validation series,

Abstract: Purpose: Recently, a 76-gene prognostic signature able to predict distant metastases in lymph node–negative (N − ) breast cancer patients was reported. The aims of this study conducted by TRANSBIG were to independently validate these results and to compare the outcome with clinical risk assessment. Experimental Design: Gene expression profiling of frozen samples from 198 N − systemically untreated patients was done at the Bordet Institute, blinded to clinical data and independent of Veridex. Genomic risk was defined by Veridex, blinded to clinical data. Survival analyses, done by an independent statistician, were done with the genomic risk and adjusted for the clinical risk, defined by Adjuvant! Online. Results: The actual 5- and 10-year time to distant metastasis were 98% (88-100%) and 94% (83-98%), respectively, for the good profile group and 76% (68-82%) and 73% (65-79%), respectively, for the poor profile group. The actual 5- and 10-year overall survival were 98% (88-100%) and 87% (73-94%), respectively, for the good profile group and 84% (77-89%) and 72% (63-78%), respectively, for the poor profile group. We observed a strong time dependence of this signature, leading to an adjusted hazard ratio of 13.58 (1.85-99.63) and 8.20 (1.10-60.90) at 5 years and 5.11 (1.57-16.67) and 2.55 (1.07-6.10) at 10 years for time to distant metastasis and overall survival, respectively. Conclusion: This independent validation confirmed the performance of the 76-gene signature and adds to the growing evidence that gene expression signatures are of clinical relevance, especially for identifying patients at high risk of early distant metastases.

Association of class I major histocompatibility heavy and light chains induced by viral peptides.

Abstract: We describe a cell in which association of a major histocompatibility complex class I heavy chain with beta 2-microglobulin is induced by a peptide derived from influenza nucleoprotein. Association of antigenic peptides with the binding site of class I molecules may be required for correct folding of the heavy chain, association with beta 2-microglobulin and transport of the antigen-MHC complex to the cell surface.