bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Need for high-quality studies in health technology assessments: The case of a systematic review of treatment for retinoblastoma
Authors: Mc Daid Catriona M. , Hartley Suzanne , Bagnall Anne-Marie , Ritchie Gill , Light Kate , Riemsma Robert P. 
Published: September 2006

Objectives: The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the evidence for treatments for retinoblastoma in children.Methods: Seventeen electronic databases were searched. Two reviewers independently selected studies. Studies of participants diagnosed with childhood retinoblastoma, any interventions, and all clinical outcomes were eligible. Randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials and cohort studies with clear comparisons between treatment groups were included. Methodological quality was assessed.Results: Thirty-one observational comparative studies were included, of which twenty-seven were retrospective. The methodological quality was generally poor, with a high risk of selection bias in all studies. Although there were high levels of treatment success in many of the studies, due to the limitations of the evidence identified, it was not possible to make meaningful and robust conclusions about the relative effectiveness of different treatment approaches for retinoblastoma in children.Conclusions: Good quality randomized controlled trials are required. Where controlled trials are not feasible, only high quality prospective, nonrandomized studies should be given consideration, due to the generally higher risk of bias in retrospective studies.
Cost-effectiveness of self-management in asthma: A systematic review of peak flow monitoring interventions
Authors: Willems Daniëlle C. M. , Joore Manuela A. , Hendriks Johannes J. E. , Wouters Emiel F. M. , Severens Johan L. 
Published: September 2006

Objectives: It is generally accepted that home peak flow monitoring increases patients' self-management and could lead to cost savings. The aim of this review was to analyze costs and the cost-effectiveness of self-management based on peak flow monitoring interventions in asthma.Methods: Twenty-one studies were included in this review. Data were extracted, and methodological and economic quality were assessed. These studies presented economic information regarding self-management interventions based on peak flow monitoring in asthmatics. The mean methodological quality was 4.6 (maximum 8), and the mean economic quality was 12.0 (maximum 15).Results: In eighteen studies, the interventions led to net savings compared with usual care or less intensive intervention. Only three studies found the total costs to be higher in the intervention group. In thirteen of the seventeen studies that analyzed health outcomes, at least one of the reported health outcomes improved statistically significantly after the intervention. However, the methods of economic evaluation differed among the studies and were not always in line with the standard methodology.Conclusions: The interventions, costs, and outcomes were very diverse. The results emphasize the need for guidelines to increase the comparability of cost-effectiveness evaluations relating to asthma. Only then will it be possible to conclude whether interventions for asthmatics, such as self-management based on peak flow monitoring interventions, are cost-effective.
Methodological approach for assessing the cost-effectiveness of treatments using longitudinal observational data: The SOHO study
Authors: Windmeijer Frank , Kontodimas Stathis , Knapp Martin , Brown Jacqueline , Haro Josep Maria 
Published: September 2006

Objectives: The objective of this study was to develop a method to allocate treatment effects when patients switch medication frequently in longitudinal observational studies and apply the approach to assess the cost-effectiveness of treatments in the Schizophrenia Outpatient Health Outcomes (SOHO) study.Methods: Data were collected on patients at entry to the SOHO study at 3, 6, and 12 months. The 12-month follow-up period was considered as three epochs: 0–3 months, 3–6 months, and 6–12 months. Patients who switched treatment at 3 months had their new treatment considered as a new baseline observation, as these two 3-month observations provide two sets of information on the cost-effectiveness of a drug in the first 3 months after initiation. Multivariate regression analysis was used to adjust for baseline covariates. The model allowed for flexible functional forms, and the cost data were modeled using an exponential mean function. Bootstrapping assessed the uncertainty of the estimated parameters and incremental cost-effectiveness analysis decision rule.Results and Conclusions: We show the feasibility of the epoch analysis approach using data from the SOHO study comparing two antipsychotics. Estimates for the incremental cost and effectiveness per epoch over the full 12-month period are presented. Using the estimates of 200 bootstrap samples, we demonstrate how one drug is cost-effective compared with another.
Analysis of the pharmaceuticals market and its technological development in Turkey
Authors: Kisa Adnan 
Published: September 2006

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to analyze the current structure of the Turkish pharmaceuticals market to explain the latest developments and to offer some insight into the likely policy issues that this sector will face.Methods: Systematic searches of the relevant Turkish and English research literature were made, using electronic databases in addition to written reports.Results: The pharmaceutical industry in Turkey currently has eighty-seven manufacturing firms, eleven raw material manufacturers and thirty-eight importing firms. These add up to a total of 136 firms, 35 of which are driven by foreign capital, with 8 of these foreign-run firms having their own plants in Turkey. The industry employs approximately 19,000 personnel. In terms of growth, the value of pharmaceutical products in Turkey recently has exceeded that in Europe. In addition, per capita drug consumption levels are quite low compared with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and European Union countries. Major international players in the medical equipment and pharmaceutical products sector have also been opening offices in Turkey to reap the benefits of this rapidly evolving market.Conclusions: The pharmaceutical industry in Turkey is quite advanced and diverse, with high quality, generic pharmaceutical products being manufactured as well as poor quality copies that have not been appropriately tested in terms of bioequivalence and bioavailability. The country faces a low level of drug consumption due to economic and cultural constraints compared with Western countries. Governmental control and regulations are key issues because the majority of drug purchases (70–80 percent) throughout the country are currently reimbursable through public sector agencies such as the Pension Fund and the Social Insurance Organization.
Effect of 2% dorzolamide on retinal blood flow: a study on juvenile primary open‐angle glaucoma patients already receiving 0.5% timolol
Authors: Costagliola Ciro , Campa Claudio , Parmeggiani Francesco , Incorvaia Carlo , Perri Paolo , D’Angelo Sergio , Lamberti Giuseppe , Sebastiani Adolfo 
Published: September 2006

AimTo investigate whether dorzolamide modifies peripapillary retinal haemodynamics in juvenile primary open‐angle glaucoma (JPOAG) patients treated with timolol.MethodsIn 40 JPOAG subjects, before and after dorzolamide coadministration with timolol, the following examinations were achieved: intraocular pressure (IOP), blood pressure (BP), ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), heart rate (HR), visual field and retinal flowmetry.ResultsAdjunctive therapy with dorzolamide induced the following modifications: IOP reduction [1.75 mmHg, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23, 2.26; P < 0.05], OPP increase (5.09 mmHg, 95% CI 2.97, 7.20; P < 0.02) and retinal blood flow improvement (35.0 arbitrary units, 95% CI 12.20, 57.80; P < 0.03). BP, HR and visual field indices did not change.ConclusionsDorzolamide, in association or in fixed combination with timolol, significantly improves retinal blood flow in JPOAG patients.
Current status of haploidentical stem cell transplantation
Authors: Dey Bimalangshu R. , Spitzer Thomas R. 
Published: September 2006

SummaryHaploidentical stem cell transplantation is an alternative transplant strategy for patients without an human leucocyte antigen‐matched donor. The historical experience with haploidentical stem cell transplantation has been characterised by the immunological consequences of crossing a major histocompatibility barrier, namely graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD), graft rejection and impaired immune reconstitution. Ex vivo T‐cell depletion of the graft may reduce the risk of GVHD, but at the expense of a higher risk of engraftment failure and relapse of the underlying malignancy. Myeloablative transplant strategies using vigorously T‐cell‐depleted ‘megadose’ stem cells appear to have improved the outcomes of selected patients with acute leukaemia. Non‐myeloablative stem cell transplantation strategies, in which mixed chimaerism as a platform for adoptive cellular immunotherapy is intentionally induced, show promise for limiting GVHD and lessening transplant‐related mortality. Future approaches, based on promising preclinical and early clinical observations, may include selective allodepletion of the graft, and manipulation of the cellular environment post‐transplant using selected cellular populations or immunomodulatory soluble factors.
Freeman–Sheldon syndrome: a case report
Authors: CORRIGAN L. A. , DUNCAN C. A. , GREGG T. A. 
Published: September 2006

Summary.  Background.  Freeman‐Sheldon Syndrome is a rare craniofacial syndrome that has not been described in the dental literature to date. The main feature of relevance is severe microstomia, which limits access for routine dental care.Case Report.  Dental treatment was carried out successfully under local anaesthetic for a young child with Freeman‐Sheldon syndrome. A novel coloured compomer material was helpful in the management of the case.Conclusion.  The importance of early referral of children with rare craniofacial anomalies to Specialist Paediatric Dental services is highlighted.
The use of theatre time for paediatric dentistry under general anaesthesia
Authors: FOLEY JENNIFER , SOLDANI FRANCESCA 
Published: September 2006

Objective.  The aim of this paper was to determine the use of theatre time for all procedures performed under general anaesthetic on a paediatric dental list.Methods.  A prospective study of paediatric dental general anaesthetic procedures was undertaken at Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK. Data were collected prospectively for 71 operating lists over a 3‐year period from April 2003 to March 2006. Both operator status and the procedure being undertaken were recorded. In addition, pre‐anaesthetic, anaesthetic, operating and disconnection times were recorded.Results.  Of the 71 lists examined, 61 either finished early or on time, with a median unused time of 32.50 min (interquartile range = 19.50, 50.00 min), whilst 10 lists finished late with a median overrun time of 30.50 min (interquartile range = 9.25, 45.50 min). Comparing lists which finished late with those which were completed within time, the median pre‐anaesthetic time was significantly longer (Mann–Whitney U‐test, W = 20.05, P = 0.048). Overall, the theatre was in use for 78.22% of time combining pre‐anaesthetic, anaesthetic, operating and disconnection times; hence, there was poor time utilization of theatre for 21.78% of the total theatre time.Conclusions.  Overall, 85.9% of theatre sessions for dental procedures under general anaesthetic in children finished early or on time. Where lists finished late, the duration of the pre‐anaesthetic time appeared to be the significant factor.
Multiple supernumerary teeth in the maxillary canine and mandibular premolar regions: a case in the postpermanent dentition
Authors: SASAKI HIDEKAZU , FUNAO JUNKO , MORINAGA HIDEKI , NAKANO KAZUHIKO , OOSHIMA TAKASHI 
Published: September 2006

Background.  A supernumerary tooth is an extra tooth above the normal number, of which approximately 90% occur in the premaxillary region and show rudimentary forms of crown morphology. Most cases occur singly, with bilateral occurrence in the maxillary canine regions very rare in children with no other associated diseases or syndromes.Case report.  A case of a 14‐year‐old boy with bilateral supernumerary teeth with normal crown shapes in both the maxillary canine and mandibular premolar regions. The supernumerary teeth in the maxilla were diagnosed at 12.2 years of age and in the mandible at 14.1 years of age.Conclusion.  Four supernumerary teeth in the maxillary and mandibular canine‐premolar region is a rare finding.
Sharing specialist skills for diabetes in an inner city: A comparison of two primary care organisations over 4 years
Authors: Mohiddin Abdu , Naithani Smriti , Robotham Dan , Ajakaiye Olubukola , Costa Dominic , Carey Steve , Jones Richard H. , Gulliford Martin C. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractObjective  To evaluate the effects of organizational change and sharing of specialist skills and information technology for diabetes in two primary care groups (PCGs) over 4 years.Methods  In PCG‐A, an intervention comprised dedicated specialist sessions in primary care, clinical guidelines, educational meetings for professionals and a shared diabetes electronic patient record (EPR). Comparison was made with the neighbouring PCG‐B as control. In intervention and control PCGs, practice development work was undertaken for a new contract for family doctors. Data were collected for clinical measures, practice organizational characteristics and professional and patient views.Results  Data were analysed for 26 general practices including 17 in PCG‐A and nine in PCG‐B. The median practice‐specific proportions of patients with HbA1c recorded annually increased in both areas: PCG‐A from median 65% to 77%, while PCG‐B from 53% to 84%. For cholesterol recording, PCG‐A increased from 50% to 76%, and PCG‐B from 56% to 80%. Organizational changes in both PCGs included the establishment of recall systems, dedicated clinics and educational sessions for patients. In both PCGs, practices performing poorly at baseline showed the greatest improvements in organization and clinical practice. Primary care professionals’ satisfaction with access and communication with diabetes specialist doctors and nurses increased, more so in the intervention PCG. Only 16% of primary care professional respondents used the diabetes EPR at least monthly. Patient satisfaction and knowledge did not change.Conclusions  Improvements in practices’ organizational arrangements were associated with improvements in clinical care in both PCGs. Sharing specialist skills in one PCG was associated with increased professional satisfaction but no net improvement in clinical measures. A shared diabetes EPR is unlikely to be used, unless integrated with practice information systems.
Remarks on the morphology and biology of Cleigastra apicalis (Meigen, 1826) (Diptera, Scathophagidae)
Authors: Grochowska Maria 
Published: September 2006

AbstractThe egg, second‐ and third‐instar larvae and puparium of Cleigastra apicalis are described for the first time. All pre‐imaginal stages are found on stems of the common reed affected by flies of the genera Lipara and Platycephala and the butterfly Arenostola phragmitidis. The larvae feed on dead plant and animal tissue and the excreta of other insects that live inside the stems of the common reed. Exceptionally they will scrape living plant tissue. The pupa is the overwintering stage.
Ultrastructure of the spermatozoon of Myrmecocichla formicivora (Vieillot, 1881) and Philetairus socius (Latham, 1790) (Aves; Passeriformes), with a new interpretation of the passeridan acrosome
Authors: Jamieson Barrie G. M. , Hodgson Alan , Spottiswoode Claire N. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractPasserine spermatozoa exhibit apomorphies that distinguish them from non‐passerine neognaths and palaeognaths. The acrosome is longer than the nucleus (excepting the suboscines, most Corvida, and a few Passerida). A perforatorium and endonuclear canals are absent. The proximal centriole is absent (except in the suboscines). The distal centriole is secondarily short, contrasting with its elongate condition in palaeognaths and Galloanserae. In the Passerida a single mitochondrial strand winds extensively along the axoneme (restricted to the anterior axoneme in suboscines and Corvida). A fibrous, or amorphous, periaxonemal sheath, seen in palaeognaths and many non‐passerines, respectively, is absent. The acrosome in Myrmecocichla formicivora and Philetairus socius is bipartite: an acrosome core is surmounted by an acrosome crest; the core is ensheathed by a layer which is a posterior extension of the crest. The acrosome helix is a lateral extension of the crest and the crest layer with (Myrmecocichla) or without (Philetairus) protrusion of material of the acrosome core into it. In M. formicivora, as in other muscicapoids, a fibrous helix is intertwined with at least the more proximal region of the mitochondrial helix. The fibrous helix is absent at maturity in Philetairus and other described passeroid spermatozoa with the possible exception of Passer italiae. In Philetairus a granular helix precedes the mitochondrial helix.
Spermiogenesis and spermatozoa ultrastructure in Salminus and Brycon, two primitive genera in Characidae (Teleostei: Ostariophysi: Characiformes)
Authors: Veríssimo‐Silveira R. , Gusmão‐Pompiani P. , Vicentini C. A. , Quagio‐Grassiotto I. 
Published: September 2006

AbstractIn Salminus, spermiogenesis is cystic and gives origin to a type I aquasperm. Spermatid differentiation is characterized by chromatin condensed into thick fibres, nuclear rotation, nuclear fossa formation, cytoplasmic channel formation, mitochondrial fusion producing long and ramified mitochondria, and the presence of several membranous concentric rings around the plasma membrane that encircles the cytoplasmic channel. In Salminus and Brycon, spermatozoa are very similar. They exhibit a spherical nucleus and chromatin condensed into fibre clusters, and a deep nuclear fossa. They show a long midpiece with few elongate mitochondria at the initial region and a cytoplasmic channel completely encircled by one or two membranous concentric rings. The flagellar axis is perpendicular to the nucleus and exhibits the classic axoneme (9 + 2). The very strong similarity observed between Salminus and Brycon spermatozoa supports the hypothesis that these subfamilies are likely to have a monophyletic origin.
Interpersonal Processes of Care Survey: Patient‐Reported Measures for Diverse Groups
Authors: Stewart Anita L. , Nápoles‐Springer Anna M. , Gregorich Steven E. , Santoyo‐Olsson Jasmine 
Published: September 2006

Objective. To create a patient‐reported, multidimensional physician/patient interpersonal processes of care (IPC) instrument appropriate for patients from diverse racial/ethnic groups that allows reliable, valid, and unbiased comparisons across these groups.Data Source/Data Collection. Data were collected by telephone interview. The survey was administered in English and Spanish to adult general medicine patients, stratified by race/ethnicity and language (African Americans, English‐speaking Latinos, Spanish‐speaking Latinos, non‐Latino whites) (N=1,664).Study Design/Methods. In this cross‐sectional study, items were designed to be appropriate for diverse ethnic groups based on focus groups, our prior framework, literature, and cognitive interviews. Multitrait scaling and confirmatory factor analysis were used to examine measurement invariance; we identified scales that allowed meaningful quantitative comparisons across four race/ethnic/language groups.Principal Findings. The final instrument assesses several subdomains of communication, patient‐centered decision making, and interpersonal style. It includes 29 items representing 12 first‐order and seven second‐order factors with equivalent meaning (metric invariance) across groups; 18 items (seven factors) allowed unbiased mean comparison across groups (scalar invariance). Final scales exhibited moderate to high reliability.Conclusions. The IPC survey can be used to describe disparities in interpersonal care, predict patient outcomes, and examine outcomes of quality improvement efforts to reduce health care disparities.
Liquidity and Credit Risk
Authors: ERICSSON JAN , RENAULT OLIVIER 
Published: September 2006

ABSTRACTWe develop a structural bond valuation model to simultaneously capture liquidity and credit risk. Our model implies that renegotiation in financial distress is influenced by the illiquidity of the market for distressed debt. As default becomes more likely, the components of bond yield spreads attributable to illiquidity increase. When we consider finite maturity debt, we find decreasing and convex term structures of liquidity spreads. Using bond price data spanning 15 years, we find evidence of a positive correlation between the illiquidity and default components of yield spreads as well as support for downward‐sloping term structures of liquidity spreads.
Follicular rash during therapy with erlotinib (Tarceva®)
Authors: Gerdes Sascha , Mrowietz Ulrich 
Published: September 2006

SummaryErlotinib is a small‐molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor of the EGF receptor which has become an important oncological agent, used primarily in treating non‐small‐cell lung cancer. The most common side effects of this class of EGF receptor antagonists are cutaneous rashes. The severity of the skin rash seems to be correlated to clinical response and should be a motivating factor to continue therapy. We report a case of a patient who developed a follicular rash during therapy with erlotinib.
Evaluation of Apolipoprotein A1 and Posttranslationally Modified Forms of Transthyretin as Biomarkers for Ovarian Cancer Detection in an Independent Study Population
Authors: Moore Lee E. , Fung Eric T. , McGuire Marielena , Rabkin Charles C. , Molinaro Annette , Wang Zheng , Zhang Fujun , Wang Jing , Yip Christine , Meng Xiao-Ying , Pfeiffer Ruth M. 
Published: September 2006

Abstract
Background: Although overall 5-year survival rates for ovarian cancer are poor (10-30%), stage I/IIa patients have a 95% 5-year survival. New biomarkers that improve the diagnostic performance of existing tumor markers are critically needed. A previous study by Zhang et al. reported identification and validation of three biomarkers using proteomic profiling that together improved early-stage ovarian cancer detection.
Methods: To evaluate these markers in an independent study population, postdiagnostic/pretreatment serum samples were collected from women hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic from 1980 to 1989 as part of the National Cancer Institute Immunodiagnostic Serum Bank. Sera from 42 women with ovarian cancer, 65 with benign tumors, and 76 with digestive diseases were included in this study. Levels of various posttranslationally forms of transthyretin and apolipoprotein A1 were measured in addition to CA125.
Results: Mean levels of five of the six forms of transthyretin were significantly lower in cases than in controls. The specificity of a model including transthyretin and apolipoprotein A1 alone was high [96.5%; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 91.9-98.8%] but sensitivity was low (52.4%; 95% CI, 36.4-68.0%). A class prediction algorithm using all seven markers, CA125, and age maintained high specificity (94.3%; 95% CI, 89.1-97.5%) but had higher sensitivity (78.6%; 95% CI, 63.2-89.7%).
Conclusions: We were able to replicate the findings reported by Zhang et al. in an independently conducted blinded study. These results provide some evidence that including age of patient and these markers in a model may improve specificity, especially when CA125 levels are ≥35 units/mL. Influences of sample handling, subject characteristics, and other covariates on biomarker levels require further consideration in discovery and replication or validation studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(9):1641–6)