Worldwide patterns and trends in ovarian cancer incidence by histological subtype: a population-based analysis from 1988 to 2017.

Background: Ovarian cancer (OC) is a heterogeneous malignancy with multiple histological subtypes, showing global variability in incidence. Temporal changes in diagnostic criteria and risk factors might influence the incidence and distribution of OC and its subtypes.

Methods: This study analyzed incidence patterns (2013-2017) and trends (1988-1992 to 2013-2017) of OC and its subtypes across 65 and 40 countries, respectively.

Delirium in Older Patients after Combined Epidural-General Anesthesia or General Anesthesia for Major Surgery: A Randomized Trial.

Background: Delirium is a common and serious postoperative complication, especially in the elderly. Epidural anesthesia may reduce delirium by improving analgesia, reducing opioid consumption, and blunting stress response to surgery. This trial therefore tested the hypothesis that combined epidural-general anesthesia reduces the incidence of postoperative delirium in elderly patients recovering from major noncardiac surgery.

Modeling the Long-term Antibody Response and Duration of Immune Protection Induced by an Inactivated, Preservative-free Hepatitis A Vaccine (Healive) in Children.

Objective: Long-term seroprotection the hepatitis A vaccine is essential for the prevention of disease from the hepatitis A virus (HAV). Due to documented difficulties during decade-long follow-ups after receiving vaccines, statistical-modeling approaches have been applied to predict the duration of immune protection.

Methods: Based on five-year follow-up data from a randomized positive-controlled trial among Chinese children (1-8 years old) following a 0, 6 months vaccination schedule, a power-law model accounting for the kinetics of B-cell turnover, as well as a modified power-law model considering a memory-B-cell subpopulation, were fitted to predict the long-term immune responses induced by HAV vaccination (Healive or Havrix).

Power Analysis and Sample Size Determination for Crossover Trials with Application to Bioequivalence Assessment of Topical Ophthalmic Drugs Using Serial Sampling Pharmacokinetic Data.

Objective: To develop methods for determining a suitable sample size for bioequivalence assessment of generic topical ophthalmic drugs using crossover design with serial sampling schemes.

Methods: The power functions of the Fieller-type confidence interval and the asymptotic confidence interval in crossover designs with serial-sampling data are here derived. Simulation studies were conducted to evaluate the derived power functions.

[Data quality in clinical trials: the role of blind review].

Blind review is one of the most important milestones in clinical trials, which connects data management process to statistical analysis. During blind review, data quality should be reviewed and assessed on both data management and statistical aspects. The primary work of data managers in blind review is to ensure the accuracy of data before it is handed over to biostatistics group.