Efficacy and toxicity of primary re-irradiation for malignant spinal cord compression based on radiobiological modelling: a phase II clinical trial.

Background: The efficacy and safety of primary re-irradiation for MSCC are not known. Our aim was to establish the efficacy and safety of biologically effective dose-based re-irradiation.

Methods: Patients presenting with MSCC at a previously irradiated spine segment, and not proceeding with surgical decompression, were eligible.

Non-inferiority randomised phase 3 trial comparing two radiation schedules (single vs. five fractions) in malignant spinal cord compression.

Background: The optimal EBRT schedule for MSCC is undetermined. Our aim was to determine whether a single fraction (SF) was non-inferior to five daily fractions (5Fx), for functional motor outcome.

Methods: Patients not proceeding with surgical decompression in this multicentre non-inferiority, Phase 3 trial were randomised to 10 Gy/SF or 20 Gy/5Fx.

Tomographic Biomarkers Predicting Progression to Fibrosis in Treated Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Multimodal Imaging Study.

Purpose: To describe the photoreceptor-retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interface changes and to analyze the relationships between these features and hyperreflective material (HRM) with scarring and atrophy at the macula of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Design: Retrospective single-center observational study.

Participants: A total of 150 eyes from 144 patients with naive nAMD were included.

Diagnostic performance on briefly presented digital pathology images.

Background: Identifying new and more robust assessments of proficiency/expertise (finding new "biomarkers of expertise") in histopathology is desirable for many reasons. Advances in digital pathology permit new and innovative tests such as flash viewing tests and eye tracking and slide navigation analyses that would not be possible with a traditional microscope. The main purpose of this study was to examine the usefulness of time-restricted testing of expertise in histopathology using digital images.

Secondary outcomes in a clinical trial of carotenoids with coantioxidants versus placebo in early age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: To report the secondary outcomes in the Carotenoids with Coantioxidants in Age-Related Maculopathy trial.

Design: Randomized double-masked placebo-controlled clinical trial (registered as ISRCTN 94557601).

Participants: Participants included 433 adults 55 years of age or older with early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 1 eye and late-stage disease in the fellow eye (group 1) or early AMD in both eyes (group 2).

Mobility and access to transport issues as experienced by people with vision impairment living in urban and rural Ireland.

Purpose: The loss of vision is associated with the impairment of functional ability, including a reduced ability to move around and to utilise all forms of transport. Walking in unfamiliar environments is challenging and driving becomes a legal prohibition. This article explores mobility and access to transport issues of urban and rural dwelling people with vision impairment in Ireland.

Toward an affirmative lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender leadership paradigm.

This article presents an affirmative paradigm for understanding the leadership of sexual minorities-that is, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Although research on LGBT issues in leadership to date is almost nonexistent, there are several bodies of literature that can contribute to an understanding of the unique leadership challenges faced by sexual minority people. These include the literatures on stigma and marginalization, leadership in particular status groups (e.

Carotenoids and co-antioxidants in age-related maculopathy: design and methods.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is the leading cause of blind registration in the Western World among individuals 65 years or older. Early AMD, a clinical state without overt functional loss, is said to be present clinically when yellowish deposits known as drusen and/or alterations of fundus pigmentation are seen in the macular retina. Although the etiopathogenesis of AMD remains uncertain, there is a growing body of evidence in support of the view that cumulative oxidative damage plays a causal role.

Rasch analysis of the daily living tasks dependent on vision (DLTV).

Purpose: To examine internal consistency, refine the response scale, and obtain a linear scoring system for the visual function instrument, the Daily Living Tasks Dependent on Vision (DLTV).

Methods: Data were available from 186 participants with a clinical diagnosis of AMD who completed the 22-item DLTV (DLTV-22) according to four-point ordinal response scale. An independent group of 386 participants with AMD were administered a reduced version of the DLTV with 11 items (DLTV-11), according to a five-point response scale.

Severity staging by early features of age-related maculopathy exhibits weak relationships with functional deficits on SWS grating acuity.

Purpose: To examine the relationship between short-wavelength-sensitive (SWS) resolution acuity and epidemiologically defined stages of early age-related maculopathy (ARM).

Methods: Subjects consisted of 88 adults aged 51 to 87 years. Psychophysical testing was undertaken in only one eye of each subject (the study eye).

Uptake of COX-2 selective inhibitors and influence on NSAID prescribing in Northern Ireland.

Purpose: Rofecoxib and celecoxib have been recently introduced and promoted as 'safer' non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) regarding gastric toxicity. The primary aim was to measure their uptake and any impact on conventional NSAID prescribing. A secondary aim was to assess any change in proton pump inhibitor (PPI) prescribing.

Risk adjustment for hospital use using social security data: cross sectional small area analysis.

Objectives: To identify demographic and socioeconomic determinants of need for acute hospital treatment at small area level. To establish whether there is a relation between poverty and use of inpatient services. To devise a risk adjustment formula for distributing public funds for hospital services using, as far as possible, variables that can be updated between censuses.