in this paper, a formal model for antivirus update agent system is presented based on mobile agent technology and predicate/transition petri nets. the mobile agent system contains two mobile agents called dca and una. it sends out agents to update antivirus on client computers in a network. each agent takes on a specified responsibility. first, dca roams through the network and check the last d...

BACKGROUND Acute renal failure after major surgery is associated with significant mortality and morbidity that theoretically may be attenuated by N-acetylcysteine. DESIGN Meta-analysis of relevant studies sourced from the Cochrane Controlled Trial Register (2007 issue 4), EMBASE, and MEDLINE databases (1966 to February 1, 2008) without language restriction. SETTING & POPULATION Adult patien...

BACKGROUND Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a prominent cause of in-hospital acute kidney injury occurring after the administration of intravenous radiocontrast medium. Oxidative stress has been proposed as one of the more important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of CIN. The aim of the present study has been to determine the effect of alpha tocopherol on the reduction of renal damage in a ...

Radiocontrast media (RCM) are widely used in clinical medicine but may lead to radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCIN). The pathogenesis of acute renal failure secondary to RCM is not fully understood, but direct toxic effects are believed to be a major cause of RCIN. We have investigated the effect of different types of RCM on signaling pathways known to play a role in cell death, survival, a...

BACKGROUND Intravenous sodium bicarbonate has been proposed to reduce the risk for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). PURPOSE To determine the effect of sodium bicarbonate on the risk for CIN. DATA SOURCES MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from 1950 to December 2008; conference proceedings; and ClinicalTrials.gov, without language restriction. ...

The most common agents that are responsible for intraoperative anaphylaxis are muscle relaxants. However, latex accounts for a significant number of these reactions, and the incidence of intraoperative anaphylaxis caused by latex is increasing. It is now probably the second most important cause of intraoperative anaphylaxis. Following muscle relaxants and latex are probably antibiotics and anes...

BACKGROUND Radiocontrast-induced nephropathy (RCIN) causes acute kidney injury and increases mortality. Studies have examined the capacity of various forms of extracorporeal blood purification therapies for the prevention of RCIN, with conflicting results. We conducted a systematic review of published trials to determine whether periprocedural extracorporeal blood purification prevents RCIN. ...