Ground beetles suppress slugs in corn and soybean under conservation agriculture.

Conservation agriculture practices such as eliminating tillage and planting high residue cover crops are becoming increasingly important in field crop systems in the US Mid-Atlantic. However, these practices have sometimes been associated with an increase in moderate to severe damage to field crops by slugs. Conserving natural enemy populations is a desirable way to manage slug infestations because remedial control measures are limited.

The Impact of a Worksite-Based Diabetes Prevention Intervention: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a program to prevent the development of type 2 diabetes among participants with prediabetes. The program focused on a healthy eating style, behavior modification, daily physical activity, and achieving a healthy weight. This was a retrospective observational analysis of a pilot program designed to prevent diabetes among employees with prediabetes.

Walgreens connected care: impact of managed therapy on adherence to medications used to treat multiple sclerosis and related comorbid conditions.

Background: The Walgreens Connected Care Multiple Sclerosis (CCMS) treatment management program provides enhanced levels of monitoring, oversight, and care for patients taking MS disease-modifying agents. This study compared rates of adherence to MS medications for patients participating in the CCMS program for at least 6 months with those for patients participating for less than 6 months. For a subsample of patients, we also examined the relationship between adherence and the presence of fatigue or depression.

Which modifiable health risks are associated with changes in productivity costs?

The purpose of this retrospective, longitudinal study was to assess longitudinal associations between modifiable health risks and workplace absenteeism and presenteeism and to estimate lost productivity costs. Across the 4-year study period (2007-2010), 17,089 unique employees from a large US computer manufacturer with a highly technical workforce completed at least 1 health risk assessment. Generalized estimating equation models were used to estimate the mean population-level absenteeism and presenteeism for 11 modifiable health risks and adjust for 9 sociodemographic and employment-related factors.

The 340B discount program: outpatient prescription dispensing patterns through contract pharmacies in 2012.

Section 340B of the Public Health Service Act provides qualified organizations serving vulnerable populations with deep discounts for some outpatient medications. A 2010 regulatory change widely expanded the 340B program's reach, allowing these organizations to contract with retail pharmacies to dispense medications for eligible patients. Little is known about which medications are dispensed by contract pharmacies under the expanded program.

Impact of HIV-specialized pharmacies on adherence to medications for comorbid conditions.

Objective: To determine if patients using human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-specialized pharmacies have greater adherence to drugs used to treat comorbid conditions and HIV compared with patients who use traditional pharmacies.

Design: Retrospective cohort study, with patients' propensity matched based on pharmacy use: HIV-specialized versus traditional.

Setting: Nationwide pharmacy chain.

The impact of a worksite weight management program on obesity: a retrospective analysis.

The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of a worksite weight management program on the reduction of weight and lipid levels in employees and their dependents. This retrospective study examined the impact of a one-on-one worksite weight management program. Patients with a body mass index (BMI)>30, or a BMI>25 and 2 or more risk factors were eligible for inclusion.

The effect of a collaborative pharmacist-hospital care transition program on the likelihood of 30-day readmission.

Purpose: The effect of a collaborative pharmacist-hospital care transition program on the likelihood of 30-day readmission was evaluated.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in two acute care hospitals within the same hospital system in the southeastern United States. One hospital initiated a care transition program in January 2011; the other hospital did not have such a program.

Evaluation of increased adherence and cost savings of an employer value-based benefits program targeting generic antihyperlipidemic and antidiabetic medications.

Background: A major employer implemented a change to its employee health benefits program to allow beneficiaries with diabetes or high cholesterol to obtain preselected generic antidiabetic or generic antihyperlipidemic medications with a zero dollar copayment. To receive this benefit, plan beneficiaries were required to participate in a contracted vendor's case management and/or wellness program. 

Objective: To assess changes in medication adherence and the costs for generic antidiabetic and generic antihyperlipidemic medications resulting from participation in a zero copay (ZCP) program.

The prevalence of traditional herbal medicine use among hypertensives living in South African communities.

Background: In South Africa, over 6 million people are hypertensive and the burden of disease shows that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death among adults. Although treatments exist, few people comply or adhere to recommended treatment due to side effects or costs of the drugs, hence the reliance on alternative forms of treatment. Traditional herbal medicines (THM) are used for the management of hypertension but the prevalence of its use among hypertensive patients living in South African communities is not sufficiently known.

Hormonal therapy plus bevacizumab in postmenopausal patients who have hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer: a phase II Trial of the Sarah Cannon Oncology Research Consortium.

Purpose: Preclinical models suggest that addition of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy may improve the efficacy of anti-estrogens in hormone-sensitive breast cancer. This phase II trial evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of bevacizumab added to either anastrozole or fulvestrant in the first-line treatment of patients who have hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: Women who had newly diagnosed metastatic hormone receptor-positive breast cancer were eligible.

A phase II study of higher dose weekly topotecan in relapsed small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Five-day topotecan is approved by the US Federal Drug Administration (FDA) for sensitive relapsed small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). We previously found that 4 mg/m(2) intravenous (I.V.

Phase II trial of FOLFOX6, bevacizumab, and cetuximab in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer.

Purpose: To examine FOLFOX/bevacizumab/cetuximab in the first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

Design: Randomized phase II trial aimed at achieving a 60% objective response rate (ORR). Due to frequent cetuximab-related hypersensitivity reactions the trial was amended to a single-arm design.

Bevacizumab and everolimus in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma: a phase 2 trial of the Sarah Cannon Oncology Research Consortium.

Background: In this phase 2 study, the activity and tolerability of the combination of bevacizumab, an inhibitor of angiogenesis, and everolimus, an inhibitor of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), was evaluated in the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma.

Methods: Patients with metastatic melanoma who had received up to 2 previous systemic regimens (chemotherapy and/or immunotherapy) were eligible. Previous treatment with angiogenesis or mTOR inhibitors was not allowed.

Concurrent radiotherapy and temozolomide followed by temozolomide and sorafenib in the first-line treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Background: The current study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of sorafenib, an oral vascular endothelial growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, when added to standard radiotherapy and temozolomide in the first-line treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Methods: After initial surgical resection or biopsy, patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme received concurrent radiotherapy (2.0 grays [Gy]/day; total dose, 60 Gy) and temozolomide (at a dose of 75 mg/m2 orally daily), followed by 6 months of maintenance therapy with temozolomide (at a dose of 150 mg/m2 orally on Days 1-5 every 28 days) and sorafenib (at a dose of 400 mg orally twice daily).

Phase II trial of vinflunine in relapsed small cell lung cancer.

Background: Vinflunine is a new microtubule inhibitor with preclinical activity in small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In this phase II trial, we evaluated vinflunine in patients with relapse-sensitive and refractory SCLC.

Methods: This trial aimed to achieve a 20% objective response rate (ORR) in platinum-sensitive patients.

A phase II trial of carboplatin and weekly topotecan in the first-line treatment of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer.

Background: Carboplatin and topotecan are commonly used in the treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC); however, there are no data for this combination in the first-line setting using weekly topotecan. In this multicenter, community-based phase II trial, we evaluated carboplatin and weekly topotecan in the previously untreated patients with extensive stage SCLC.

Methods: This trial was designed to achieve an objective response rate (ORR) of 70% (alpha = 0.

Phase II trial of bevacizumab and everolimus in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the combination of bevacizumab, an angiogenesis inhibitor, and everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, in the treatment of patients with advanced clear cell renal carcinoma.

Patients And Methods: Two groups of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma were eligible for this study: those with no previous treatment with targeted agents and those with previous treatment with sunitinib and/or sorafenib. All patients received bevacizumab 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks and everolimus 10 mg orally daily.

Phase I/II trial of preoperative oxaliplatin, docetaxel, and capecitabine with concurrent radiation therapy in localized carcinoma of the esophagus or gastroesophageal junction.

Purpose: Preoperative chemoradiotherapy is a primary treatment option for patients with resectable esophageal cancer. Combination regimens using newer agents may improve patient outcomes. This multicenter community-based phase I/II trial examined a modern triplet regimen comprised of oxaliplatin, docetaxel, and capecitabine (ODC) combined with radiation therapy (RT).

Brief-duration rituximab/chemotherapy followed by maintenance rituximab in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are poor candidates for R-CHOP chemotherapy: a phase II trial of the Sarah Cannon Oncology Research Consortium.

Introduction: Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are very elderly or have poor performance status are difficult to treat with a full course of R-CHOP (rituximab plus cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/ prednisone) therapy. In this phase II trial, we treated this group of patients with a novel regimen containing 3 courses of rituximab/chemotherapy followed by maintenance rituximab.

Patients And Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed stage II-IV DLBCL were eligible if they were considered poor candidates for 6-8 cycles of R-CHOP therapy.

Paclitaxel/carboplatin/etoposide versus gemcitabine/irinotecan in the first-line treatment of patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site: a randomized, phase III Sarah Cannon Oncology Research Consortium Trial.

Purpose: To compare the results of empiric first-line therapy with paclitaxel/carboplatin/etoposide (PCE) versus gemcitabine/irinotecan, both followed by single-agent gefitinib, in patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site.

Patients And Methods: Patients with previously untreated carcinoma of unknown primary site were randomized to receive either PCE or gemcitabine/irinotecan. Responding and stable patients continued treatment for 4 to 6 cycles.

A phase II randomized crossover study of liposomal doxorubicin versus weekly docetaxel in the first-line treatment of women with metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: We aim to compare the efficacy and toxicity of liposomal doxorubicin and weekly docetaxel as first-line treatments for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Patients And Methods: Patients who had received no previous chemotherapy for MBC were eligible. Previous hormonal therapy, adjuvant chemotherapy, and radiation therapy were allowed.

Relation of aortic valve sclerosis to risk of coronary heart disease in African-Americans.

To assess the relation between aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) and subsequent occurrence of coronary heart disease (CHD) events, we analyzed echocardiographic data obtained from 2,279 middle-aged African-Americans enrolled in the Jackson Mississippi Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study cohort who were free of known CHD at the time of the examination. Cox regression analyses demonstrated a hazard ratio of 3.8 for incident first myocardial infarction or fatal CHD after adjusted for multiple risk factors, including markers of inflammation.