Age-related changes in the auditory brainstem response.

Purpose: This cross-sectional study had two goals: (1) Identify and quantify the effects of aging on the auditory brainstem response (ABR); (2) Describe how click rate and hearing impairment modify effects of aging. RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS: ABR measures were obtained from 131 predominately male Veteran participants aged 26 to 71 yr. Metrics analyzed include amplitude and latency for waves I, III, and V, and the I-V interpeak latency interval (IPI) at three repetition rates (11, 51, and 71 clicks/sec) using both polarities.

Audiometric thresholds and prevalence of tinnitus among male veterans in the United States: data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2006.

Hearing loss and tinnitus are the two most prevalent service-connected disabilities among U.S. veterans.

Adjuvant therapy and survival after resection of pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a population-based analysis.

Background: The use of adjuvant chemoradiation for pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is accepted in North America, but there is a paucity of data to support this practice. The relation between adjuvant therapy and survival was assessed in a population-based cohort of patients with PAC.

Methods: A review was conducted of all cases of resected PAC from 1996 to 2003 using data from the state cancer registry augmented with data from primary medical record review.

Diabetes-related changes in auditory brainstem responses.

Objectives/hypothesis: Determine effects on auditory brainstem response (ABR) of diabetes mellitus (DM) severity.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study investigating DM severity and ABR in military Veteran subjects with (166) and without (138) DM and with no more than moderate hearing loss.

Methods: Subjects were classified by three age tertiles (<50, 50-56, and 57+).

Diabetes-related changes in hearing.

Objectives/hypothesis: Determine the effects on hearing of diabetes mellitus (DM) severity.

Study Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study among Veterans to investigate the relationship of diabetes severity and hearing in randomly selected subjects with (165) and without (137) DM and who had no more than a moderate hearing loss.

Methods: Subjects were classified by three age tertiles (<50, 50-56, and 57+ years).

Incremental lifetime cancer risks computed for benzo[a]pyrene and two tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in mainstream cigarette smoke compared with lung cancer risks derived from epidemiologic data.

The manner in which humans smoke cigarettes is an important determinant of smoking risks. Of the few investigators that have predicted cancer risks from smoking on a chemical-specific basis, most used mainstream cigarette smoke (MCS) carcinogen emissions obtained via machine smoking protocols that only approximate human smoking conditions. Here we use data of Djordjevic et al.

Evolving preoperative evaluation of patients with pancreatic cancer: does laparoscopy have a role in the current era?

Background: Recent years have brought important developments in preoperative imaging and use of laparoscopic staging of patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC). There are few data about the optimal combination of preoperative studies to accurately identify resectable patients.

Study Design: We conducted a statewide review of all patients with surgically managed PAC from 1996 to 2003 using data from the Oregon State Cancer Registry, augmented with clinical information from primary medical record review.

Incidence and prevalence of uveitis in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers of the Pacific Northwest.

Purpose: To ascertain the frequency of uveitis in Veterans Affairs (VA) patients in the Pacific Northwest and to compare disease rates with those in previously published epidemiologic studies.

Design: Cross-sectional, population based-study.

Methods: The medical records of 152,267 patients seen at six VA Medical Centers in Oregon and Washington during fiscal year 2004 were searched for uveitis-related International Classification of Diseases 9th edition codes.

Detection and description of small breast masses by residents trained using a standardized clinical breast exam curriculum.

Objectives: We evaluated the effect of standardized clinical breast examination (CBE) training on residents' ability to detect a 3-mm breast mass in a silicone breast model.

Methods: In this nonrandomized controlled trial, 75 first year residents (R1s) at 8 family medicine, internal medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology training programs received the intervention and second year residents (R2s) did not. Trained residency faculty taught R1s vertical strip, three-pressure method (VS3PM) CBE using a standardized curriculum, including a 1- to 2-hour online self-study with video and 2.

The association between advertising and calls to a tobacco quitline.

Objective: This study assessed the cost effectiveness of different types of television and radio advertisements and the time of day in which advertisements were placed in generating calls to the Oregon tobacco quitline.

Design: Cost effectiveness was measured by cost per call, calculated as the cost of advertising divided by the number of quitline calls generated by that advertising. Advertising was bought in one-week or two-week blocks and included 27 daytime television buys, 22 evening television buys and 31 radio buys.

Calculated cancer risks for conventional and "potentially reduced exposure product" cigarettes.

Toxicant deliveries (by machine smoking) are compiled and associated cancer risks are calculated for 13 carcinogens from 26 brands of conventional cigarettes categorized as "regular" (R), "light" (Lt), or "ultralight" (ULt), and for a reference cigarette. Eight "potentially reduced exposure product" (PREP) cigarettes are also considered. Because agency-to-agency differences exist in the cancer slope factor (CSF) values adopted for some carcinogens, two CSF sets were used in the calculations: set I [U.

Structured clinical breast examination (CBE) training results in objective improvement in CBE skills.

Background: A statewide breast cancer care provider needs assessment had identified CBE training as a target educational need. Accordingly, the authors implemented a one-on-one skills-based course for primary care providers (PCPs) across the state.

Method: The course had two components: a prerequisite self-study manual, followed by a 1 1/2-hour skills-based practicum.