bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phase I Dose-Escalation Study of Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Low- and Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer
Authors: Boike Thomas P. , Lotan Yair , Cho L. Chinsoo , Brindle Jeffrey , DeRose Paul , Xie Xian-Jin , Yan Jingsheng , Foster Ryan , Pistenmaa David , Perkins Alida , Cooley Susan , Timmerman Robert 
Published: April 2011

Purpose To evaluate the tolerability of escalating doses of stereotactic body radiation therapy in the treatment of localized prostate cancer. Patients and Methods Eligible patients included those with Gleason score 2 to 6 with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≤ 20, Gleason score 7 with PSA ≤ 15, ≤ T2b, prostate size ≤ 60 cm3, and American Urological Association (AUA) score ≤ 15. Pretreatment preparation required an enema and placement of a rectal balloon. Dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was defined as grade 3 or worse GI/genitourinary (GU) toxicity by Common Terminology Criteria of Adverse Events (version 3). Patients completed quality-of-life questionnaires at defined intervals. Results Groups of 15 patients received 45 Gy, 47.5 Gy, and 50 Gy in five fractions (45 total patients). The median follow-up is 30 months (range, 3 to 36 months), 18 months (range, 0 to 30 months), and 12 months (range, 3 to 18 months) for the 45 Gy, 47.5 Gy, and 50 Gy groups, respectively. For all patients, GI grade ≥ 2 and grade ≥ 3 toxicity occurred in 18% and 2%, respectively, and GU grade ≥ 2 and grade ≥ 3 toxicity occurred in 31% and 4%, respectively. Mean AUA scores increased significantly from baseline in the 47.5-Gy dose level (P = .002) as compared with the other dose levels, where mean values returned to baseline. Rectal quality-of-life scores (Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite) fell from baseline up to 12 months but trended back at 18 months. In all patients, PSA control is 100% by the nadir + 2 ng/mL failure definition. Conclusion Dose escalation to 50 Gy has been completed without DLT. A multicenter phase II trial is underway treating patients to 50 Gy in five fractions to further evaluate this experimental therapy.
Duration of Chemotherapy for Metastatic Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials
Authors: Gennari Alessandra , Stockler Martin , Puntoni Matteo , Sormani Mariapia , Nanni Oriana , Amadori Dino , Wilcken Nicholas , D'Amico Mauro , DeCensi Andrea , Bruzzi Paolo 
Published: April 2011

Purpose To evaluate the effect of different first-line chemotherapy durations in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Methods We searched literature databases to identify randomized controlled trials that compared different chemotherapy durations in the first-line treatment of MBC. Only trials with unconfounded comparisons of additional cycles of chemotherapy were included. The main outcome measures for this analysis were OS and PFS. Published data from retrieved studies were analyzed according to standard meta-analytic techniques. Results We found 11 randomized clinical trials including 2,269 patients. Longer first-line chemotherapy duration resulted into a significantly improved OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84 to 0.99; P = .046) and PFS (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.55 to 0.76; P < .001). There were no differences in effects on either OS or PFS between subgroups defined by time of random assignment, study design, number of chemotherapy cycles in the control arm or concomitant endocrine therapy. Conclusion Longer first-line chemotherapy duration is associated with marginally longer OS and a substantially longer PFS.
Active Surveillance Program for Prostate Cancer: An Update of the Johns Hopkins Experience
Authors: Tosoian Jeffrey J. , Trock Bruce J. , Landis Patricia , Feng Zhaoyong , Epstein Jonathan I. , Partin Alan W. , Walsh Patrick C. , Carter H. Ballentine 
Published: April 2011

PurposeWe assessed outcomes of men with prostate cancer enrolled in active surveillance.Patients and MethodsSince 1995, a total of 769 men diagnosed with prostate cancer have been followed prospectively (median follow-up, 2.7 years; range, 0.01 to 15.0 years) on active surveillance. Enrollment criteria were for very-low-risk cancers, defined by clinical stage (T1c), prostate-specific antigen density < 0.15 ng/mL, and prostate biopsy findings (Gleason score ≤ 6, two or fewer cores with cancer, and ≤ 50% cancer involvement of any core). Curative intervention was recommended on disease reclassification on the basis of biopsy criteria. The primary outcome was survival free of intervention, and secondary outcomes were rates of disease reclassification and exit from the program. Outcomes were compared between men who did and did not meet very-low-risk criteria.ResultsThe median survival free of intervention was 6.5 years (range, 0.0 to 15.0 years) after diagnosis, and the proportions of men remaining free of intervention after 2, 5, and 10 years of follow-up were 81%, 59%, and 41%, respectively. Overall, 255 men (33.2%) underwent intervention at a median of 2.2 years (range, 0.6 to 10.2 years) after diagnosis; 188 men (73.7%) underwent intervention on the basis of disease reclassification on biopsy. The proportions of men who underwent curative intervention (P = .026) or had biopsy reclassification (P < .001) were significantly lower in men who met enrollment criteria than in those who did not. There were no prostate cancer deaths.ConclusionFor carefully selected men, active surveillance with curative intent appears to be a safe alternative to immediate intervention. Limiting surveillance to very-low-risk patients may reduce the frequency of adverse outcomes.
The impact of patient choice of provider on equity: Analysis of a patient survey
Authors: Robertson Ruth , Burge1 Peter 
Published: April 2011

Objectives To understand the impact on equity of giving patients a choice of provider. Methods A postal survey of 5997 patients in four areas of England about choice at their recent referral and, using a discrete choice experiment, how they would choose in hypothetical situations. Binary logistic regression and a series of multinomial and nested logit models were used to analyse the data to discover whether patients with particular characteristics were more likely to: think choice is important; be offered a choice; and, choose a non-local provider. Results The response rate was 36%. Choice was more important to older patients aged 51-80 years, patients from non-white backgrounds, women, those with no qualifications and those with a bad past experience of their local hospital. There were no significant differences in who was offered a choice in terms of education, age group or ethnicity. In both real and hypothetical situations patients with no formal qualifications and those living in urban centres were more likely to choose their local hospital, and patients with a bad or mixed past experience at the local hospital were more likely to choose an alternative. In hypothetical choices those who do not normally travel by car and without Internet access were more likely to choose their local hospital irrespective of that hospital's characteristics. Conclusions More educated, affluent patients were no more likely to be offered a choice than other population groups, but there does appear to be a social gradient in who chose to travel beyond the local area for treatment. If these results were replicated across England, there is at least the potential risk that when local hospitals are failing, patient choice could result in inequitable access to high quality care, rather than enhancing equity as the policy's architects had hoped.
Incentives and Problem Uncertainty in Innovation Contests: An Empirical Analysis
Authors: Boudreau Kevin J. , Lacetera Nicola , Lakhani Karim R. 
Published: April 2011

Contests are a historically important and increasingly popular mechanism for encouraging innovation. A central concern in designing innovation contests is how many competitors to admit. Using a unique data set of 9,661 software contests, we provide evidence of two coexisting and opposing forces that operate when the number of competitors increases. Greater rivalry reduces the incentives of all competitors in a contest to exert effort and make investments. At the same time, adding competitors increases the likelihood that at least one competitor will find an extreme-value solution. We show that the effort-reducing effect of greater rivalry dominates for less uncertain problems, whereas the effect on the extreme value prevails for more uncertain problems. Adding competitors thus systematically increases overall contest performance for high-uncertainty problems. We also find that higher uncertainty reduces the negative effect of added competitors on incentives. Thus, uncertainty and the nature of the problem should be explicitly considered in the design of innovation tournaments. We explore the implications of our findings for the theory and practice of innovation contests.This paper was accepted by Christian Terwiesch, operations management.
Retail Channel Structure Impact on Strategic Engineering Product Design
Authors: Williams Nathan , Kannan P. K. , Azarm Shapour 
Published: April 2011

We examine, in a strategic setting, the broad issue of how retail channel structures—retail monopoly versus retail duopoly—impact a manufacturer's optimal new product design, both in terms of engineering design specifications as well as manufacturer and retailer profits. Our strategic framework enables manufacturers in specific contexts to anticipate the reactions of the retailers and competitive manufacturers to new designs in terms of the retail and wholesale pricing and to understand how different channel structures and channel strategies (such as an exclusive channel strategy) impact the engineering design of the new product, conditional on consumer preference distributions and competitor product attributes. Based on a simple numerical and a power tool design example, we illustrate how the insight from the framework translates to design guidelines; specifically, understanding which designs are optimal under differing channel structure conditions, and which design variables need precise targeting given their profit sensitivity. This paper was accepted by Christoph Loch, R&D and product development.
Can Losing Lead to Winning?
Authors: Berger Jonah , Pope Devin 
Published: April 2011

Individuals, groups, and teams who are behind their opponents in competition tend to be more likely to lose. In contrast, we show that through increasing motivation, being slightly behind can actually increase success. Analysis of more than 18,000 professional basketball games illustrates that being slightly behind at halftime leads to a discontinuous increase in winning percentage. Teams behind by a point at halftime, for example, actually win more often than teams ahead by one, or approximately six percentage points more often than expected. This psychological effect is roughly half the size of the proverbial home-team advantage. Analysis of more than 45,000 collegiate basketball games finds consistent, though smaller, results. Experiments corroborate the field data and generalize their findings, providing direct causal evidence that being slightly behind increases effort and casting doubt on alternative explanations for the results. Taken together, these findings illustrate that losing can sometimes lead to winning. This paper was accepted by Peter Wakker, decision analysis.
Difference between Pharmacist-Obtained and Physician-Obtained Medication Histories in the Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Hatch Jacob , Becker Tara , Fish Jeffrey T. 
Published: April 2011

Purpose To quantify the differences between medication histories obtained by physicians and pharmacists from critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify patient types at greatest risk of medication errors. Methods Retrospective medical record review of 200 consecutively admitted critically ill patients to the medical/surgical ICU of a university-affiliated hospital. The pharmacist-obtained medication history was compared to the physician-obtained medication history. Variations assessed included the number of drugs identified, drug name, drug formulation, dose, and frequency of administration. Inpatient medication orders were reviewed to obtain the number and accuracy of home medications prescribed in the ICU. Patients were divided into predefined groups: trauma, medical, and nontrauma surgical to assess the risk of medication error by patient type. Results Pharmacists and physicians identified a total of 981 and 665 medications, respectively. The mean (± SD) number of home medications per history was 4.2 (±4.9) for physicians and 6.2 (±5.7) for pharmacists ( P < .0001). Physician-obtained medication histories contained 1,628 variances relative to the pharmacist-obtained medication histories. The variances by type included the frequency of administration, 37%; drug dose, 34.6%; missing drugs, 22.3%; extra drugs, 3.6%; and drug formulation, 2.5%. Thirty-nine patients received continuation of their home medications in the ICU totaling 97 orders (9.9% of home medications identified by pharmacists). Thirty of these orders varied from the pharmacy history and 27 were subsequently corrected. Conclusion. Pharmacists identified more home medications than physicians when obtaining a medication history in the ICU. This may improve the accuracy of home medications ordered in the ICU.
Some mathematical problems of acoustic probing
Authors: Anikonov Yurii Evgenievich , Kovtanyuk Andrey Egorovich , Neshchadim Mikhail Vladimirovich 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
In this work some mathematical problems of acoustic probing are considered. The most attention is focused on problems of determination of shape of radiating objects. Methods of determination of diffusers characteristics are proposed and discussed.
Determination of physical and geometrical characteristics of layered inhomogeneous elastic medium
Authors: Bogulskii I. O. , Volchkov Yu. M. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
The article contains an exposition of the basic idea of construction of numerical algorithms based upon the several local approximations by linear polynomials for every sought-for function of dynamic problems of solids. We discuss also some problems of determination of physical and geometrical characteristics of layered inhomogeneous medium.
On a class of finite difference methods for ill-posed Cauchy problems with noisy data
Authors: Bakushinsky Anatoly B. , Kokurin Mikhail Yu. , Kokurin Mikhail M. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
We consider a class of finite difference schemes for approximating solutions to ill-posed Cauchy problems for first order linear operator differential equations in a Hilbert space. Both the operator and the initial state in the problems are supposed to be noisy. Using an appropriate coordination between the mesh width and error levels, we improve previous error estimates for approximations generated by the schemes.
Numerical algorithm for two-dimensional inverse acoustic problem based on Gel'fand–Levitan–Krein equation
Authors: Kabanikhin Sergey I. , Shishlenin Maxim A. 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
The inverse problem for the acoustic equation is considered. We propose a method of reconstruction of the density approximating 2D inverse acoustic problem by a finite system of one dimensional inverse acoustic problems. The 2D analogy of the Gel'fand–Levitan–Krein method is established. The inverse acoustic problem is formulated and the short outline of the history and development in this field are given in Section 1. In Section 2 we consider the 2D analogy of the Gel'fand–Levitan–Krein equation. The N-approximation of the Gel'fand–Levitan–Krein equation is obtained for inverse acoustic problem in Section 3. The numerical results are presented in Section 4.
Methodische Aspekte zur Bestimmung der Testosteronkonzentration als Biomarker der Gesundheit des Mannes/Challenges in the measurement of serum testosterone concentrations as a biomarker of men's health
Authors: Haring Robin , Spielhagen Christin , Nauck Matthias 
Published: April 2011

Zusammenfassung
Die Bestimmung der Testosteronkonzentration im Serum steht in den letzten Jahren zunehmend im Fokus der Andrologie. Zahlreiche Beobachtungsstudien präsentierten Zusammenhänge zwischen niedrigen Serum Testosteronkonzentrationen und inzidenten kardiovaskulären Risikofaktoren bzw. erhöhtem Mortalitätsrisiko. Darüber hinaus sind niedrige Serum Testosteronkonzentrationen ein entscheidendes diagnostisches Kriterium des Altershypogonadismus. Aufgrund ihrer hohen Validität und Messfrequenz ersetzen massenspektroskopische Verfahren zunehmend die bisher gebräuchlichen Immunoassays zur Testosteronmessung, und werden als „Goldstandard“ zur Sexualhormonmessung diskutiert. Der Artikel stellt verschiedene Einflussfaktoren der Bestimmung der Testosteronkonzentration vor und gibt praktische Hinweise für die Interpretation der Ergebnisse.
Multizentrische Ermittlung von Referenzbereichen für Parameter des maschinellen Blutbildes/Multicentric Determination of Reference Ranges for Automated Blood Counts
Authors: Nebe Thomas , Bentzien Frank , Bruegel Mathias , Fiedler Georg Martin , Gutensohn Kai , Heimpel Hermann , Krebs Nicole , Ossendorf Manfred , Schuff-Werner Peter , Stamminger Gudrun , Baum Hannsjörg 
Published: April 2011

Zusammenfassung
Das kleine bzw. große Blutbild sind die am häufigsten durchgeführten Laboruntersuchungen und sind immer noch wesentlicher Bestandteil in der Einordnung von primären oder sekundären Störungen des blutbildenden Systems. Die Interpretation der Befunde basiert auf dem Vergleich mit altersentsprechenden Referenzbereichen, wenngleich in vielen Fällen ein Vergleich mit patienteneigenen Vorwerten genauere Aussagen erlaubt.
Mit dem Ziel der Ermittlung von Alters-, Geschlechts- und Geräte-spezifischen Referenzbereichen wurden in der vorliegenden multizentrischen Studie bei 1158 gesunden Männern und Frauen im Alter von 16 bis 75 Jahren große Blutbilder mit aktuell in der Routinediagnostik eingesetzten Hämatologiesystemen analysiert. Die Probandenrekrutierung erfolgte im Rahmen von personalärztlichen Untersuchungen oder Blutspenden, wobei neben der routinemäßig durchgeführten Untersuchung eine zusätzliche Selbstauskunft mittels standardisiertem Fragebogen erfolgte. Es wurden Referenzwertbereiche für das kleine Blutbild, das Differenzialblutbild sowie die Retikulozytenzahl erhoben.
Für eine Reihe von Messgrößen ergaben sich Alters-, Geschlechts- und Geräte-spezifische Unterschiede, beispielsweise konnten wir eine Reduktion der Erythrozytenkonzentration, eine Zunahme von MCH und MCV sowie der Basophilenzahl mit zunehmendem Lebensalter zeigen. Dieser Befund könnte für die Einordnung von hämatologischen Erkrankungen des älteren Menschen wie den myeloproliferativen Neoplasien (MPN/CMPE) und Myelodysplasien (MDS) von Bedeutung sein. Geschlechtsabhängigkeiten konnten wir für die Erythrozyten- und Hämoglobinkonzentration, den Hämatokrit, den MCHC, die Retikulozytenzahl, die Thrombozytenzahl sowie die Leukozyten zeigen. Für die Thrombozytenzahl, die Leukozytenzahl sowie der neutrophilen und lymphatischen Subpopulation ergaben sich signifikant höhere Werte, für die anderen genannten niedrigere Werte bei weiblichen Probanden. Bei Rauchern ergaben sich höhere Leukozytenzahlen, die insbesondere auf höheren Neutrophilen- bzw. Lymphozytenzahlen beruhen. Gegenüber Angaben in Vorarbeiten war dieser Effekt jedoch deutlich geringer ausgeprägt. Der multizentrische Ansatz in dieser Studie ist erwartungsgemäß mit einer größeren Streuung der Blutbildbefunde assoziiert, sollte die Übertragbarkeit der Ergebnisse auf verschiedene Zentren jedoch erleichtern.
Multi-centric determination of reference ranges for automated blood counts1
Authors: Nebe Thomas , Bentzien Frank , Bruegel Mathias , Fiedler Georg Martin , Gutensohn Kai , Heimpel Hermann , Krebs Nicole , Ossendorf Manfred , Werner Peter-Schuff , Stamminger Gudrun , Baum Hannsjörg 
Published: April 2011

Abstract
The analysis of blood cell count including differential, is the most frequent laboratory test and has still essential diagnostic value in the diagnosis of primary or secondary diseases of the hematopoietic system. The interpretation is based on a comparison with age matched reference intervals, despite the fact that a comparison with the patients own preceding values allows a more precise statement. In the present study, blood counts and differential were performed in 1158 healthy males and females with an age ranging from 16 to 75 years were investigated using current hematology systems. The donors were examined by personnel physicians and those examining blood donors in transfusion medicine and in addition were asked via standardized questionnaire. The study resulted in reference ranges for the complete blood count, the differential blood count and reticulocytes. For several analytes, age-, gender- or analyzerspecific reference ranges were obtained. We found an age dependent decrease of the erythrocyte concentration and an increase for MCH and MCV as well as for basophils. These findings could be important for the diagnosis of diseases of the elderly like like myeloproliferative diseases (MPN) and myelodysplasias (MDS). Gender specific changes could be shown for the hemoglobulin-, the erythrocyte- and reticulocyte concentration, as well as for hematocrit and MCHC, being reduced in females. On the other hand, females showed significant higher levels for platelets and leukocytes, based on an increase of neutrophils and lymphocytes. The leukocytosis of smokers was confirmed for neutrophils and lymphocytes but lower than one could expect from recent studies. A multicentric study shows a broader distribution compared to unicentric data but this probably better reflects the reality and improves the applicability of the reference ranges.
Efficacy of Proton-Pump Inhibitors in Children With Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Systematic Review
Authors: van der Pol Rachel J. , Smits Marije J. , van Wijk Michiel P. , Omari Taher I. , Tabbers Merit M. , Benninga Marc A. 
Published: April 2011

INTRODUCTION:Use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in children has increased enormously. However, effectiveness and safety of PPIs for pediatric GERD are under debate.OBJECTIVES:We performed a systematic review to determine effectiveness and safety of PPIs in children with GERD.METHODS:We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for randomized controlled trials and crossover studies investigating efficacy and safety of PPIs in children aged 0 to 18 years with GERD for reduction in GERD symptoms, gastric pH, histologic aberrations, and reported adverse events.RESULTS:Twelve studies were included with data from children aged 0–17 years. For infants, PPIs were more effective in 1 study (compared with hydrolyzed formula), not effective in 2 studies, and equally effective in 2 studies (compared with placebo) for the reduction of GERD symptoms. For children and adolescents, PPIs were equally effective (compared with alginates, ranitidine, or a different PPI dosage). For gastric acidity, in infants and children PPIs were more effective (compared with placebo, alginates, or ranitidine) in 4 studies. For reducing histologic aberrations, PPIs showed no difference (compared with ranitidine or alginates) in 3 studies. Six studies reported no differences in treatment-related adverse events (compared with placebo or a different PPI dosage).CONCLUSIONS:PPIs are not effective in reducing GERD symptoms in infants. Placebo-controlled trials in older children are lacking. Although PPIs seem to be well tolerated during short-term use, evidence supporting the safety of PPIs is lacking.