Evaluation of venous thromboembolism risk assessment models for hospital inpatients: the VTEAM evidence synthesis.

Background: Pharmacological prophylaxis during hospital admission can reduce the risk of acquired blood clots (venous thromboembolism) but may cause complications, such as bleeding. Using a risk assessment model to predict the risk of blood clots could facilitate selection of patients for prophylaxis and optimise the balance of benefits, risks and costs.

Objectives: We aimed to identify validated risk assessment models and estimate their prognostic accuracy, evaluate the cost-effectiveness of different strategies for selecting hospitalised patients for prophylaxis, assess the feasibility of using efficient research methods and estimate key parameters for future research.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of two interventions to promote physical activity in a multiethnic population at high risk of diabetes: an economic evaluation of the 48-month PROPELS randomized controlled trial.

Introduction: Physical activity (PA) is protective against type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, data on pragmatic long-term interventions to reduce the risk of developing T2D via increased PA are lacking. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of a pragmatic PA intervention in a multiethnic population at high risk of T2D.

What are the cost-savings and health benefits of improving detection and management for six high cardiovascular risk conditions in England? An economic evaluation.

Objectives: To estimate the cost savings and health benefits of improving detection of individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in England, to determine to which patient subgroups these benefits arise, and to compare different strategies for subsequent management.

Design: An economic analysis using the School for Public Health Research CVD Prevention Model.

Setting: England 2018.

Assessing the potential return on investment of the proposed UK NHS diabetes prevention programme in different population subgroups: an economic evaluation.

Objectives: To evaluate potential return on investment of the National Health Service Diabetes Prevention Programme (NHS DPP) in England and estimate which population subgroups are likely to benefit most in terms of cost-effectiveness, cost-savings and health benefits.

Design: Economic analysis using the School for Public Health Research Diabetes Prevention Model.

Setting: England 2015-2016.

Differences in organ system of distant metastasis by renal cell carcinoma subtype.

Purpose: The majority of the published data regarding the rates of renal cell carcinoma metastasis to specific locations has examined renal cell carcinoma as a whole. We evaluated site of distant metastasis by renal cell carcinoma histological subtype.

Materials And Methods: We studied 910 patients treated with radical nephrectomy for clear cell, papillary or chromophobe renal cell carcinoma at the Mayo Clinic between 1970 and 2000 who had distant metastasis at nephrectomy or who had metastasis during followup.

Low IGF-1 levels are associated with cardiovascular risk factors in haemodialysis patients.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) constitute a significant risk and may, in part, explain the high morbidity and mortality rates among haemodialysis (HD) patients. Several studies have implicated reduced insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) levels in the development of CVD. However, it is not clear whether IGF-1, and its relationship with other hormones such as leptin, insulin, and growth hormone (GH), as well as anthropometric variables may explain the high incidence of vascular complications in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients.

Predicting the impact of population level risk reduction in cardio-vascular disease and stroke on acute hospital admission rates over a 5 year period--a pilot study.

Unlabelled: The brief for this study was to produce a practical, evidence based, financial planning tool, which could be used to present an economic argument for funding a public health-based prevention programme in coronary heart disease (CHD) related illness on the same basis as treatment interventions.

Objectives: To explore the possibility of using multivariate risk prediction equations, derived from the Framingham and other studies, to estimate how many people in a population are likely to be admitted to hospital in the next 5-10 years with cardio vascular disease (CVD) related events such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure and kidney disease. To estimate the potential financial impact of reductions in hospital admissions, on an 'invest to save' basis, if primary care trusts (PCTs) were to invest in public health based interventions to reduce cardiovascular risk at a population level.

Circulating levels of endothelin-1 in a homogenous Gulf Arab population with untreated essential hypertension.

Background: Racial variations are reported in the natural history of hypertension. For example, hypertension is significantly more prevalent in blacks than whites. Endothelial cells are important regulators of vascular tone and homeostasis, in part through secretions of vasoactive substances including endothelin-1 (ET-1), a small peptide with potent vasopressor actions.

Case report: intraoperative anaphylactoid reaction and hydroxyethyl starch in balanced electrolyte solution (Hextend).

Purpose: To report a first case of probable anaphylactoid reaction to 6% hydroxyethyl starch reconstituted in balanced electrolyte and glucose solution (Hextend).

Clinical Features: A 22-yr-old man was admitted for a partial nephrectomy. Near the end of the four-hour operation, an infusion of Hextend was initiated.

Costimulatory molecule B7-H1 in primary and metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

Background: Cancer cell expression of costimulatory molecule B7-H1 has been implicated as a potent inhibitor of T-cell-mediated antitumoral immunity. The authors recently reported that B7-H1 is aberrantly expressed in primary renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Blockade of B7-H1, as demonstrated in several murine cancer models, now represents a promising therapeutic target in RCC.

Should the upper tracts be imaged for microscopic haematuria?

Objective: To determine the relative prevalence of various definitions of microscopic haematuria (MH) in patients with renal neoplasms and controls, and to predict the likely outcome of renal imaging for those definitions.

Patients And Methods: In a retrospective case-control study 278 adult men and woman seen between 1998 and 2003 with untreated renal neoplasms were compared to controls matched for age and sex. All cases and controls had renal imaging within 6 months of a urine analysis.

Comparison of presentation and outcome for patients 18 to 40 and 60 to 70 years old with solid renal masses.

Purpose: We compared histological subtype, pathological features and outcome of patients with solid renal masses who were 18 to 40 years old vs patients who were 60 to 70 years old.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the Mayo Clinic Nephrectomy Registry from 1970 to 2000, and identified 124 patients 18 to 40 years old and 1,067 patients 60 to 70 years old available for analysis.

Results: There was no significant difference in the incidence of benign solid renal masses between patients 18 to 40 years old and those 60 to 70 years old (13.

Split-thickness skin graft for the management of concealed penis.

Purpose: We review the use of split-thickness skin grafting in children with concealed penis.

Materials And Methods: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for all patients younger than 20 years seen at our institution from 1995 to 2003 with a diagnosis of concealed penis. Patients were separated into "primary" and "secondary" groups based on the cause of concealment.

Tissue ablation technologies for localized prostate cancer.

Traditional treatments for men with localized prostate cancer have included both surgical removal and radiation therapy, with their potential adverse effects on patient quality of life. Thus, there has been increasing interest in the development of minimally invasive procedures that use various technologies to deliver lethal doses of heat or cold to the prostate in an attempt to kill cancer cells. At the same time, it is vital that these newer techniques ablate prostate tissue and spare vital periprostatic organs essential for maintaining function and quality of life.

Plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids in chronic renal failure in the United Arab Emirates.

Objective: In end-stage renal failure, dyslipoproteinemia is linked to risk of cardiovascular disease. Increased concentrations of triacylglycerol-rich, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and decreased concentrations of high density lipoproteins (HDL) are usual, whilst total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations are not increased. Non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are not transported by lipoproteins, but increased concentrations may also be associated with cardiovascular disease risk.

Costimulatory B7-H1 in renal cell carcinoma patients: Indicator of tumor aggressiveness and potential therapeutic target.

Expression of B7-H1, a costimulating glycoprotein in the B7 family, is normally restricted to macrophage-lineage cells, providing a potential costimulatory signal source for regulation of T cell activation. In contrast, aberrant expression of B7-H1 by tumor cells has been implicated in impairment of T cell function and survival, resulting in defective host antitumoral immunity. The relationship between tumor-associated B7-H1 and clinical cancer progression is unknown.