Direct and indirect healthcare and carbon savings with ACTIVE Particle Control air-purification.

Controlling airborne transmitted disease remains a challenge to clinicians, healthcare administrators, and engineers. Engineering measures are critical to any infection control program but can require extensive installation procedures, may be expensive to maintain, and may not always demonstrate clinical or financial benefit. We determined the financial and carbon benefits of an engineering solution to combat air pollutants and to control airborne transmitted disease.

Histopathologic variables differentially affect melanoma survival by age at diagnosis.

We evaluated clinical, phenotypic, behavioral, and histopathologic variables in relationship to melanoma-specific survival by age at diagnosis among 650 population-based melanoma patients in Connecticut, with 20 years of follow-up. Only one variable, skin awareness, was significantly associated with melanoma mortality in both groups. The variables that differed between the age-groups were anatomic site, Breslow thickness, histologic subtype, mitoses, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), and solar elastosis.

Skin self-examination and long-term melanoma survival.

To evaluate the effect of skin self-examination (SSE) on melanoma mortality, we estimated the survival for individuals performing SSE compared with those who did not. Participants were from a previously carried out case-control study, who were newly diagnosed melanoma cases in 1987-1989. A 20-year survival analysis was carried out using death (event) and other causes of death (competing).

Red meat and fruit intake is prognostic among patients with localized cutaneous melanomas more than 1mm thick.

Background: As the 10-year mortality for localized cutaneous melanoma more than 1.00 mm thick approaches 40% following complete resection, non-therapeutic interventions that can supplement recommended active surveillance are needed. Although guidelines recommending nutrition, physical activity and tobacco cessation for cancer survivors have been published, data describing their associations with melanoma survivorship are lacking.

Outcomes following active surveillance of men with localized prostate cancer diagnosed in the prostate specific antigen era.

Purpose: We gained insights concerning outcomes associated with men who elect active surveillance for the management of localized prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective case series analysis of 40 patients diagnosed with localized prostate cancer since 1990 who elected active surveillance.

Results: A total of 31 patients remained on active surveillance for a median of 48 months (range 12 to 168).

Ambient UVB and melanoma risk in the United States: a case-control analysis.

Purpose: Exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation is a well-established risk factor for human cutaneous malignant melanoma. Intermittent and cumulative exposures from UVB have been estimated most often by interview questionnaire. This study assessed cumulative UVB using a ground-based measurement instrument to estimate the association between UVB and melanoma.

13-year outcomes following treatment for clinically localized prostate cancer in a population based cohort.

Purpose: Because data from randomized trials initiated after the introduction of prostate specific antigen testing are unavailable, we performed a retrospective, population based study to estimate prostate cancer specific survival and overall survival after surgery, radiation or observation to manage clinically localized prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: From the Connecticut Tumor Registry we identified Connecticut residents 75 years or younger diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1992. We obtained information from physician offices concerning treatments received by 1,618 patients who underwent surgery (802), external beam radiation therapy (702) or no initial therapy (114) and subsequent medical outcomes.

Prostate cancer and the Will Rogers phenomenon.

Background: Information on tumor stage and grade are used to assess cancer prognosis and to produce standardized comparisons of end results over time. Changes in the interpretation of classification schemes can alter the apparent distribution of cancer stage or grade in the absence of a true biologic change. Since the introduction of prostate-specific antigen testing, the reported incidence of low-grade prostate cancer has declined.

20-year outcomes following conservative management of clinically localized prostate cancer.

Context: The appropriate therapy for men with clinically localized prostate cancer is uncertain. A recent study suggested an increasing prostate cancer mortality rate for men who are alive more than 15 years following diagnosis.

Objective: To estimate 20-year survival based on a competing risk analysis of men who were diagnosed with clinically localized prostate cancer and treated with observation or androgen withdrawal therapy alone, stratified by age at diagnosis and histological findings.

The importance of mitotic rate as a prognostic factor for localized cutaneous melanoma.

Background: Tumor ulceration (TU) is considered the second most important prognostic factor after Breslow thickness for localized cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). However, many studies have not included mitotic rate (MR) with TU in these analyses. When both TU and MR are included in the same analysis, MR appears to be the more important than TU and TU loses its significance as an independent prognostic factor.

Sun exposure and mortality from melanoma.

Background: Melanoma incidence and survival are positively associated, both geographically and temporally. Solar elastosis, a histologic indicator of cutaneous sun damage, has also been positively associated with melanoma survival. Although these observations raise the possibility that sun exposure increases melanoma survival, they could be explained by an association between incidence and early detection of melanoma.

Validation of increasing prostate specific antigen as a predictor of prostate cancer death after treatment of localized prostate cancer with surgery or radiation.

Purpose: Many patients who undergo surgery or radiation therapy to treat localized prostate cancer experience an increase in serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) after treatment. This study documents patterns of PSA recurrence after surgery or radiation to treat localized prostate cancer and quantifies the extent to which an increasing PSA predicts death from prostate cancer.

Materials And Methods: Posttreatment PSA levels were measured on a population based cohort of 1136 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer in community practice in Connecticut between 1990 and 1992, and treated within 6 months of diagnosis with surgery or radiation with or without androgen withdrawal therapy.