PDQ Wizard: automated prioritization and characterization of gene and protein lists using biomedical literature.

SUMMARY: PDQ Wizard automates the process of interrogating biomedical references using large lists of genes, proteins or free text. Using the principle of linkage through co-citation biologists can mine PubMed with these proteins or genes to identify relationships within a biological field of interest. In addition, PDQ Wizard provides novel features to define more specific relationships, highlight key publications describing those activities and relationships, and enhance protein queries. PDQ Wizard also outputs a metric that can be used for prioritization of genes and proteins for further research. AVAILABILITY: PDQ Wizard is freely available from http://www.gti.ed.ac.uk/pdqwizard/.

Evaluation of high-dose tobramycin-carbenicillin therapy in pseudomonal infections in cystic fibrosis.

Fourteen episodes of acute pseudomonal pulmonary exacerbations of cystic fibrosis were treated with high-dose tobramycin (10.1-17.1 mg/kg/d) and carbenicillin (600 mg/kg/d). The Sawchuck-Zaske method of dosing tobramycin was used and resulted in good agreement between the desired and measured peak (8.1 +/- 0.5 vs. 8.2 +/- 1.5 micrograms/ml) and trough (0.5 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.0 +/- 0.4 micrograms/ml) concentrations. Ninety-three percent of cases improved clinically. Forced expiratory volume in one second and forced vital capacity increased significantly (39.3 +/- 24.8, p less than 0.001 and 24.1 +/- 22.8 percent, p less than 0.05, respectively) after treatment. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was eradicated from the sputa of 69 percent of the cases, with recolonization occurring within three months. Significant nephrotoxicity and ototoxicity were not seen. Liver enzymes, however, were elevated in 29 percent of those treated. Combination high-dose carbenicillin and tobramycin satisfies the treatment goals of bacteriological and clinical cure with a minimal degree of toxicity.