bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Budesonide‐treated asthmatic adolescents attain target height: a population‐based follow‐up study from Sweden
Authors: Larsson Lars , de Verdier Maria Gerhardsson , Lindmark Bertil , Norjavaara Ensio 
Published: December 2002

AbstractPurposeTo examine final height in relation to target height in asthmatic patients with and without glucocorticoid treatment while growing up compared with healthy individuals.MethodsIn 1990 and 1993, questionnaires were distributed to all individuals born in 1974 and 1977 in the counties of Jämtland and Gästrikland in Sweden. All individuals reporting use of anti‐asthmatic drugs or symptoms indicating possible obstructive airway disease, and a sample of healthy volunteers were invited to a clinical examination.ResultsOverall, 356 asthmatic patients and 384 healthy individuals were identified. In 1998–1999, all subjects were invited to a follow‐up study and final height was analysed in relation to target height in 152 asthmatic patients and 131 healthy individuals. It was found that both men and women achieved a higher mean final height than the calculated mean target height. There were no significant differences between controls and asthma patients treated either with or without glucocorticoids. Most of the patients treated with glucocorticoids started their therapy during adolescence and 92% had used inhaled budesonide. There was no trend towards a decrease in final height in relation to target height when inhaled budesonide treatment was initiated prior to adolescence or with lifelong cumulative dose of inhaled budesonide.ConclusionsAsthmatic adolescents treated with inhaled budesonide achieve normal final height in relation to their target height. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Smoking behavior of 226 patients with diagnosis of stage IIIA/IIIB non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Sanderson Cox Lisa , Sloan Jeff A. , Patten Christi A. , Bonner James A. , Geyer Susan M. , McGinnis William L. , Stella Phillip J. , Marks Randolph S. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractThere is limited research of smoking cessation following diagnosis of lung cancer. This prospective study assessed cigarette smoking behavior among 226 patients (142 males, 84 females) prior to, at the time of, and after the diagnosis of unresectable stage IIIA/IIIB non‐small cell lung cancer and entry into a phase III trial examining combined thoracic radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Their mean ±S.D. age was 62.7±9.4 years and 95.6% were Caucasian. Of 215 patients with a history of cigarette smoking, 69% (148/215) stopped smoking prior to entry in the trial, 9% (20/215) stopped smoking at some point during the course of the trial, 11% (24/215) continued smoking throughout the trial, 7% (16/215) were smoking at baseline but did not report subsequent smoking status, and smoking status at study entry was missing for the remaining patients. The majority of lung cancer patients were able to stop smoking. A notable subset of patients continued smoking despite diagnosis of lung cancer, enrollment in a clinical trial, treatment‐related toxicity, and encouragement from clinicians to stop smoking. Smoking cessation interventions are needed for lung cancer patients who continue to smoke. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stromal/epithelial interactions of murine prostatic cell lines in vivo: A model for benign prostatic hyperplasia and the effect of doxazosin on tissue size
Authors: Takao Tetsuya , Tsujimura Akira , Coetzee Sandra , Salm Sarah N. , Lepor Herbert , Shapiro Ellen , Moscatelli David , Wilson E. Lynette 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBACKGROUNDOne of the major constraints in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the etiology of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the lack of suitable model systems that are readily manipulable in vitro and in vivo. To address this issue, we have used murine prostatic cell lines to establish a novel in vivo model for studying prostatic cell interactions.METHODSLuminal, basal, and smooth muscle (SM) cell lines were inoculated alone or in combinations under the renal capsule of intact or castrated male mice, and the growth and composition of prostatic tissue in the absence or presence of doxazosin was determined.RESULTSBoth the luminal and basal cell lines reconstituted prostatic tissue if co‐inoculated under the renal capsule with normal SM cells, whereas none of the lines formed significant tissue when inoculated alone. Luminal cells produced and secreted prostatic secretory products. The growth of prostatic tissue formed from co‐inoculation of basal and SM cells was androgen responsive. In addition, a significant reduction in prostatic tissue was noted in animals treated with doxazosin.CONCLUSIONWe have established an in vivo model that uses prostatic epithelial and SM cell lines for investigating cellular interactions between epithelial and SM cells that regulate prostatic growth and function. This model will be useful for delineating the mechanisms by which prostatic cells interact and in determining the efficacy of new approaches aimed at interfering with prostatic stromal/epithelial interactions that result in abnormal cellular proliferation. Prostate 54: 17–24, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acute hypoxia increases the aggressive characteristics and survival properties of prostate cancer cells
Authors: Ghafar Mohamed A. , Anastasiadis Aristotelis G. , Chen Min‐Wei , Burchardt Martin , Olsson L. Eric , Xie Hui , Benson Mitchell C. , Buttyan Ralph 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBACKGROUNDAndrogen withdrawal, the standard therapeutic strategy for advanced prostate cancer, induces a rapid reduction of blood flow to prostate and prostate cancer tissues and the concomitant onset of a hypoxic environment in these tissues. To establish whether hypoxia‐responsiveness (by means of the action of hypoxia inducible factor [HIF] ‐1α protein) might affect the tumorigenic or survival properties of prostate cancer cells, we studied how acute exposure of cultured human prostate cancer cells (LNCaP cell line) to hypoxia might alter their pattern of gene expression and their in vitro behavior.METHODSLNCaP cultures were placed in a hypoxia chamber for up to 24 hr and were compared with control (normoxic) cells for the expression of gene products by Western blotting and semiquantitative reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction techniques.RESULTSExposure of LNCaP cells to acute hypoxia activated a typical cellular hypoxia response characterized by up‐regulation of HIF‐1α and vascular endothelial growth factor protein expression. In contrast, expression of differentiation‐specific proteins (prostate specific antigen and androgen receptor) or proliferative‐regulatory proteins (c‐myc, cyclin D1, p27) were down‐regulated by hypoxia. Some of these latter changes (reduction of c‐myc and cyclin D expression) were not accompanied by corresponding reduction of mRNAs and were abrogated by a proteosome inhibitor (MG132), suggesting that their loss was associated with their increased degradation rather than through transcriptional controls. The phosphorylation of Akt/protein kinase B and its downstream target, forkhead protein, was highly up‐regulated by hypoxia, and cells exposed to transient periods of hypoxia became significantly less sensitive to an apoptotic stimulus (exposure to phorbol ester) when compared with normoxic cells.CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that even acute hypoxia has the potential to drastically alter the growth, differentiation characteristics, and apoptotic sensitivity of a prostate cancer cell. Prostate 54: 58–67, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Opposite effects of unmodified prolactin and a molecular mimic of phosphorylated prolactin on morphology and the expression of prostate specific genes in the normal rat prostate
Authors: Xu Xiaolei , Wu Wei , Williams Valencia , Khong Amy , Chen Yen‐Hao , Deng Changhui , Walker Ameae M. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractBACKGROUNDIn the current study, we have investigated the individual roles of unmodified, wild‐type prolactin (WT PRL) and a molecular mimic of phosphorylated prolactin (S179D PRL) in the normal rat prostate.METHODSIn the first animal experiment, recombinant WT PRL and S179D PRL were delivered to adult male rats at a rate of 14 μg/kg per day for 3 weeks. In the second animal experiment, two subcutaneous (200 μg/kg) injections of long‐acting forms of the two PRLs were given to adult male rats on day 1 and day 22 for a total of 5.5 weeks of treatment.RESULTSThe different forms of PRL had opposite effects on the normal rat prostate, independently of androgens. WT PRL promoted morphologic changes in prostate epithelium consistent with preparation for cell proliferation, whereas S179D PRL produced morphologic evidence of a more differentiated epithelium. Northern blot analysis of expression of the two major prostate specific proteins, prostatein and probasin, showed that WT PRL decreased, whereas S179D PRL increased, the expression of the mRNAs for these two proteins. At the same time, S179D PRL reduced both testosterone and dihydrotestosterone levels.CONCLUSIONWe conclude that PRL is an important modulator of normal rat prostate biology and that different forms of PRL have specific functions. The molecular mimic of phosphorylated PRL, S179D PRL, is the most important in terms of epithelial cell differentiation. Prostate 54: 25–33, 2003. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Which ties matter when? the contingent effects of interorganizational partnerships on IPO success
Authors: Gulati Ranjay , Higgins Monica C. 
Published: December 2002

AbstractThis paper investigates the contingent value of interorganizational relationships at the time of a young firm's initial public offering (IPO). We compare the signaling value to young firms of having ties with two types of interorganizational partnerships: endorsement relationships such as those with venture capital firms and investment banks, and strategic alliance partnerships. We propose that, under different equity market conditions, potential investors in an issuing firm attend to different types of uncertainty; attention to these different types of uncertainty affects investors' perceptions of the relative value of a young firm's different kinds of endorsements and partnerships and, hence, IPO success. Results from a sample of young biotechnology firms show that ties to prominent venture capital firms are particularly beneficial to IPO success during cold markets, while ties to prominent investment banks are particularly beneficial to IPO success during hot markets; a firm's strategic alliances with major pharmaceutical/health care firms did not have such contingent effects. Implications for understanding the contingent value of interorganizational ties are discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Thin Film Filters for Telecom Applications
Authors: Treichel Oliver 
Published: December 2002

Market forces are pushing the performance of optics to their limits. Optical components must be developed to provide the best possible combination of manufacturability, performance and price. One vital step to success in creating WDM optics lies in a discipline that is often overlooked or misunderstood – coating engineering.A key technology for controlling light in WDM systems is the optical filter, which performs functions from simple filtering in multiplexers and demultiplexers, to more sophisticated functions in optical amplifiers, modulators and test equipment.The basic tool of multiplexing and demultiplexing devices, thin film filters offer accurate center wavelength, broad flattop passband and high isolation from adjacent and nonadjacent channels. Thin film filters are widely used for gain flattening, band splitting, C and L band separation and combining amplifier‐pump beams.Choosing the right thin‐film‐deposition process is essential for the efficiency and productivity of vacuum coating systems. LEYBOLD OPTICS has developed and optimized a comprehensive range of vacuum coating processes and process tools.LEYBOLD OPTICS has been proven the ability of producing shift‐free coatings on large substrate areas by means of PIAD (Plasma Ion Assisted Deposition) in many applications over the past ten years. The low loss and stress values achieved, especially with silica and tantala films, allows besides the production of narrow band pass filters (DWDM, CWDM) also the production of gain flattening filters (GFF).PIAD is considerably improving the properties of evaporated thin films by high energy ion bombardment during the growing of the film. PIAD allows to produce dense shift free thin films with high refractive index, good adhesion and extremely low absorption. With the Advanced Plasma Source (APS) LEYBOLD OPTICS has developed a high power plasma source for PIAD. The APS provides high ion current densities over a large surface area in a neutral plasma to produce high quality layers at a high productivity.
The need for carrying out training activities from the point of view of the large‐scale enterprises in the surface technology industry
Authors: Novello‐von Bescherer Wiebecke , Dietz Thomas 
Published: December 2002

AbstractZukunftorientierte Qualitätsproduktion in der Oberflächentechnik umfasst mehr als die exakte Erfüllung der Kundenanforderungen. In den externen Kunden‐Lieferanten‐Beziehungen sind die Mitarbeiter großer Unternehmen zunehmend als Berater ihrer Kunden gefragt, die sich mit ihrem Know‐how bereits an der Produktentwicklung beim Kunden beteiligen, um optimale Bedingungen der Oberflächenbehandlung zu gewährleisten. Damit wächst auch bei den technologischen Fach‐ und Führungskräften die Bedeutung der sozialen und methodischen Kompetenzen.Entsprechend qualifiziertes Personal ist auf dem Arbeitsmarkt jedoch kaum zu finden. Die auf die Erbringung oberflächentechnologischer Dienstleistungen spezialisierten Unternehmen können dort selbst ihren Bedarf an rein fachlichem Know‐how nicht annähernd decken. Die Konsequenz: “Wir müssen uns die Leute selber heranziehen”. Von den Betrieben initiierte Weiterbildungsaktivitäten nehmen an Bedeutung zu, parallel wird zunehmend in Öffentlichkeitsarbeit und Imagewerbung investiert.Zu diesem Ergebnis kommt eine Untersuchung, die den Weiterbildungsbedarf der Großindustrie anhand von vier Fallstudien aus dem Maschinenbau, der Chemie, der Stahl‐ und Automobilindustrie charakterisiert. Die Analyse dieser Fallstudien wird durch die postalische Befragung von 28 weiteren Großunternehmen ergänzt und abgerundet.Die Untersuchung wurde vom Institut für Wissenstransfer an der Universität Bremen (IfW) erstellt und ist Bestandteil des Projekts “Wissenstransfer Oberflächentechnik”, das im Auftrag des Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung vom VDI‐Technologiezentrum durchgeführt wird.
A RANDOMIZED TRIAL TO MEASURE THE OPTIMAL ROLE OF THE PHARMACIST IN PROMOTING EVIDENCE-BASED ANTIBIOTIC USE IN ACUTE CARE HOSPITALS
Authors: Dranitsaris George , Spizzirri Diana , Pitre Monique , McGeer Allison 
Published: December 2002

Background: There is a considerable gap between randomized clinical trials and implementing the results into practice. This is particularly relevant in the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in hospitals. Hospital pharmacists can be effective vehicles for bridging this gap and promoting evidence-based medicine. To determine the most effective way of using the pharmacist in this role, a prospective cefotaxime intervention study was conducted with randomization incorporated into the design as well as patient-related therapeutic outcomes.Methods: A total of 323 patients who were prescribed cefotaxime were randomized into an intervention or nonintervention group where only the former was challenged by pharmacists for inappropriate cefotaxime usage relative to hospital guidelines. The primary outcome was the appropriateness of cefotaxime prescribing between groups. Logistic regression analysis was then used to identify factors that were associated with successful clinical response.Results: Overall, 94% of orders in the intervention group met cefotaxime dosage criteria compared with 86% in the control group (p = .018). However, there was no impact with respect to promoting cefotaxime use for an appropriate indication (81% vs. 80%; p = .67). There was a trend for improved clinical outcomes in patients who received cefotaxime within hospital guidelines (OR = 1.73; p = .31).Conclusions: The pharmacist as a vehicle for promoting the appropriate use of broad-spectrum antibiotics in the acute care hospital setting can improve the dosing of such agents. However, several barriers to optimizing the impact of the pharmacist were implied by the data. Removing these barriers could increase the pharmacists' utility as an agent for improved patient care.
ELEMENTS FOR ASSESSMENT OF TELEMEDICINE APPLICATIONS
Authors: Ohinmaa Arto , Hailey David , Roine Risto 
Published: December 2002

Objectives: As an initiative of the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment, an approach to assessment of telemedicine applications was prepared to assist decision makers who are considering introduction and use of this technology.Methods: Review and commentary drawing on published assessment frameworks and reports of primary evaluations of telemedicine, with particular reference to experience in Finland and Canada.Results: Elements of the approach included development of a business case (considering population and services, personnel and consumers, delivery arrangements, specifications and costs); subsequent evaluation of the telemedicine application; and follow-up (covering the domains of technical assessment, effectiveness, user assessment of the technology, costs of telemedicine, trials, economic evaluation methods, and sensitivity analysis).Conclusions: Decision makers should link introduction of new and often costly technology to appraisal of its feasibility, followed by evaluation of the application, including longer term consideration of its sustainability and impact on the healthcare system. As the effectiveness and efficiency of telemedicine applications will often be strongly influenced by local issues, results of assessments may not be generalizable.
FACTORS AFFECTING THE UTILIZATION OF SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
Authors: Dobbins Maureen , Cockerill Rhonda , Barnsley Jan 
Published: December 2002

Objective: To determine the extent to which public health decision makers used five systematic reviews to make policy decisions, and to determine which characteristics predict their use.Methods: This cross-sectional follow-up study of public health decision makers in Ontario collected primary data using a telephone survey and a short, self-administered organizational demographics questionnaire completed by the administrative assistant for each Medical Officer of Health. Independent variables included characteristics of the innovation, organization, environment, and individual. Data were entered into a computerized database developed specifically for this study, and multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted.Results: The participation rate was very high, with 85% of public health units and 96% of available decision makers completing the survey. In addition, 63% of respondents stated they had used at least one of the systematic reviews in the previous 2 years to make a decision. The most important predictors of use were one's position, expecting to use a review in the future, and perceptions that the reviews were easy to use and that they overcame the barrier of limited critical appraisal skills.Conclusions: Utilization of the systematic reviews in Ontario was very high. The utilization rates found in this study were significantly higher than those reported in previous utilization studies. One's position was found to be the strongest predictor of use, identifying program managers and directors as the most appropriate audience for systematic reviews.
NICE LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
Authors: Farmer Jane , Chesson Rosemary 
Published: December 2002

Objectives: This study examined users' perceptions of the role and value of the Scottish Health Purchasing Information Centre (SHPIC) from 1995 to 1998.Methods: Questionnaires and interviews were used to gather data from Scottish GP fundholders and health board managers at two stages.Results: Initially, purchasers sought help in identifying the most relevant information. By 1997, while some appreciated the clinical and cost-effectiveness information produced, others were critical of lack of timely production and apparent lack of cooperation between agencies.Conclusions: New U.K. agencies can learn from SHPIC's problems, specifically in producing clear, coordinated, timely, independent, and well-marketed information with implementation strategies.Policy Implications: It is important to evaluate the impact of agencies to produce and disseminate evidence-based information, even if this has to be done pragmatically rather than as an outcomes-based assessment. Evidence from evaluations can inform direction and strategy for existing and new agencies.
ANALYZING DIFFERENCES IN THE COSTS OF TREATMENT ACROSS CENTERS WITHIN ECONOMIC EVALUATIONS
Authors: Coyle Douglas , Drummond Michael F. 
Published: December 2002

Objectives: Assessments of health technologies increasingly include economic evaluations conducted alongside clinical trials. One particular concern with economic evaluations conducted alongside clinical trials is the generalizability of results from one setting to another. Much of the focus relating to this topic has been on the generalizability of results between countries. However, the characteristics of clinical trial design require further consideration of the generalizability of cost data between centers within a single country, which could be important in decisions about adoption of the new technology.Methods: We used data from a multicenter clinical trial conducted in the United Kingdom to assess the degree of variation in costs between patients and between treatment centers and the determinants of the degree of such variation.Results: The variation between patients was statistically significant for both the experimental and conventional treatments. However, the degree of variation between centers was only statistically significant for the experimental treatment. Such variation appeared to be a result of hospital practice, such as payment mechanisms for staff and provision of hostel accommodation, rather than variations in physical resource use or substantive differences in cost structure.Conclusions: Multicenter economic evaluations are necessary for determining the variations in hospital practice and characteristics that can in turn determine the generalizability of study results to other settings. Such analyses can identify issues that may be important in adopting a new health technology. Analysis is required of similar large multicenter trials to confirm these conclusions.