bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Age-specific interval breast cancers in New South Wales and meta-analysis of studies of women aged 40–49 years
Authors: Taylor R , Page A , Bampton D , Estoesta J , Rickard M 
Published: May 2005

Objective: To compare interval cancers in the 40–49 year age group with other age groups in New South Wales and with published trials and service studies. Setting: New South Wales data were derived from the population-based biennial mammography screening program, which achieved state-wide coverage in 1995. Women aged 40–49 years screened during 1995–1998 were included. Methods: Bilateral two-view mammography with reading by two radiologists was employed for biennial screening examinations. Interval cancers were detected by the screening program and by linkage with the state-wide cancer registry. Incidence of interval cancer based on the date of diagnosis was estimated as a proportion of the expected underlying breast cancer incidence for first- and second-year interval cancers. Sensitivity estimates were also calculated. Comparative data for the 40–49 year age group were derived from the published literature for meta-analyses of trial and service studies. Results: Interval cancer rates for New South Wales decreased with increasing age, with the highest proportional incidence in the 40–49 year age group for first year (56%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 50–62%) and second-year (86%, 95% CI 82–90%) interval cancers. Proportional incidence for women aged 50–69 years for first- and second-year interval cancers was 31% (95%CI 29–33%) and 50% (95% CI 47–52%) respectively. Sensitivity estimates for the program increased significantly with age, with lowest sensitivity estimates evident for women 40–49 years. In women aged 40–49 years the meta-analysed proportional incidence rate for randomised trials of screening for first- and second-year interval cancers was 42% (95% CI 21–62%) and 63% (95% CI 55–71%) respectively, while for service studies it was 44% (95% CI 31–58%) and 72% (95% CI 51–92%). Proportional incidence in the New South Wales program for women aged 40–49 years was not significantly different to the meta-analysed proportional incidences for trial and service studies in the first year, or for service studies in the second year. Conclusion: Proportional incidence of interval cancer was significantly higher in women aged 40–49 years in New South Wales relative to older age groups, but did not differ significantly from service studies of women in a similar age group. The effectiveness of mammography screening for this age group needs to be examined in view of the comparatively high rate of interval cancers.
International comparison of performance measures for screening mammography: can it be done?
Authors: Yankaskas BC , Klabunde CN , Ancelle-Park R , Rennert G , Wang H , Fracheboud J , Pou G , Bulliard J-L ,   International Breast Cancer Screening Network
Published: May 2005

Objective: Published screening mammography performance measures vary across countries. An international study was undertaken to assess the comparability of two performance measures: the recall rate and positive predictive value (PPV). These measures were selected because they do not require identification of all cancers in the screening population, which is not always possible. Setting: The screening mammography programs or data registries in 25 member countries of the International Breast Cancer Screening Network (IBSN). Methods: In 1999 an assessment form was distributed to IBSN country representatives in order to obtain information on how screening mammography was performed and what specific data related to recall rates and PPV were collected. Participating countries were then asked to provide data to allow calculation of recall rates, PPV and cancer detection rates for screening mammography by age group for women screened in the period 1997–1999. Results: Twenty-two countries completed the assessment form and 14 countries provided performance data. Differences in screening mammography delivery and data collection were evident. For most countries, recall rates were higher for initial than for subsequent mammograms. There was no consistent relationship of initial to subsequent PPV, although PPV generally decreased as the recall rate increased. Recall rates decreased with increasing age, while PPV increased as age increased. Conclusion: Similar patterns for mammography performance measures were evident across countries. However, the development of a more standardized approach to defining and collecting data would allow more valid international comparisons, with the potential to optimize mammography performance. At present, international comparisons of performance should be made with caution due to differences in defining and collecting mammography data.
Breast cancer detection rates, and standardised detection ratios for prevalence screening in the New Zealand breast cancer screening programme
Authors: Richardson A , Graham P , Brown T , Smale P , Cox B 
Published: May 2005

Objectives: To calculate breast cancer detection to expected incidence ratios and standardised detection ratios (SDRs) for the New Zealand breast cancer screening programme. Method: Breast cancer registrations for 1976-1999 were obtained from the New Zealand Cancer Registry. Using these registrations, the incidence in the absence of screening was projected for 1999 and 2000. These projections, and the invasive breast cancers detected in the New Zealand programme during 1999 and 2000, were used to calculate the detection to expected incidence ratios and SDRs. Results: In 1999, the breast cancer detection rate was 5.6 per 1000 women screened. The expected incidence among these women in the absence of screening was 2.3 per 1000, a detection to expected incidence ratio of 2.4. The SDR was 0.84 (0.76-0.94). In 2000, the breast cancer detection rate was 6.0 per 1000 women screened. The expected incidence among these women in the absence of screening was 2.4 per 1000, a detection to expected incidence ratio of 2.5. The SDR was 0.90 (0.81 - 0.99). Conclusions: In the first two years of the national programme, detection to expected incidence ratios were less than 3.0, and the SDR results were below 1.0. It may be unrealistic to expect new screening programmes to achieve SDRs of 1.0 immediately. At a similar stage, the UK National Health Service Breast Cancer Screening Programme (NHSBSP) also reported SDRs of less than 1.0 and therefore lower than expected cancer detection rates compared with the Swedish Two-County trial. An encouraging finding was that SDRs in five of the six screening regions improved in the second year of the New Zealand screening programme.
CIN 2/3 and cervical cancer in an organised screening programme after an unsatisfactory or a normal Pap smear: a seven-year prospective study of the Norwegian population-based screening programme
Authors: Nygård J F , Sauer T , Nygård M , Skare G B , Thoresen S Ø 
Published: May 2005

Objectives: To estimate the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 and invasive cervical cancer (ICC) in an organised screening programme after an unsatisfactory or a normal Pap smear. Setting: A seven-year prospective cohort study of the Norwegian population-based co-ordinated screening programme based on the actual diagnostic and screening procedures performed. Observations of 526,661 women with a normal index Pap smear and 21,405 women with an unsatisfactory index Pap smear were made during 3.26 million women-years. Methods: The risk of being diagnosed with CIN 2/3 or ICC was calculated by logistic regression for the first two years of follow-up. The hazard of being diagnosed with CIN 2/3 or ICC for the women who were not diagnosed during the two first years was estimated by non-parametrical survival regression. Results: After two years of follow-up, 0.2% of the women were diagnosed with CIN 2/3 and 0.01% with ICC after a normal Pap smear. An unsatisfactory Pap smear indicated a 1.6-4.0 times higher risk of harbouring a CIN 2/3 or ICC compared to women with a normal Pap smear. No increased risk of ICC was found during long-term follow-up for the 70% of the women with an unsatisfactory Pap smear who were returned to ordinary screening. Prior series of low-grade Pap smears followed by a normal Pap were associated with an increased risk of CIN 2/3 and ICC. Conclusions: An unsatisfactory Pap smear indicates a risk of harbouring CIN II/III or ICC. Repeated Pap smears are adequate as a follow-up of an unsatisfactory Pap smear. Women with repeated series of equivocal/LSIL Pap smears followed by a normal Pap should be considered at high risk.
Attitudes to self-sampling for HPV among Indian, Pakistani, African-Caribbean and white British women in Manchester, UK
Authors: Forrest S , McCaffery K , Waller J , Desai M , Szarewski A , Cadman L , Wardle J 
Published: May 2005

Objective: To examine attitudes to self-sampling for human papillomavirus (HPV) testing among women from contrasting ethnic groups. Setting: Manchester, UK. Methods: Two hundred women of Indian, Pakistani, African-Caribbean and white British origin were recruited from social and community groups to participate in a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire included items on attitudes to self-sampling and intention to use the test. Results: Willingness to try to use the test was high, and women did not foresee religious or cultural barriers to self-sampling; however, a large proportion of women were concerned about doing the test properly. This concern was greatest in the Indian and African-Caribbean groups. Conclusions: Although women's willingness to try self-sampling for HPV is encouraging, worries about carrying out the procedure correctly must be addressed if women are to feel confident about the results of self-sampling methods and reassured by a negative result.
Low all-cause mortality in the volunteer-based Rotterdam section of the European randomised study of screening for prostate cancer: self-selection bias?
Authors: Otto S J , Schröder F H , de Koning H J 
Published: May 2005

Objectives: The likelihood of self-selection bias in a cohort of men that entered the volunteer-based randomised prostate cancer screening trial was assessed. In addition, the accuracy of the randomisation was evaluated by comparison amongst the trial arms. Setting: The Rotterdam section of the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC). Participants were recruited from population registries and randomised after receipt of written informed consent (49% participation rate). Methods: Data from 37,614 men who entered the Rotterdam trial between June 1994 and July 1999 were linked to the Causes of Death Registry of Statistics Netherlands. For the assessment of self-selection bias, mortality in the trial cohort and the area of Rotterdam was compared by calculating standardised mortality ratios (SMRs, 95% confidence interval [CI]). Comparisons between the screening and the control arm were made by means of relative risk (RR). Results: There were a total of 1661 deaths (4.4%) in the trial cohort, during an average follow-up time of 2.8 years. The observed number of deaths in the two arms combined was lower than expected (SMR 86.7%, 95% CI 81.6-92.1), which was reflected in the major cause of death categories, especially in all malignant neoplasms. No difference was observed in the all-cause mortality rate among the screening and control arm, aged 55-69 years at entry (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.89-1.12), nor when all causes, excluding prostate cancer mortality, were considered. Conclusions: The preliminary results show that the screening and the control arm were comparable, but men recruited for the trial seemed healthier than men in the target population.
Measurement of haemoglobin as a screening test in general practice
Authors: Lewis S M , Osei-Bimpong A , Bradshaw A 
Published: May 2005

Objective: To assess the validity of using the measurement of haemoglobin as a primary screen test at point-of-care in general practice. Methods: 1100 consecutive full blood counts carried out at Hammersmith Hospital haematology laboratory on blood samples sent by the general practitioners in the area were reviewed. Where haemoglobin was in the normal range all the parameters of a full blood count were checked and a blood film was screened in order to identify any abnormal features occurring in the absence of anaemia. Results: Haemoglobin was normal in 81% of the samples, and in 81% of this set none of the blood count components showed any abnormal features (i.e. outside two standard deviations of normal reference range).The remaining 19% of cases included 32 with iron deficiency, 26 with high MCV, 84 with leucocyte abnormalities (neutrophilia, neutropenia, lymphocytosis, eosinophilia, monocytosis) and 19 with platelet counts either too high or too low. The predictive value of a normal full blood count from a normal haemoglobin was 0.81. However, when the limits of normal reference values were set at three standard deviations only 7% of the cases showed abnormal features and the predictive value of normality from a normal haemoglobin increased to 0.92. Conclusion: There are now simple and suitable devices available for measuring haemoglobin at point-of-care, away from a laboratory. This provides a useful screening test in general practice as a full blood count would, as a rule, be required only in the small proportion of cases where anaemia is detected or the patient's history and/or clinical signs specifically indicate the need for this further investigation. This approach should contribute to more efficient, convenient and economical practice without compromising clinical management.
‘The land that time forgot’: reforming access to social housing in England
Authors: Mullins David , Pawson Hal 
Published: May 2005

English
Despite a long period of public management reform in social housing, including shifts from state to non-profit providers and exit opportunities for tenants, access to new tenancies has until very recently continued to be mediated by bureaucratic rationing approaches. This article explores the reasons for the long dominance of rationing, and the factors that are now leading to its replacement with more consumerist approaches known as ‘choice-based lettings’. Chaos and complexity theory are used to explore the role of market factors and changes in understanding in destabilising an entrenched initial attractor pattern, and the role of local experiment, policy transfer and new political agendas in establishing a new attractor pattern.
The representation of women in local politics
Authors: Rao Nirmala 
Published: May 2005

English
The under-representation of women in local politics has been debated for many years. While there is evidence to suggest that more women are now being elected to local authorities, they continue to face barriers to their entry and to their subsequent progression. Based on 1,014 responses to a national survey of women councillors, this article presents evidence on women's representation and explores the tensions they face in reconciling their public and private worlds. The article further examines women councillors’ own perceptions and attitudes to achieving higher office and considers their prospects under the new council constitutions.
Serum γ-Glutamyltransferase Was Differently Associated with Microalbuminuria by Status of Hypertension or Diabetes: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study
Authors: Lee Duk-Hee , Jacobs David R , Gross Myron , Steffes Michael 
Published: May 2005

AbstractBackground: We hypothesized that serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) would positively predict the risk of microalbuminuria, a frequent consequence of both diabetes and hypertension, because serum GGT predicted diabetes and hypertension in dose–response relationships.Methods: In this prospective study, 2478 black and white men and women without microalbuminuria at year 10 provided urine samples 5 years later. Year 10 GGT cutpoints were 12, 18, and 29 U/L.Results: The incidence of microalbuminuria across year 10 GGT categories was U-shaped. Adjusted odds ratios across quartiles of serum GGT were 1.0, 0.39, 0.54, and 0.94 (P &lt;0.01 for quadratic term), but the shape of association depended on the status of hypertension or diabetes (P &lt;0.01 for interaction). Among individuals who ever had hypertension or diabetes, year 10 serum GGT showed a clear positive dose–response association with incident microalbuminuria (P &lt;0.01 for trend), whereas among individuals with neither hypertension nor diabetes during the study, year 10 GGT showed a U-shaped association with it (P = 0.01 for quadratic term). When the long-term risk was evaluated in 3895 participants based on serum GGT at year 0 and prevalence of microalbuminuria at year 10 or year 15, the trends were similar but weaker than those of short-term incidence risk.Conclusions: Serum GGT within the physiologic range predicted microalbuminuria among patients with hypertension or diabetes and may act as a predictor of microvascular and/or renal complications in these vulnerable groups. GGT showed a U-shaped association with microalbuminuria among persons who did not develop either hypertension or diabetes.
The CAG Repeat Polymorphism in the Androgen Receptor Gene Is Associated with HDL-Cholesterol but Not with Coronary Atherosclerosis or Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Hersberger Martin , Muntwyler Jörg , Funke Harald , Marti-Jaun Jacqueline , Schulte Helmut , Assmann Gerd , Lüscher Thomas F , von Eckardstein Arnold 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Background: Age-adjusted morbidity and mortality rates from coronary heart disease (CHD) are higher in men than in women. Androgens are suspected to be responsible for the male disadvantage. The genomic effect of androgens is mediated by the androgen receptor (AR), which has a polymorphic CAG repeat in exon 1. The number of repeats is inversely related to the transcriptional activity of the AR on target genes.
Methods: We investigated the association of this CAG repeat polymorphism with CHD and myocardial infarction (MI) in 2 independent case–control studies involving 544 Caucasian men.
Results: The number of CAG repeats in the AR gene correlated significantly with HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) in controls (r = 0.21; P = 0.015). This effect was independent of triglycerides, body mass index, alcohol intake, smoking, and age in a multiple regression model (R2 = 50%). Despite decreased HDL-C, lower CAG repeat numbers were not associated with increased risk for CHD (odds ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence interval, 0.50–1.36; P = 0.44) or MI in carriers of AR genes with lower CAG repeat numbers (odds ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.37–1.39; P = 0.33).
Conclusions: Shorter, more androgenic AR alleles with fewer CAG repeats are associated with lower HDL-C, but not with an increased risk for CHD or MI, which argues against a detrimental androgen effect on cardiovascular risk under physiologic conditions.
Development of a High-Throughput Automated Analyzer Using Biochip Array Technology
Authors: FitzGerald Stephen P , Lamont John V , McConnell Robert I , Benchikh El O 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Background: Use of protein array technology over conventional assay methods has advantages that include simultaneous detection of multiple analytes, reduction in sample and reagent volumes, and high output of test results. The susceptibility of ligands to denaturation, however, has impeded production of a stable, reproducible biochip platform, limiting most array assays to manual or, at most, semiautomated processing techniques. Such limitations may be overcome by novel biochip fabrication procedures.
Methods: After selection of a suitable biochip substrate, biochip surfaces were chemically modified and assessed to enable optimization of biochip fabrication procedures for different test panels. The assay procedure was then automated on a dedicated instrument, and assay performance was determined for a panel of cytokine markers. Assay results were then compared with a commercial method for measurement of cytokine markers.
Results: Secondary ion mass spectrometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrated appropriate and reproducible modification of the biochip surface. Contact-angle studies also confirmed generation of hydrophobic surfaces that enabled containment of droplets for fabrication of discrete test regions. Automation of the biochip assays on a dedicated instrument produced excellent cytokine marker performance with intra- and interassay imprecision &lt;10% for most analytes. Comparison studies showed good agreement with other methods (r = 0.95–0.99) for cytokines.
Conclusion: Performance data from this automated biochip array analyzer provide evidence that it is now possible to produce stable and reproducible biochips for output of more than 2000 test results per hour.
Effect of Block Net Use and Time of Sampling on Backpack Electrofishing Catches in Three Kansas Reservoirs
Authors: Schoenebeck Casey W. , Strakosh Timothy R. , Guy Christopher S. 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Using backpack electrofishing in three Kansas reservoirs, we investigated the need for block nets when estimating density (fish/ha) and species diversity and determined whether time of sampling affected catch rates (fish/h) of age-0 largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and age-0 Lepomis spp. and species diversity. Block nets were used to enclose or buoys were used to mark the boundaries of 149 m2 of reservoir surface area. Species richness, diversity, and density of age-0 largemouth bass and Lepomis spp. did not differ significantly between areas enclosed with block nets and areas marked with buoys, but species richness, diversity, and catch rates differed significantly between day and night sampling. Age-0 largemouth bass and Lepomis spp. catch rates, species richness, and species diversity were all significantly higher during night sampling. Our results indicate that use of block nets may not be necessary to estimate age-0 largemouth bass and Lepomis spp. densities, species richness, or diversity in reservoir littoral areas. We recommend night sampling because of significantly higher catch rates and better representation of the littoral fish assemblage.
Quantifying Production of Salmon Fry in an Unscreened Irrigation System: A Case Study on the Rangitata River, New Zealand
Authors: Unwin Martin J. , Webb Mark , Barker Richard J. , Link William A. 
Published: May 2005

Abstract
Diversion of out-migrant juvenile salmon into unscreened irrigation and hydroelectric canals is thought to have contributed significantly to declining populations of anadromous salmonids in the Pacific Northwest but is seldom studied in detail. Here we describe a program to study the fate of Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha fry diverted into the unscreened Rangitata Diversion Race (RDR) on the Rangitata River, New Zealand, by trapping fish in a random sample of on-farm canals in irrigation schemes (systems) served by the RDR. The catch rate at a site 9 km below the intake was strongly related to Rangitata River flow, but catches further downstream were unrelated to flow. Most fish entering the RDR were fry or early postfry (&lt;70 mm fork length (FL)), but up to 92% of the fish trapped in on-farm canals were fingerlings (&gt;70 mm FL), suggesting that many such fish became resident in the RDR for up to 3 months. Consequently, our estimate of the total number of fish leaving the RDR via on-farm canals (204,200 fish; 95% confidence limits = 127,100 and 326,700) is a conservative measure of the number lost from the Rangitata River because it does not allow for mortality within the RDR. We did not quantify the proportion of Rangitata River out-migrants that entered the RDR, but our results suggest that this figure was at least 5% and that it may have been as high as 25%, depending on mortality rates within the Rangitata River main stem and the RDR itself.