Identification of predictive factors of diabetic ketoacidosis in type 1 diabetes using a subgroup discovery algorithm.

Aim: To identify predictive factors for diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) by retrospective analysis of registry data and the use of a subgroup discovery algorithm.

Materials And Methods: Data from adults and children with type 1 diabetes and more than two diabetes-related visits were analysed from the Diabetes Prospective Follow-up Registry. Q-Finder, a supervised non-parametric proprietary subgroup discovery algorithm, was used to identify subgroups with clinical characteristics associated with increased DKA risk.

Q-Finder: An Algorithm for Credible Subgroup Discovery in Clinical Data Analysis - An Application to the International Diabetes Management Practice Study.

Addressing the heterogeneity of both the outcome of a disease and the treatment response to an intervention is a mandatory pathway for regulatory approval of medicines. In randomized clinical trials (RCTs), confirmatory subgroup analyses focus on the assessment of drugs in predefined subgroups, while exploratory ones allow a posteriori the identification of subsets of patients who respond differently. Within the latter area, subgroup discovery (SD) data mining approach is widely used-particularly in precision medicine-to evaluate treatment effect across different groups of patients from various data sources (be it from clinical trials or real-world data).

MMS19 as a potential predictive marker of adjuvant chemotherapy benefit in resected non-small cell lung cancer.

Background: Resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment options most often consist of surgical resection along with adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT). The benefit of ACT however is modest and is accompanied by important side effects.

Objective: One central quest in the field is therefore the identification of a predictive marker of the response to ACT.

Radiographic analysis of the sagittal alignment and balance of the spine in asymptomatic subjects.

Background: There is an increasing recognition of the clinical importance of the sagittal plane alignment of the spine. A prospective study of several radiographic parameters of the sagittal profile of the spine was conducted to determine the physiological values of these parameters, to calculate the variations of these parameters according to epidemiological and morphological data, and to study the relationships among all of these parameters.

Methods: Sagittal radiographs of the head, spine, and pelvis of 300 asymptomatic volunteers, made with the subject standing, were evaluated.

[Validation of a tool to measure pelvic and spinal parameters of sagittal balance].

Purpose Of The Study: Parameters determining sagittal balance are essential for optimal analysis and treatment of many spinal disorders. The purpose of this work was to validate a software designed to measure the principal parameters involved in sagittal balance of the spine.

Material And Methods: Six parameters (lumbar lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, sagittal tilt at T9, pelvic index, pelvic tilt, slope of the sacrum) were measured on lateral views of the spine from 100 healthy volunteers free of any spinal disease.

The importance of spinopelvic parameters in patients with lumbar disc lesions.

Using a special software program we measured spinopelvic parameters on digitised radiographs of the entire spine and the pelvis of 50 patients with lumbar disc herniation and compared these with the same measurements on 30 healthy subjects. In the disc hernia group the patients had a relatively straight spine in the sagittal plane. The sacrum was more vertical, and the value of the lumbar lordosis was lower, as was the amplitude of the spinal curvatures, when compared with those of the healthy group.

The association of sagittal spinal and pelvic parameters in asymptomatic persons and patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis.

Using a specialized orthopedic software package, the authors investigated the sagittal spinal shape and the position of the pelvis in the space in patients with isthmic spondylolisthesis and in persons with no such symptoms. Digitized lateral spinal radiographs of 30 healthy volunteers and 48 patients were evaluated. The absolute values and significant correlations between parameters were analyzed.

[Quantitative 3D anatomy of the lumbar spine].

Purpose Of The Study: There are many anatomic descriptions of the spine, but most concentrate on qualitative information. Quantitative data is however important to achieve a better clinical approach, to adapt implant size and to construct geometric models of spine mechanics.

Material And Methods: We examined 32 dry spines (160 lumbar vertebrae) obtained from the Orfila Museum anatomy laboratory at the Saints-Pères School of Medicine in Paris.

Computer-assisted assessment of spinal sagittal plane radiographs.

The sagittal shape of the spine, particularly its sagittal balance, currently is being extensively investigated. The major purpose of this study is to examine the measurement repeatability of SpineView software, which calculates 13 independent variables, to shorten and facilitate the measurement of lateral spinal radiographs; another purpose is to collect physiological data for nonpathologic spines, which can be used as a reference in future research. This article also presents two new parameters and discusses their possible role in forthcoming investigations.

Intervertebral disc prosthesis. Results and prospects for the year 2000.

Presently, the kinematic disc prosthesis model (SB Charité) is the best disc replacement compromise, and is the basis of the evolution of the prosthetic concept at the dawning of the year 2000. Clinical results of a homogeneous series of 105 cases with a mean followup of 51 months show 79% of the patients had an excellent result and 87% returned to work, radiologically, these results correlated with restoration of a well balanced lordosis and with segmental mobility. Factors leading to failure are posterior facet arthritis, osteoporosis, structural deformities, and secondary facet pain.