Disease-free survival as surrogate for overall survival in real-world settings for esophageal cancer: an analysis of SEER-Medicare data.

Background: Establishing surrogate endpoints for overall survival (OS) may expedite assessment of new therapies in esophageal cancer (EC) and gastroesophageal junction cancer (GEJC). This study aimed to evaluate disease-free survival (DFS) as a surrogate endpoint for OS.

Methods: Patients from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare database aged ≥66 years with resection after primary diagnosis of stage 2 or 3 EC/GEJC between 2009 and 2017 were analyzed (N = 925; median follow-up 26.

Interpersonal Transmission of Vibrotactile Feedback via Smart Bracelets: Mechanics and Perception.

The importance of interpersonal touch for social well-being is widely recognized, and haptic technology offers a promising avenue for augmenting these interactions. We presented smart bracelets that use vibrotactile feedback to augment social interactions, such as handshakes, by transmitting vibrations between two people. This work conducts mechanical and perceptual experiments to investigate key factors affecting the delivery of interpersonal vibrotactile feedback via bracelets.

Pharmacists must take an active role as citizen scientists.

Science is a process by which society advances knowledge of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and testing of theories based on evidence. This process forms the foundation of the biomedical, clinical, and social sciences, which together provide an ever-changing knowledge base for health care professionals, like pharmacists, to use to provide evidence-based care to patients and communities. Yet, despite the essential and integrated application of science to improve health-related knowledge and care delivery, the utility and viability of science itself are under threat.

Advancing Systems Citizenship in Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy.

The pharmacy academy works collectively to serve the educational needs of diverse stakeholders by promulgating expectations for professional programs to achieve standards for both practice and professional development. Building systems thinking into the learning process, with its associative benefits to postgraduate preparation and lifelong practice, offers a pathway to achieve this educational mission. The concept of systems citizenship has been suggested as a process for helping health professional students incorporate a meaningful professional identity and responsibly seek out an understanding of the connections between patients, communities, and the larger institutions and environments that affect each.

Rendering Dynamic Source Motion in Surface Haptics via Wave Focusing.

Emerging surface haptic technologies can display localized haptic feedback anywhere on a touch surface by focusing mechanical waves generated via sparse arrays of actuators. However, rendering complex haptic scenes with such displays is challenging due to the infinite number of physical degrees of freedom intrinsic to such continuum mechanical systems. Here, we present computational focusing methods for rendering dynamic tactile sources.

Shear shock waves mediate haptic holography via focused ultrasound.

Emerging holographic haptic interfaces focus ultrasound in air to enable their users to touch, feel, and manipulate three-dimensional virtual objects. However, current holographic haptic systems furnish tactile sensations that are diffuse and faint, with apparent spatial resolutions that are far coarser than would be theoretically predicted from acoustic focusing. Here, we show how the effective spatial resolution and dynamic range of holographic haptic displays are determined by ultrasound-driven elastic wave transport in soft tissues.

Tactile Echoes: Multisensory Augmented Reality for the Hand.

Touch interactions are central to many human activities, but there are few technologies for computationally augmenting free-hand interactions with real environments. Here, we describe Tactile Echoes, a finger-wearable system for augmenting touch interactions with physical objects. This system captures and processes touch-elicited vibrations in real-time in order to enliven tactile experiences.

A retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics, hospitalization, and functional outcomes in residents with and without Clostridium difficile infection in US long-term care facilities.

Objective: Patients in long-term care (LTC) are at increased risk for acquiring Clostridium difficile infection (CDI). We compared the characteristics and outcomes of matched cohorts with and without CDI in the LTC setting.

Methods: Using a retrospective cohort design, demographic characteristics, Minimum Data Set (MDS 2.

Persistence of warfarin therapy for residents in long-term care who have atrial fibrillation.

Background: Among long-term care (LTC) residents with atrial fibrillation (AF), the use of warfarin to prevent stroke has been shown to be suboptimal. For those who begin warfarin prophylaxis in LTC, persistence on this therapy has not been reported.

Objective: This study was conducted to estimate persistence on warfarin among LTC residents with AF.

Incidence of venous thromboembolism in nursing home residents.

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is common in the elderly, but its epidemiology in nursing home residents remains unclear. This study estimated rates of VTE recorded on nursing home admission and incidence during residence.

Design: Retrospective analysis of AnalytiCare long term care (LTC) database for the period January 2007 to June 2009.

Warfarin for prevention of thrombosis among long-term care residents with atrial fibrillation: evidence of continuing low use despite consideration of stroke and bleeding risk.

Objectives: The aims of the study were to evaluate usage rates of warfarin in stroke prophylaxis and the association with assessed stages of stroke and bleeding risk in long-term care (LTC) residents with atrial fibrillation (AFib).

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of two LTC databases (the National Nursing Home Survey [NNHS] 2004 and an integrated LTC database: AnalytiCare) was conducted. The study involved LTC facilities across the USA (NNHS) and within 19 states (AnalytiCare).

Macrodontia, shovel-shaped incisors, and multituberculism: probable Ekman-Westborg-Julin trait.

Multiple macrodontia is a rare finding and is defined as a condition in which a tooth is significantly larger than normal. Macrodontia may occur as an isolated finding, part of a group of dental anomalies, or as a component of a syndrome with multiple oral and systemic manifestations. The purpose of this paper was to report a case of macrodontia affecting all permanent teeth and exhibiting shovel-shaped maxillary and mandibular incisors and multituberculate molars and premolars.

Use of warfarin therapy among residents who developed venous thromboembolism in the nursing home.

Background: Treatment of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in long-term care (LTC) settings has received little empirical study.

Objective: Among residents with VTE in nursing homes, this analysis evaluated frequency of anticoagulant use, the proportion of residents newly started on warfarin who persisted on therapy (≥3 months), and the association of key resident characteristics, including bleeding risk, with warfarin use and persistence.

Methods: Using the AnalytiCare LTC database (US), eligible residents had deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism coded in the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 2.

Usage of medications with high potential to interact with warfarin among atrial fibrillation residents in long-term care facilities.

Objectives: The rate of potential warfarin drug-drug interactions among long-term care (LTC) residents with atrial fibrillation (AFib) is evaluated.

Research Design And Methods: LTC residents from two databases, the National Nursing Home Survey (NNHS) 2004 and the AnalytiCare™ multistate database, with an AFib diagnosis (ICD9 = 427.3x) were studied.

Association of anemia with worsened activities of daily living and health-related quality of life scores derived from the Minimum Data Set in long-term care residents.

Background: Among long-term care (LTC) residents, we explored the association between anemia status and hemoglobin (Hb) level with Activities of Daily Living (ADL) functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: Data were derived from the AnalytiCare database, containing laboratory and Minimum Data Set (MDS) reports for 27 LTC facilities in Colorado. Study timeframe was 1/1/07-9/15/08.

Falls in nursing home residents receiving pharmacotherapy for anemia.

Purpose: Falls are common among nursing home residents and have potentially severe consequences, including fracture and other trauma. Recent evidence suggests anemia may be independently related to these falls. This study explores the relationship between the use of anemia-related pharmacotherapies and falls among nursing home residents.

The prevalence and recognition of chronic kidney disease and anemia in long-term care residents.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and anemia in the long-term care facility, the rate of recognition of these conditions, and the specific interventions used to treat anemia.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional analysis.

Setting: Twenty-seven long-term care facilities in Colorado.

A retrospective comparison of acute rhinosinusitis outcomes in patients prescribed antibiotics, mometasone furoate nasal spray, or both.

Background: Antibiotics are frequently used to treat acute rhinosinusitis (ARS; acute sinusitis), although many episodes are viral. Because of community resistance concerns, current evidence provides limited support for the use of antibiotics in ARS. We conducted a retrospective comparative effectiveness outcomes assessment of the nasal steroid mometasone furoate nasal spray (MFNS) versus antibiotics among ARS patients in clinical practice.

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation in US nursing homes: results from the National Nursing Home Survey, 1985-2004.

Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AFib) in US nursing homes from 1985 to 2004 and to project the prevalence of AFib to 2030.

Design: This study is an analysis of cross-sectional data from the US National Nursing Home Survey, years 1985, 1995, 1997, 1999, and 2004.

Setting: Randomly selected long term care facilities in the United States licensed by the state or certified for Medicaid/Medicare reimbursement.

Use of warfarin in long-term care: a systematic review.

Background: The use of warfarin in older patients requires special consideration because of concerns with comorbidities, interacting medications, and the risk of bleeding. Several studies have suggested that warfarin may be underused or inconsistently prescribed in long-term care (LTC); no published systematic review has evaluated warfarin use for stroke prevention in this setting. This review was conducted to summarize the body of published original research regarding the use of warfarin in the LTC population.

Use of cone beam computed tomography in implant dentistry: the International Congress of Oral Implantologists consensus report.

Purpose: The International Congress of Oral Implantologists has supported the development of this consensus report involving the use of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) in implant dentistry with the intent of providing scientifically based guidance to clinicians regarding its use as an adjunct to traditional imaging modalities.

Materials And Methods: The literature regarding CBCT and implant dentistry was systematically reviewed. A PubMed search that included studies published between January 1, 2000, and July 31, 2011, was conducted.

Objective assessment of compliance and persistence among patients treated for glaucoma and ocular hypertension: a systematic review.

Purpose: This study summarizes findings from objective assessments of compliance (or adherence) and persistence with ocular hypotensive agents in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Design: Systematic literature review.

Methods: A PubMed and reference list search was conducted across publication years 1970-2010, using these terms and variants: "compliance," the equivalent term "adherence," and "persistence" in patients with these conditions and therapies.

The role of presurgical expectancies in predicting pain and function one year following total knee arthroplasty.

The present study examined the prospective value of response expectancies (ie, pain, sleep) and behavioral outcome expectancies (ie, return to function) in the prediction of pain severity and functional limitations 12 months after total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The study sample consisted of 120 individuals (73 women, 47 men) with osteoarthritis of the knee who were scheduled for TKA. Measures of expectancies, pain severity, pain catastrophizing, pain-related fears of movement, and depression were completed prior to surgery.

Persistence on prostaglandin ocular hypotensive therapy: an assessment using medication possession and days covered on therapy.

Background: Prior research has demonstrated that medication persistence (continued acquisition of therapy over time) is far from optimal among patients with glaucoma. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate persistence with prostaglandin analogs among glaucoma patients in the first therapy year using a modification of a previously published technique.

Methods: This retrospective analysis of medical and pharmacy claims database included treatment-naive patients dispensed bimatoprost, latanoprost, or travoprost between 1/1/04-12/31/04.

Validation of stopwatch measurements of erection duration against responses to the sexual encounter profile and international index of erectile Function in patients treated with a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor.

Introduction: Although the Sexual Encounter Profile (SEP) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) are frequently used to measure erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment outcomes, stopwatch-assessed duration of erection is a new, objective, and potentially useful endpoint of ED treatment effect.

Aims: To assess the validity and reliability of stopwatch-assessed erection duration against responses to SEP items 2 (SEP-2) and 3 (SEP-3) and IIEF scale scores.

Methods: Data were taken from a multi-center trial of vardenafil for the treatment of ED.