An instrument assessing satisfaction with iron chelation therapy: Psychometric testing from an open-label clinical trial.

Introduction: The Satisfaction with Iron Chelation Therapy (SICT) instrument was developed based on a literature review, in-depth patient and clinician interviews, and cognitive debriefing interviews. An, open-label, single arm, multicenter trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of deferasirox in patients diagnosed with transfusion-dependent iron overload, provided an opportunity to assess the psychometric measurement properties of the instrument.

Methods: Psychometric analyses were performed using data at baseline from 273 patients with a range of transfusion-dependent iron overload conditions who were participating in a multinational study.

Corrected and uncorrected near and distance vision with ReSTOR compared to monofocal intraocular lens implantation after cataract surgery: a pooled analysis.

Background/aim: To evaluate distance and near vision-related benefit after implantation of ReSTOR multifocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) following cataract surgery.

Methods: Two prospective open-labeled nonrandomized studies were pooled. Patients' perception of benefit was assessed with the TyPE, administered at baseline and after each eye surgery.

Iron chelation therapy: clinical effectiveness, economic burden and quality of life in patients with iron overload.

Introduction: This study of UK patients examines clinical, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and economic outcomes associated with iron chelation therapy (ICT). Desferrioxamine (DFO) (Desferal; Novartis, Switzerland) and Deferiprone (Ferriprox; Apotex, Canada) are ICTs used to treat iron overload. DFO requires 8-to 12-hour infusions a minimum of five times per week.

Satisfaction and adherence in patients with iron overload receiving iron chelation therapy as assessed by a newly developed patient instrument.

Objectives: This study assesses satisfaction with iron chelation therapy (ICT) based on a reliable and valid instrument, and explores the relationship between satisfaction and adherence to ICT.

Methods: Patients in the USA and UK completed a new "Satisfaction with ICT" (SICT) instrument consisting of 28 items, three pertaining to adherence. Simple and multivariate regression analyses assessed the relationship between satisfaction with different aspects of ICT and adherence.

Patient-reported benefit of ReSTOR multi-focal intraocular lenses after cataract surgery: results of principal component analysis on clinical trial data.

Background: Restoration of functional distance and near vision independently of additional correction remains a goal for cataract surgery. ReSTOR, a new multi-focal intraocular lens (IOL) addresses this issue with an improvement in both distance and near vision, often without need for glasses. This analysis attempted to discuss the patient-reported benefit of ReSTOR using a full but organised representation of data.

Patient-reported outcomes helped predict survival in multiple myeloma using partial least squares analysis.

Objective: The prognostic value of Patient-Reported Outcomes (PRO) in predicting mortality during treatment of multiple myeloma (MM) patients was assessed using partial least square (PLS) regression, a statistical method that is well-adapted for highly correlated data.

Study Design And Setting: Four PRO measures, The European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C30, the EORTC QLQ-MY24, the FACIT-Fatigue scale, and the FACT/GOG-Ntx scale, were administered during a trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bortezomib (VELCADE 1.3mg/m(2)) in MM patients (N=202).

Descriptive and prognostic value of patient-reported outcomes: the bortezomib experience in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma.

Purpose: Bortezomib, a boronic acid dipeptide, has been recently introduced as a new approach to treating multiple myeloma (MM). The goal of this work was to evaluate the added value of patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in the interpretation of bortezomib clinical trial outcomes.

Patients And Methods: Two hundred two patients with relapsed, refractory MM were treated with bortezomib as part of the SUMMIT (Study of Uncontrolled Multiple Myeloma Managed with Proteasome Inhibition Therapy) study.

Psychometric Validation of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire - 25 (NEI VFQ-25) French version: in a population of patients treated for ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Objective: Physicians need reliable, valid and sensitive questionnaires to assess QOL related to glaucoma or ocular hypertension. This article presents the psychometric properties of the French version of the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire - 25 (NEI VFQ-25).

Methods: A mail survey was sent to 20000 households.

Bet-Hedging Diapause Strategies in Stochastic Environments.

In many insect species, adult emergence spreads over several years because of the existence of prolonged diapause in certain individuals. From stochastic models, we show that diversified bet-hedging strategies (mixed strategies with emergence after 1 or 2 yr) are more fit than simple diapause strategy (emergence after 1 yr) or fixed prolonged diapause strategy (emergence after 2 yr) in isolated chestnut weevil populations. This conclusion applies to a large range of survival rates in prolonged diapause and is insensitive to initial conditions, magnitude of temporal autocorrelation, distribution of demographic parameters, and quoted values of population size limitation.