Exploring a novel outcome measure of symptom progression in knee osteoarthritis utilizing a large randomized trial.

Objectives: Explore a newly defined composite measure of symptom progression for knee osteoarthritis (KOA) in a large, randomized study of a potential disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD).

Design: Using longitudinal KOA studies, a potential composite endpoint of time to symptom progression was defined as the first occurrence of worsening of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) Pain of ≥10 points with no improvement (≤9 point decrease) in WOMAC Function (0-100 scale). A post hoc analysis explored discrimination and association with structural outcomes in the sprifermin FORWARD trial through Years 3 and 5.

The use and usefulness of the Peninsula Health Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PHFRAT) process in residential aged care: a mixed methods study across 25 aged care facilities.

Background: Falls remain a persistent problem in residential aged care (RAC) facilities. Fall screening and assessment tools such as the Peninsula Health Falls Risk Assessment Tool (PHFRAT) are widely used to inform falls risk and guide fall prevention interventions. However, it is unclear how it is used in practice and whether clinicians believe it supports resident care.

Same-sex sociosexual behaviour is widespread and heritable in male rhesus macaques.

Numerous reports have documented the occurrence of same-sex sociosexual behaviour (SSB) across animal species. However, the distribution of the behaviour within a species needs to be studied to test hypotheses describing its evolution and maintenance, in particular whether the behaviour is heritable and can therefore evolve by natural selection. Here we collected detailed observations across 3 yr of social and mounting behaviour of 236 male semi-wild rhesus macaques, which we combined with a pedigree dating back to 1938, to show that SSB is both repeatable (19.

Extending the preoxygenation period from 4 to 8 mins in critically ill patients undergoing emergency intubation.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of increasing the preoxygenation period with 100% oxygen in the critically ill patient from 4 to 8 mins in preparation for emergency tracheal intubation.

Design: Nonrandomized, controlled trial.

Setting: Large, level one trauma center, tertiary care intensive care unit.

Endodontic treatment outcome: effect of the permanent restoration.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between the presence of the coronal restoration and endodontic treatment success or failure.

Methods: This study comprised 200 endodontically treated teeth with 441 roots. Follow-up examination was conducted 4 +/- 0.

Effects of topical L-selenomethionine with topical and oral vitamin E on pigmentation and skin cancer induced by ultraviolet irradiation in Skh:2 hairless mice.

Background: The antioxidants selenium and vitamin E can be effective in reducing acute and chronic ultraviolet (UV)-induced skin damage.

Objective: This study investigated whether topical L-selenomethionine with topical RRR-alpha-tocopherol (Eol) or oral RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (Eac) can reduce the incidence of UV-induced skin damage more than treatment with each alone.

Methods: Skh:2 hairless pigmented mice were treated with lotion vehicle, L-selenomethionine lotion, Eol lotion, oral Eac, L-selenomethionine plus Eol lotion, or L-selenomethionine lotion plus oral Eac and exposed to UVB.

Endodontic infection: some biologic and treatment factors associated with outcome.

Objective: We sought to investigate the simultaneous effect of apical periodontitis, instrumentation level, and density of root canal filling on endodontic treatment outcome.

Methods: For this study, 200 endodontically treated teeth with 441 roots were used. A follow-up examination was conducted 4 +/- 0.

Inguinal hernia in preterm infants (< or = 32-week gestation).

The current incidence of inguinal hernia (IH) in premature infants is not well-established. It is also unclear whether common co-morbidities in this population, i.e.

Effect of ingestion of honey on symptoms of rhinoconjunctivitis.

Background: Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis is a common disorder, affecting >20% of people of all socioeconomic strata. Despite this high prevalence, relatively few sufferers seek professional medical help, presumably because of a widespread reliance on complementary remedies.

Objective: We investigated the widely held belief among allergy-sufferers that regular ingestion of honey ameliorates the symptoms of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Results of primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty plus abciximab with or without stenting for acute myocardial infarction complicated by cardiogenic shock.

This study examines the effects of abciximab as adjunctive therapy in primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) complicated by cardiogenic shock. Abciximab improves the outcome of primary PTCA for AMI, but its efficacy in cardiogenic shock remains unknown. Case report forms were completed in-hospital and follow-up was obtained by telephone, outpatient visit, and review of hospital readmission records.

Biostatistical consultation for dental research.

Dental science researchers do not really need a detailed, ready-at-hand knowledge of statistics to design and perform high quality scientific research. Although the acquisition and utilization of such knowledge by dental researchers is not discouraged, it is proposed that it is more important for dental researchers to be committed to developing and maintaining a long term, ongoing, interactive consulting relationship with a biostatistician. The nature of this relationship will depend in large part on the complexity of the dental research being conducted.

Efficacy of clarithromycin in preventing viridans streptococcal bacteremia following autologous stem cell transplantation.

Background: In a study involving 200 patients, we previously found that 17.5% of patients developed viridans streptococcal (VS) bacteremia following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (aPBSCT) when ciprofloxacin or ciprofloxacin plus ampicillin was used for prophylaxis.

Patients And Methods: A retrospective evaluation of 100 consecutive recipients of aPBSCT was conducted to ascertain the incidence and outcome of VS bacteremia when a combination of ciprofLoxacin and clarithromycin was utilized for antimicrobiaL prophylaxis following transplantation.

Cytoreduction and stem cell mobilization with a regimen of paclitaxel, etoposide and cyclophosphamide followed by autologous transplantation using a preparative regimen of busulfan, etoposide and cyclophosphamide for patients with advanced lymphoma.

Forty-one patients with advanced Hodgkin's disease or intermediate or high-grade lymphoma, after having received standard salvage chemotherapy, were treated with a nonablative high-dose regimen of paclitaxel, etoposide and cyclophosphamide (D-TEC) to optimally cytoreduce their disease and simultaneously mobilize peripheral blood stem cells. This regimen produced a response rate of 78% (35% complete and 43.2% partial response) and mobilized sufficient peripheral blood stem cells in 94% of the patients.

Dexamethasone, paclitaxel, etoposide, cyclophosphamide (d-TEC) and G-CSF for stem cell mobilisation in multiple myeloma.

Forty-one patients with multiple myeloma were treated with a novel stem cell mobilisation regimen. The primary end points were adequate stem cell mobilising ability (>1% circulating CD34-positive cells) and collection (> or = 4 x 10(6) CD34-positive cells/kg), and safety. The secondary end point was activity against myeloma.

The effect of aromatase inhibition on sex steroids, gonadotropins, and markers of bone turnover in older men.

There is evidence that estrogen decreases bone turnover in men as well as women. We therefore hypothesized that older men would show increased bone resorption in response to inhibition of the aromatase enzyme, which converts androgens to estrogen. Fifteen eugonadal men over 65 yr were treated for 9 weeks with 2.

Effects of topical and oral vitamin E on pigmentation and skin cancer induced by ultraviolet irradiation in Skh:2 hairless mice.

This study investigates whether supplementation with topical RRR-alpha-tocopherol (Eol), topical RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate, and oral RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate can reduce the incidence of acute and chronic damage to the skin (i.e., sunburn and pigmentation and skin cancer, respectively) induced by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation to mice.

A prognostic model for assessment of the outcome of endodontic treatment: Effect of biologic and diagnostic variables.

Objective: Many biological variables, endodontic treatment factors, and restorative considerations have been suggested in the literature to affect the outcome of endodontic treatment. However, few attempts have been made recently to study these variables further. The purpose of this study was to identify the biologic and endodontic treatment-associated variables that are most predictive of treatment outcome for conventional endodontic therapy and to determine the magnitude of risk these variables pose on the outcome.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy does not demonstrably decrease survival of patients with serendipitously treated gallbladder cancer.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possibility that laparoscopic cholecystectomy has worsened the prognosis of patients with resected gallbladder cancer; particularly for patients whose cancer was accidentally resected.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective review of Connecticut Tumor Registry data and data extracted from individual patient records at 15 of 30 hospitals in Connecticut reporting data to the Registry, at two separate time points, 1985-1988 (immediate prelaparoscopic era) and 1992-95 (laparoscopic cholecystectomy well established). There were 194 and 208 patients in each 3-year period, respectively.

Idiopathic pneumonia syndrome following myeloablative chemotherapy and autologous transplantation.

Objective: To report the outcome as well as the clinical, radiographic, and pathologic features of idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS) following autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (aPBSCT).

Clinical Findings: A total of 271 patients with a variety of underlying malignancies received busulfan-containing myeloablative chemotherapy prior to aPBSCT; none of these patients received total body irradiation. Ten individuals developed IPS, with a median time of onset of 102 days after stem cell infusion.

The effect of short-term treatment with micronized estradiol on bone turnover and gonadotrophins in older men.

Evidence for the role of estrogen in male bone metabolism has been confirmed by studies on a man with a genetic defect in the estrogen receptor as well as men with aromatase defects. All exhibited tall stature, delayed epiphysial closure, decreased bone density and increased bone turnover. Estrogen is likely to affect bone turnover in men throughout life; therefore, we hypothesized that older men would show decreased bone resorption in response to estrogen therapy.