bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Extracellular Calcium and Magnesium, but Not Iron, Are Needed for Optimal Growth ofBlastomyces dermatitidisYeast Form Cells In Vitro
Authors: Giles Steven S. , Czuprynski Charles J. 
Published: March 2004

ABSTRACTIn the present study, we demonstrate that the yeast form ofBlastomyces dermatitidiscan proliferate for short periods of time in the absence of ferric iron but not in the absence of calcium or magnesium. The results of this study shed light on the resistance ofB. dermatitidisto chelating agents, such as deferoxamine, and may explain howB. dermatitidisresists the iron-binding activity of serum transferrin.
Use of hospitals, physician visits, and hospice care during last six months of life among cohorts loyal to highly respected hospitals in the United States
Authors: Wennberg John E , Fisher Elliott S , Stukel Thérèse A , Skinner Jonathan S , Sharp Sandra M , Bronner Kristen K 
Published: March 2004

AbstractObjective To evaluate the use of healthcare resources during the last six months of life among patients of US hospitals with strong reputations for high quality care in managing chronic illness.Design Retrospective cohort study based on claims data from the US Medicare programme.Participants Cohorts receiving most of their hospital care from 77 hospitals that appeared on the 2001 US News and World Report “best hospitals” list for heart and pulmonary disease, cancer, and geriatric services.Main outcome measures Use of healthcare resources in the last six months of life: number of days spent in hospital and in intensive care units; number of physician visits; percentage of patients seeing 10 or more physicians; percentage enrolled in hospice. Terminal care: percentage of deaths occurring in hospital; percentage of deaths occurring in association with a stay in an intensive care unit.Results Extensive variation in each measure existed among the 77 hospital cohorts. Days in hospital per decedent ranged from 9.4 to 27.1 (interquartile range 11.6-16.1); days in intensive care units ranged from 1.6 to 9.5 (2.6-4.5); number of physician visits ranged from 17.6 to 76.2 (25.5-39.5); percentage of patients seeing 10 or more physicians ranged from 16.9% to 58.5% (29.4-43.4%); and hospice enrolment ranged from 10.8% to 43.8% (22.0-32.0%). The percentage of deaths occurring in hospital ranged from 15.9% to 55.6% (35.4-43.1%), and the percentage of deaths associated with a stay in intensive care ranged from 8.4% to 36.8% (20.2-27.1%).Conclusion Striking variation exists in the utilisation of end of life care among US medical centres with strong national reputations for clinical care.
Association between depression and abuse by partners of women attending general practice: descriptive, cross sectional survey
Authors: Hegarty Kelsey , Gunn Jane , Chondros Patty , Small Rhonda 
Published: March 2004

AbstractObjective To explore the association between depression and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse by partners or ex-partners of women attending general practice.Design Descriptive, cross sectional survey.Setting 30 general practitioners in Victoria, Australia.Participants 1257 consecutive female patients.Main outcome measures Some type of abuse in an adult intimate relationship (composite abuse scale), depression (Beck depression inventory or Edinburgh postnatal depression scale), and physical health (SF-36).Results 18.0% (218/1213) of women scored as currently probably depressed and 24.1% (277/1147) had experienced some type of abuse in an adult intimate relationship. Depressed women were significantly more likely to have experienced severe combined abuse than women who were not depressed after adjusting for other significant sociodemographic variables (odds ratio 5.8, 95% confidence interval 2.8 to 12.0). These variables included not being married, having a poor education, being on a low income, being unemployed or receiving a pension, pregnancy status, or being abused as a child.Conclusion Physical, emotional, and sexual abuse are strongly associated with depression in women attending general practice. Doctors should sensitively ask depressed women about their experiences of violence and abuse in intimate relationships. Research into depression should include measures of partner abuse in longitudinal and intervention studies.
PEER-TO-PEER INFORMATION WORKSPACES IN INFOTOP
Authors: MAIER RONALD , SAMETINGER JOHANNES 
Published: March 2004

Knowledge workers collaborate in teams, networks and communities in order to accomplish knowledge processes. They have to be supported with adequate organizational as well as information and communication technological (ICT) infrastructures. From an ICT perspective, requirements have changed when compared to more traditional (office) work due to the considerably higher complexity of data, the focus on communication across the boundaries of corporate ICT infrastructures and the mobility of knowledge workers. This requires the systematic handling of context and substantially extended functionality for collaboration in the knowledge workers' personal workspaces. In this paper, we outline typical knowledge processes and discuss ICT support for the personal management of information, of web content, of collaboration and of knowledge. We present Infotop, a tool that supports the creation and management of shared-context information workspaces and organizes knowledge resources in a peer-to-peer (p2p) architecture. We show how Infotop can be used to support typical knowledge work processes and discuss its dimensions, its user interface, its shared context workspaces, its architecture, and some thoughts on a prototype implementation currently under development.
Fotemustine Compared With Dacarbazine in Patients With Disseminated Malignant Melanoma: A Phase III Study
Authors: Avril M.F. , Aamdal S. , Grob J.J. , Hauschild A. , Mohr P. , Bonerandi J.J. , Weichenthal M. , Neuber K. , Bieber T. , Gilde K. , Guillem Porta V. , Fra J. , Bonneterre J. , Saïag P. , Kamanabrou D. , Pehamberger H. , Sufliarsky J. , Gonzalez Larriba J.L. , Scherrer A. , Menu Y. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose To compare fotemustine and dacarbazine (DTIC) in terms of overall response rate (ORR) as primary end-point and overall survival, duration of responses, time to progression, time to occurrence of brain metastases (BM), and to assess safety and quality of life in patients with disseminated cutaneous melanoma. Patients and Methods Patients received either intravenous fotemustine 100 mg/m2 weekly for 3 weeks or DTIC 250 mg/m2/d for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks (two cycles). Nonprogressive patients received a maintenance treatment every 4 weeks (fotemustine 100 mg/m2 or DTIC 250 mg/m2 for 5 days). Results Two hundred twenty-nine patients were randomly assigned to fotemustine or DTIC arms. The best ORR was higher in the fotemustine arm than in the DTIC arm in the intent-to-treat population (n = 229; 15.2% v 6.8%; P = .043) and in full analysis set (n = 221) (15.5% v 7.2%; P = .053). Similar median durations of responses (5.8 months with fotemustine v 6.9 months with DTIC) and time to progression (1.8 v 1.9 months, respectively) were observed. In patients without BM at inclusion, the median time to BM was 22.7 months with fotemustine versus 7.2 months with DTIC (P = .059). Median survival was 7.3 months with fotemustine versus 5.6 months with DTIC (P = .067). The main toxicity was grade 3 to 4 neutropenia (51% with fotemustine v 5% with DTIC) and thrombocytopenia (43% v 6%, respectively). No significant difference was noted for quality of life between arms. Conclusion ORR was higher in the fotemustine arm compared to the DTIC arm in first-line treatment of disseminated melanoma. A trend in favor of fotemustine in terms of overall survival and time to BM was evidenced.
Antiandrogen Withdrawal Alone or in Combination With Ketoconazole in Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer Patients: A Phase III Trial (CALGB 9583)
Authors: Small Eric J. , Halabi Susan , Dawson Nancy A. , Stadler Walter M. , Rini Brian I. , Picus Joel , Gable Preston , Torti Frank M. , Kaplan Ellen , Vogelzang Nicholas J. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose Antiandrogen withdrawal (AAWD) results in a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response (decline in PSA level of ≥ 50%) in 15% to 30% of androgen-independent prostate cancer (AiPCa) patients. Thereafter, adrenal androgen ablation with agents such as ketoconazole (K) is commonly utilized. The therapeutic effect of AAWD alone was compared with simultaneous AAWD and K therapy. Patients and Methods AiPCa patients were randomized to undergo AAWD alone (n = 132), or together with K (400 mg orally [po] tid) and hydrocortisone (30 mg po each morning, 10 mg po each evening; n = 128). Patients who developed progressive disease after AAWD alone were eligible for deferred treatment with K. Results Eleven percent of patients undergoing AAWD alone had a PSA response, compared to 27% of patients who underwent AAWD and simultaneous K (P = .0002). Objective responses were observed in 2% of patients treated with AAWD alone compared to 20% in patients treated with AAWD/K (P = .02). There was no difference in survival. PSA and objective responses were observed in 32% and 7%, respectively, of patients receiving deferred K, and were more common in patients with prior AAWD response. Treatment with K was well tolerated, and resulted in a decline in adrenal androgen levels, which rose at the time of disease progression. Conclusion K has modest activity in AiPCa patients, while AAWD alone has minimal activity. Adrenal androgen levels fall with treatment with K and then climb at the time of progression, suggesting that progressive disease while on K may be due to tachyphylaxis to the adrenolytic properties of K.
Evaluation of Diagnostic Assessment Units in Oncology: A Systematic Review
Authors: Gagliardi Anna , Grunfeld Eva , Evans William K. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose This systematic review was undertaken to identify clinical and economic evaluations of diagnostic assessment units for cancer; summarize measures used to evaluate such programs; and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of these evaluations. Methods The review was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials, case control studies, and prospective or retrospective cohort studies examining the outcomes of diagnostic centers for patients with a presumptive diagnosis of breast, colorectal, lung, head and neck, or prostate cancer. Data on methodology and study results were tabulated. Results Twenty articles were eligible for review. Eleven studies examined outcomes associated with breast cancer assessment units: six with head and neck assessment units and three with colorectal assessment units. No studies were found that examined one-stop diagnostic assessment centers for lung cancer or prostate cancer. Seventeen studies were case series, one was a case-control study, and two were randomized controlled trials. No thorough economic analyses have been undertaken. There were no studies that based their assessment on measures suggested by a conceptual framework or validated model of diagnostic care. Few studies explicitly based their investigations on established quality indicators or clinical practice guideline recommendations. Diagnostic assessment centers appear to decrease the time to arrive at a diagnosis, which in turn appears to decrease patient anxiety and increase patient satisfaction. Conclusion A comprehensive understanding of the benefit of diagnostic assessment centers can only be determined if such services are developed for a variety of disease sites and more rigorous evaluations are carried out to assess their benefit.
Psychological Outcomes in Long-Term Survivors of Childhood Brain Cancer: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study
Authors: Zebrack Brad J. , Gurney James G. , Oeffinger Kevin , Whitton John , Packer Roger J. , Mertens Ann , Turk Norman , Castleberry Robert , Dreyer ZoAnn , Robison Leslie L. , Zeltzer Lonnie K. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose To evaluate and compare psychological outcomes in long-term survivors of pediatric brain cancer and siblings of childhood cancer survivors, and to identify significant correlates of psychological distress. Methods One thousand one hundred one adult survivors of childhood brain cancer and 2,817 siblings completed a long-term follow-up questionnaire allowing assessment of symptoms associated with depression, somatization, and anxiety, as well as demographic, health, and medical information. Results A large majority of siblings and survivors report few, if any, symptoms of psychological distress. The prevalence of distress approximating clinically significant levels for both survivors (11%) and siblings (5%) reflects rates found in the general population. Yet when accounting for significant sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and health-status variables, survivors of childhood brain cancer, in the aggregate, appear to report significantly higher global distress and depression scores than do siblings. As in the general population, higher levels of distress among survivors and siblings were associated with female sex, low household income, lower educational attainment, being unmarried, not being employed in the past 12 months, and poor physical health status. No diagnostic or treatment-related variables were directly and significantly associated with increases in distress symptoms for survivors of childhood brain cancer. Conclusion Cancer treatment does not appear to contribute directly to increased psychological distress. Instead, distress appears to be associated with diminished social functioning that may be related to cancer type or treatment. Implementation and evaluation of supportive interventions that enhance survivors' social and vocational skills should be considered.
Safety of Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer With Trastuzumab Beyond Disease Progression
Authors: Tripathy Debu , Slamon Dennis J. , Cobleigh Melody , Arnold Andrew , Saleh Mansoor , Mortimer Joanne E. , Murphy Maureen , Stewart Stanford J. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose In a pivotal phase III trial, the addition of trastuzumab to chemotherapy significantly improved response rate, time to disease progression, and overall survival in women with HER2 overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. We conducted an extension study to this trial to obtain additional safety information and to provide trastuzumab following disease progression. Patients and Methods A total of 247 patients with documented disease progression received weekly intravenous trastuzumab in the extension study. Concurrent therapies were administered at the discretion of the treating physician. Patient groups were based on initial study treatment: chemotherapy alone (group 1, n = 154) or chemotherapy plus trastuzumab (group 2, n = 93). Results Sixty-eight percent of group 1 and 76% of group 2 received chemotherapy plus trastuzumab in the extension trial; the remainder received trastuzumab alone or combined with palliative radiotherapy or hormonal therapy. Seventy-six percent of group 1 and 55% of group 2 experienced at least one adverse event, similar to effects observed in the pivotal trial. Symptomatic or asymptomatic cardiac dysfunction occurred in 9% of group 1 and 2% of group 2 patients. Overall objective response rates were 14% in group 1 and 11% in group 2; median durations of response exceeded 6 months in both groups. Conclusion Our results suggest that prolonged use of trastuzumab therapy is safe and well tolerated. Longer durations of therapy did not appear to increase the risk of cardiac dysfunction. Patients progressing on trastuzumab-containing therapy demonstrate some response to a second trastuzumab-containing regimen. The independent contribution of trastuzumab in this setting merits further study.
Repetitive Cycles of High-Dose Cytarabine Benefit Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia and inv(16)(p13q22) or t(16;16)(p13;q22): Results from CALGB 8461
Authors: Byrd John C. , Ruppert Amy S. , Mrózek Krzysztof , Carroll Andrew J. , Edwards Colin G. , Arthur Diane C. , Pettenati Mark J. , Stamberg Judith , Koduru Prasad R.K. , Moore Joseph O. , Mayer Robert J. , Davey Frederick R. , Larson Richard A. , Bloomfield Clara D. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose To study the impact of repetitive (three to four courses) versus a single course of high-dose cytarabine (HDAC) consolidation therapy on outcome of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and inv(16)(p13q22) or t(16;16)(p13;q22). Patients and Methods We examined the cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR), relapse-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) for 48 adults younger than 60 years with inv(16)/t(16;16) who had attained a complete remission on one of four consecutive clinical trials and were assigned to receive HDAC consolidation therapy. Twenty-eight patients were assigned to either three or four courses of HDAC, and 20 patients were assigned to one course of HDAC followed by alternative intensive consolidation therapy. Results Pretreatment features were similar for the two groups. The CIR was significantly decreased in patients assigned to receive three to four cycles of HDAC compared with patients assigned to one course (P = .03; 5-year CIR, 43% v 70%, respectively). The difference in RFS also approached statistical significance (P = .06). In a multivariable analysis that adjusted for potential confounding covariates, only treatment assignment (three to four cycles of HDAC) predicted for superior RFS (P = .02). The OS of both groups was similar (P = .93; 5-year OS, 75% for the three to four cycles of HDAC group v 70% for the one cycle of HDAC group), reflecting a high success rate with stem-cell transplantation salvage treatment administered among patients in both treatment groups. Conclusion We conclude that, in AML patients with inv(16)/t(16;16), repetitive HDAC therapy decreases the likelihood of relapse compared with consolidation regimens including less HDAC.
Mitoxantrone, Etoposide, and Cytarabine With or Without Valspodar in Patients With Relapsed or Refractory Acute Myeloid Leukemia and High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome: A Phase III Trial (E2995)
Authors: Greenberg Peter L. , Lee Sandra J. , Advani Ranjana , Tallman Martin S. , Sikic Branimir I. , Letendre Louis , Dugan Kathleen , Lum Bert , Chin David L. , Dewald Gordon , Paietta Elisabeth , Bennett John M. , Rowe Jacob M. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose To determine whether adding the multidrug resistance gene-1 (MDR-1) modulator valspodar (PSC 833; Novartis Pharmaceuticals, Hanover, NJ) to chemotherapy provided clinical benefit to patients with poor-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Patients and Methods A phase III randomized study was performed using valspodar plus mitoxantrone, etoposide, and cytarabine (PSC-MEC; n = 66) versus MEC (n = 63) to treat patients with relapsed or refractory AML and high-risk MDS. Results For the PSC-MEC versus MEC arms, complete response (CR) was achieved in 17% versus 25% of patients, respectively (P = not significant). For patients who had not received prior intensive chemotherapy (ie, with secondary AML or high-risk MDS), the CR rate was increased—35% versus 15% for the remaining patients (P = .018); CR rates did not differ between treatment arms. The median disease-free survival in those achieving CR was similar in the two arms (10 versus 9.3 months) as was the patients’ overall survival (4.6 versus 5.4 months). The CR rates in MDR+ (69% of patients) versus MDR− patients were similar for those receiving either chemotherapy regimen (16% versus 24%). The CR rate for unfavorable cytogenetic patients (45% of patients) was 13% compared to the remainder, 28% (P = .09). Population pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that the clearances of mitoxantrone and etoposide were decreased by 59% and 50%, respectively, supporting the empiric dose reductions in the PSC-MEC arm designed in anticipation of drug interactions between valspodar and the chemotherapeutic agents. Conclusion CR rates and overall survival were not improved by using PSC-MEC compared to MEC chemotherapy alone in patients with poor-risk AML or high-risk MDS.
Rapid Mobilization of CD34+ Cells Following Administration of the CXCR4 Antagonist AMD3100 to Patients With Multiple Myeloma and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Authors: Devine Steven M. , Flomenberg Neal , Vesole David H. , Liesveld Jane , Weisdorf Daniel , Badel Karin , Calandra Gary , DiPersio John F. 
Published: March 2004

Purpose Interactions between the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its ligand stromal derived factor-1 regulate hematopoietic stem-cell trafficking. AMD3100 is a CXCR4 antagonist that induces rapid mobilization of CD34+ cells in healthy volunteers. We performed a phase I study assessing the safety and clinical effects of AMD3100 in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Patients and Methods Thirteen patients (MM, n = 7; NHL, n = 6) received AMD3100 at a dose of either 160 μg/kg (n = 6) or 240 μg/kg (n = 7). WBC and peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cell counts were analyzed at 4 and 6 hours following injection. Results AMD3100 caused a rapid and statistically significant increase in the total WBC and PB CD34+ counts at both 4 and 6 hours following a single injection. The absolute CD34+ cell count increased from a baseline of 2.6 ± 0.7/μL (mean ± SE) to 15.6 ± 3.9/μL and 16.2 ± 4.3/μL at 4 hours (P = .002) and 6 hours after injection (P = .003), respectively. The absolute CD34+ cell counts observed at 4 and 6 hours following AMD3100 were higher in the 240 μg/kg group (19.3 ± 6.9/μL and 20.4 ± 7.6/μL, respectively) compared with the 160 μg/kg group (11.3 ± 2.7/μL and 11.3 ± 2.5/μL, respectively). The drug was well tolerated and only grade 1 toxicities were encountered. Conclusion AMD3100 appears to be a safe and effective agent for the rapid mobilization of CD34+ cells in patients who have received prior chemotherapy. Further studies in combination with granulocyte colony-stimuating factor in patients with lymphoid malignancies are warranted.
2-18fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose Positron Emission Tomography Is a Reliable Predictor for Viable Tumor in Postchemotherapy Seminoma: An Update of the Prospective Multicentric SEMPET Trial
Authors: De Santis Maria , Becherer Alexander , Bokemeyer Carsten , Stoiber Franz , Oechsle Karin , Sellner Franz , Lang Alois , Kletter Kurt , Dohmen Bernhard M. , Dittrich Christian , Pont Jörg 
Published: March 2004

Purpose To define the clinical value of 2-18fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG PET) as a predictor for viable residual tumor in postchemotherapy seminoma residuals in a prospective multicentric trial. Patients and Methods FDG PET studies in patients with metastatic pure seminoma who had radiographically defined postchemotherapy residual masses were correlated with either the histology of the resected lesion or the clinical outcome documented by computer tomography (CT), tumor markers, and/or physical examination during follow-up. The size of the residual lesions on CT, either > 3 cm or ≤ 3 cm, was correlated with the presence or absence of viable residual tumor. Results Fifty-six FDG PET scans of 51 patients were assessable. All 19 cases with residual lesions > 3 cm and 35 (95%) of 37 with residual lesions ≤ 3 cm were correctly predicted by FDG PET. The specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of FDG PET were 100% (95% CI, 92% to 100%), 80% (95% CI, 44% to 95%), 100%, and 96%, respectively, versus 74% (95% CI, 58% to 85%), 70% (95% CI, 34% to 90%), 37%, and 92%, respectively, for CT discrimination of the residual tumor by size (> 3 cm/≤ 3 cm). Conclusion This investigation confirms that FDG PET is the best predictor of viable residual tumor in postchemotherapy seminoma residuals and should be used as a standard tool for clinical decision making in this patient group.