PTPRJ mutation (Rodolfo Iuliano, 08Jul2009)
Buffart et al. in this paper affirm that they found a mutation (Glu836Asp) in PTPRJ gene. They reported the sequence of the region surrounding the mutation and, indeed, the sequence perfectly matches with that of exon 13 that includes a well known polymorphism of PTPRJ (Asp872Glu, SNP ID rs 4752904). Thus, also in this case, as correctly reported for the other two polymorphisms of PTPRJ, the authors detected a polymorphism and not a mutation of ... read full comment

Validating findings of qualitative and quantitative research (Arshad Altaf, 07Jul2009)
Naeem Hasan Saleem, Arshad Altaf In reference to the article published in June 2009 issue of HRJ by Adnan A Khan and colleagues titled Large sharing networks and unusual injection practices explain the rapid rise in HIV among IDUs in Sargodha, Pakistan we would like to bring to your attention and readers certain issues that we believe are pertinent to qualitative research particularly focus group discussions. The authors state that 150 IDUs were... read full comment

Trend assesment by comparison with a Cancer Registry (Paolo Contiero, 05Jul2009)
I have carefully read the paper, interesting because present a method to estimates breast cancer incidence, a so important topic for health service planning and primary prevention researches. In my opinion, the weakness of this paper is the lack of a gold standard by which validate the method and its results. This could lead to the introduction of some bias in the estimates that are not possible to detect easily. By this notes I show some data... read full comment

How do general probability forecasts enter into decision making? (Paul Falzer, 03Jul2009)
This commentary is prompted by two concerns: First, what do we actually know about the role of forecasting in making treatment decisions, and to what extent does the proposal by Brehaut and colleagues shed light on this relationship? If I understand their line of reasoning correctly, they are saying the following: Clinicians often depend on forecasts of outcome to make treatment decisions. These forecasts are in the form of probability statements.... read full comment

alphaVbeta3 and uPA kringle do directly interact (yoshi takada, 03Jul2009)
Good work. I just want to let you know that we have published a paper (below) that is relevant but not cited in this article. We demonstrated that alphaVbeta3 and uPA kringle directly interact and the interaction plays an important role in plasminogen activation. The authors discuss that the kringle domain "can" mediate the binding of uPA to integrins. Our paper showed it does. Thromb Haemost. 2006 Mar;95(3):524-34. Direct interaction of the kringle... read full comment

Outline of Normalization Process Theory (Carl May, 03Jul2009)
This paper cites as in press an article that describes Normalization process Theory in detail. We had hoped to co-ordinate publication of the two articles, to no avail. However, the article has now been published. It can be found at: May C, Finch T: Implementation, embedding, and integration: an outline of Normalization Process Theory. Sociology 2009; 43(3):535-554. Available on the web at: http://soc.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/43/3/535... read full comment

Counting Problem? Typo (Franz Gstttner, 01Jul2009)
There are total 413 patients (Table 4, page 28). But when i sum "reasons given for the client seeking help" (236 + 59 + 45 + 28 + 15 + 14 + 9 + 8) there are 414. ? And the % are 101.... read full comment

Discrepancies between momentary fatigue and recalled fatigue can exist (Tom Kindlon, 01Jul2009)
One of the primary outcome measures in this study is the bimodal Chalder Fatigue Scale [1] (possible individual scores 0 and 1, total scores can range from 0-11). One of the secondary outcome measures is the Chalder Fatigue Scale[1] using a different method of scoring (possible individual scores: 0-3, total scores can range from 0-33). This asks questions about the last month: "For the next few questions, we would like to know whether or not you... read full comment

Poor study (Alexander Aviram, 01Jul2009)
What exactly I am supposed to learn from this small research? 6 different interviewers asking highly heterogeneous group of 23 interviewees about their preferences toward a commodity most of them hardly use. Even for as a qualitative study this is a poor one.... read full comment

Intraplaque iron as a modifiable atherogenic factor. (Jerome Sullivan, 01Jul2009)
Comment on: Tavora F, et al. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders 2009; 9(1):27. The significance of the findings of Tavora et al (1) on iron and myeloperoxidase in unstable atherosclerotic plaques is best appreciated in the context of the growing literature on the role of iron as a modifiable risk factor for atherosclerosis (2). The study also provides evidence compatible with the "iron/heart hypothesis" that postulates a protective effect of iron depletion... read full comment

Updated R-Script available from author (Ben Carter, 01Jul2009)
Since publication this algorithm has been implemented in many trials and the algorithm has been improved. If you have any questions/thoughts, or require an up-to date zip file please contact the author by emailing 'ben.carter@bristol.ac.uk'. ... read full comment

Spontaneous or Iatrogenic Intracranial Hypotension? (Md.Gulam Mostafa, 29Jun2009)
The authors did an excellent tedious and arrogantly expensive study without any destination. This study is just extrapolation of authors work to the existing fact in a bizarre way. Good news is a stimulus to recapitulate intracranial hypotension- SPONTANEOUS or IATROGENIC ? Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (spontaneous CSF leaking) often difficult to diagnose and treat rather than traumatic or iatrogenic CSF leaking. RI cisternography is used... read full comment

Antidepressants cause sleep apnea (Tanya Vanasse, 28Jun2009)
I have read this article and many others and I was hoping to get input on the following: I dont believe that Sleep Apnea and depression are related as a medical condition, but that the antidepressants we treat depression with cause the sleep apnea. I think we are giving depressive people sleep apnea by prescribing them medicine and then prescribing them BIPAP machines as well? I believe this to be the case and was wondering if the research community... read full comment

The limits of thermodynamics; the shortcomings of WBE's Kleiber (Gregory O'Kelly, 27Jun2009)
Comment: The author is apparently not aware of the growing amount of data clearly deviating from the predictions of WBE's Kleiber (b=3/4) (DaSilva, Garcia et al. 2006; White, Seymour et al. 2006). These deviations are the result of refinement in metabolic energy measurement, to exclude thermogenesis, and to focus on sugar and oxygen consumption. The exponent 3/4 is an artifact of the data collected by earlier investigators into metabolic energy,... read full comment

Prohibition of Qat (Khat) Chewing and Tobacco Smoking Does Not Work. Harm Reduction and Consistent Drug Education Do (Kamal Chaouachi, 25Jun2009)
Thanks to the Harm Reduction Journal for publishing this very interesting article on Qat (Khat) by Dr Hussein Ageely [1]. The reader may regret however that the author have not sufficiently underscored the importance of the sociologic and anthropologic context of Qat (Khat) use. For instance, 10 years ago, a retired professor of chemical pathology concluded the narration of his own participating experience in a Qat party with these words: ... read full comment

Cost-effective Oxygen Delivery (James (Undisclosed), 24Jun2009)
Dr. Rossignol writes: "We are confused as to why the commentators state, without support, that the treatment we have evaluated would demonstrate harm to the patient, as we are not aware of any evidence of harm that has come to a child using hyperbaric treatment within the parameters used in this study." This confusion is understandable, but unfounded. A quick review of the commentators' actual words and context reveals that no such statement,... read full comment

Who Can Be Diagnosed with CFS? (Kathryn Stephens, 24Jun2009)
When I read articles that exclude people with MDD or any other illnesses, I cannot help but wonder: cannot a person with MDD, MS, MCS, FM, Diabetes, CHD, CHF, and on, ad nauseum, get the Swine Flu? Thusly, cannot these patients also get Post-Viral Fatigue Syndrome, or CFS? To me, the new Reeve's 'empirical' definition then not only excludes people with possible comorbid conditions, but has to also include them. Only then can the research into the... read full comment

Correction of an error (Peter Lee, 23Jun2009)
It has come to our attention that one of the 95% CIs included in our analyses was incorrect. For the Nine Hospital Study the RR (95% CI) for chewing tobacco, given in Table 3 as 2.82 (0.95-9.39), should in fact be 2.82 (0.85-9.39). The error has no substantive effect on the conclusions drawn in the paper, and does not affect the wording of the text. It does, however, slightly affect some of the relative risks and 95% confidence intervals in the... read full comment

Teaching Chronobiology and Science (John Araujo, 22Jun2009)
This review is one of the best chronobiology paper that I have read. It discuss carefully the most important chronobiology concept and it teach us how to make a good and serious Science. ... read full comment

GEO microarray accession number (Gwenola Tosser-Klopp, 19Jun2009)
The described 9K micro-array has been published in GEO database (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/projects/geo/)with the number GPL3729.... read full comment