A Nationwide Study of Norwegian Drug Abusers in Treatment: Methods and findings

1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 43-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grethe Lauritzen ◽  
Helge Waal ◽  
Arvid Amundsen ◽  
Oddvar Arner
Keyword(s):  
Outpatient Treatment ◽  
Drug Research ◽  
Risk Behaviour ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Drug Abusers ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Nationwide Study ◽  
Treatment Measures

The National Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research (SIFA) has completed the first nationwide survey of drug abusers in treatment in Norway. Experiences from the study have contributed to the creation and initial implementation of a monitoring system for treatment demands and treatment measures in the country. This article presents the approach and methods used in the SIFA study. It provides an overview of the material and focusses on describing clients from long-term residential and outpatient treatment modalities. The results are presented within seven areas: socio-demographics, substance abuse, mental health and significant problems, risk behaviour, social functioning, social network, and biographical data on childhood/adolescence. These areas are analysed by the variables of gender, age, urban Oslo/outside Oslo clients, and client populations from residential/outpatient treatment. The authors reflect upon the prospects opened by such comprehensive documentation concerning preventive strategies, planning of treatment, and further research in Norway.

Herbal Medicine for Glioblastoma: Current and Future Prospects

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1022-1043
Author(s):  
Imran Khan ◽  
Sadaf Mahfooz ◽  
Mustafa A. Hatiboglu
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Natural Compounds ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Normal Brain ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Cycle Regulation ◽  
Immense Potential

Background: Glioblastoma is one of the most aggressive and devastating tumours of the central nervous system with short survival time. Glioblastoma usually shows fast cell proliferation and invasion of normal brain tissue causing poor prognosis. The present standard of care in patients with glioblastoma includes surgery followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide (TMZ) based chemotherapy. Unfortunately, these approaches are not sufficient to lead a favorable prognosis and survival rates. As the current approaches do not provide a long-term benefit in those patients, new alternative treatments including natural compounds, have drawn attention. Due to their natural origin, they are associated with minimum cellular toxicity towards normal cells and it has become one of the most attractive approaches to treat tumours by natural compounds or phytochemicals. Objective: In the present review, the role of natural compounds or phytochemicals in the treatment of glioblastoma describing their efficacy on various aspects of glioblastoma pathophysiology such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, cellular signaling pathways, chemoresistance and their role in combinatorial therapeutic approaches was described. Methods: Peer-reviewed literature was extracted using Pubmed, EMBASE Ovid and Google Scholar to be reviewed in the present article. Conclusion: Preclinical data available in the literature suggest that phytochemicals hold immense potential to be translated into treatment modalities. However, further clinical studies with conclusive results are required to implement phytochemicals in treatment modalities.

An Empirical Study on the Operative Treatment of Symptomatic Urolithiasis in Germany

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Alina Reicherz ◽  
Rüveyde Sahin ◽  
Lorine Häuser ◽  
Joachim Noldus ◽  
Peter Bach
Keyword(s):  
Response Rate ◽  
Intraoperative Complications ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
European Guidelines ◽  
Operative Care ◽  
Double J Stent ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Related Group ◽  
Ureteral Stenting

<b><i>Purpose:</i></b> The guidelines of the German, European, and American Urological Associations on urolithiasis advise against general ureteral stenting before and after an uncomplicated ureterorenoscopy (URS). However, German and European guidelines state that stenting prior to URS facilitates stone extraction and reduces intraoperative complications. According to the published literature, German practice seems to deviate from recommendations. This nationwide survey aimed to evaluate the treatment modalities of urolithiasis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> In November 2018 and March 2019, a total of 199 urological hospital departments in Germany were anonymously surveyed about operative care of symptomatic urolithiasis. The response rate was 72.9%. The survey consisted of 25 questions about diagnostics, surgical technique, and aftercare of the URS. This questionnaire is available in the appendix. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A primary URS is performed in ≤10% in 49.6% of the hospitals. In every second urological department (49.7%), the German Diagnosis Related Group (G-DRG) system influences the period of pre-stenting before a secondary URS. After a secondary URS, which is performed in 53.8% of the departments in over 80% of the patients, 14% of the departments omit stenting. The standard for stenting seems to be a 28-cm-long 7 Charrière double-J stent in Germany. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> In Germany, the percentage of primary URS is low, and a ureter stenting is performed in most of the urological departments after URS. Delaying therapy due to economic aspects is the standard in almost half of all urological departments.

Successful Treatment of Late Isolated Bone Metastasis in a Patient with Bilateral Retinoblastoma Using an Unconventional Method

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Deepthi Boddu ◽  
Priyakumari Thankamony ◽  
Reshma Prakasam ◽  
Subin Sugath ◽  
Aswin Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Approach ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Complete Regression ◽  
Aggressive Treatment ◽  
Second Malignancies ◽  
Transpupillary Thermotherapy ◽  
Metastatic Recurrence ◽  
Bilateral Retinoblastoma ◽  
Unconventional Method

Though survival in bilateral retinoblastoma (RB) has improved due to advancement in diagnostics and treatment modalities, children require long-term follow-ups for recurrence and second malignancies. We report a case of bilateral RB in a 7-month-old baby who was treated with chemotherapy, transpupillary thermotherapy, and periocular carboplatin for both eyes following which there was complete regression of tumour. Six and a half years after treatment, the child presented with metastatic recurrence of tumour in the left ulna. He was treated successfully with chemotherapy, extracorporeal radiation and reimplantation therapy. A less aggressive treatment approach for isolated bone relapse may be considered in selected cases.

Palliative brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy for dysphagia from esophageal cancer: a nationwide survey in Japan

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terufumi Kawamoto ◽  
Naoki Nakamura ◽  
Tetsuo Saito ◽  
Ayako Tonari ◽  
Hitoshi Wada ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Esophageal Cancer ◽  
External Beam Radiotherapy ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
External Beam ◽  
First Line ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Radiotherapy Alone ◽  
Group Members ◽  
First Line Treatment

Abstract Background International guidelines recommend brachytherapy for patients with dysphagia from esophageal cancer, whereas brachytherapy is infrequently used to palliate dysphagia in some countries. To clarify the availability of palliative treatment for dysphagia from esophageal cancer and explain why brachytherapy is not routinely performed are unknown, this study investigated the use of brachytherapy and external beam radiotherapy for dysphagia from esophageal cancer. Methods Japanese Radiation Oncology Study Group members completed a survey and selected the treatment that they would recommend for hypothetical cases of dysphagia from esophageal cancer. Results Of the 136 invited facilities, 61 completed the survey (44.9%). Four (6.6%) facilities performed brachytherapy of the esophagus, whereas brachytherapy represented the first-line treatment at three (4.9%) facilities. Conversely, external beam radiotherapy alone and chemoradiotherapy were first-line treatments at 61 and 58 (95.1%) facilities, respectively. In facilities that performed brachytherapy, the main reason why brachytherapy of the esophagus was not performed was high invasiveness (30.2%). Definitive-dose chemoradiotherapy with (≥50 Gy) tended to be used in patients with expected long-term survival. Conclusions Few facilities routinely considered brachytherapy for the treatment of dysphagia from esophageal cancer in Japan. Conversely, most facilities routinely considered external beam radiotherapy. In the future, it will be necessary to optimize external beam radiotherapy.

scholarly journals Principals between exploitation and exploration: Results of a nationwide study on ambidexterity of school leaders

2020 ◽  
pp. 174114322094570
Author(s):  
Marcus Pietsch ◽  
Pierre Tulowitzki ◽  
Colin Cramer
Keyword(s):  
Dynamic Environments ◽  
Management Research ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Leadership And Management ◽  
Nationwide Study ◽  
Efficiency Control ◽  
Exploitation And Exploration ◽  
Discontinuous Innovation

Both organizational and management research suggest that schools and their leaders need to be ambidextrous to secure prosperity and long-term survival in dynamic environments characterized by competition and innovation. In this context, ambidexterity refers to the ability to simultaneously pursue exploitation and exploration and thus to deliver efficiency, control and incremental improvements while embracing flexibility, autonomy and discontinuous innovation. Using a unique, randomized and representative data set of N = 405 principals, we present findings on principals’ exploitation and exploration. The results indicate: (a) that principals engage far more often in exploitative than in explorative activities; (b) that exploitative activities in schools are executed at the expense of explorative activities; and (c) that explorative and ambidextrous activities of principals are positively associated with the (perceived) competition between schools. The study brings a novel perspective to educational research and demonstrates that applying the concept of ambidexterity has the potential to further our understanding of effective educational leadership and management.

scholarly journals A Newly Developed Synbiotic Yogurt Prevents Diabetes by Improving the Microbiome–Intestine–Pancreas Axis

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 1647
Author(s):  
Brandi Miller ◽  
Rabina Mainali ◽  
Ravinder Nagpal ◽  
Hariom Yadav
Keyword(s):  
High Fat Diet ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Preventive Strategies ◽  
Human Origin ◽  
High Fat ◽  
Diabetes In Mice ◽  
Diabetes Progression ◽  
Gut Microbiota Composition

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is increasing worldwide, and there are no long-term preventive strategies to stop this growth. Emerging research shows that perturbations in the gut microbiome significantly contribute to the development of T2D, while microbiome modulators may be beneficial for T2D prevention. However, microbiome modulators that are effective, safe, affordable, and able to be administered daily are not yet available. Based on our previous pro- and prebiotic studies, we developed a novel synbiotic yogurt comprised of human-origin probiotics and plant-based prebiotics and investigated its impact on diet- and streptozotocin-induced T2D in mice. We compared the effects of our synbiotic yogurt to those of a commercially available yogurt (control yogurt). Interestingly, we found that the feeding of the synbiotic yogurt significantly reduced the development of hyperglycemia (diabetes) in response to high-fat diet feeding and streptozotocin compared to milk-fed controls. Surprisingly, the control yogurt exacerbated diabetes progression. Synbiotic yogurt beneficially modulated the gut microbiota composition compared to milk, while the control yogurt negatively modulated it by significantly increasing the abundance of detrimental bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Enterobacteriaceae. In addition, the synbiotic yogurt protected pancreatic islet morphology compared to the milk control, while the control yogurt demonstrated worse effects on islets. These results suggest that our newly developed synbiotic yogurt protects against diabetes in mice and can be used as a therapeutic to prevent diabetes progression.

scholarly journals MBCL-14. A STUDY OF LOW-DOSE CRANIOSPINAL RADIATION THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH NEWLY DIAGNOSED AVERAGE-RISK MEDULLOBLASTOMA

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii390-iii391
Author(s):  
Aaron Mochizuki ◽  
Anna Janss ◽  
Sonia Partap ◽  
Paul Fisher ◽  
Yimei Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
Radiation Therapy ◽  
Treatment Modalities ◽  
Average Risk ◽  
Craniospinal Radiation ◽  
Grade 5 ◽  
Therapy Studies ◽  
Do So

Abstract INTRODUCTION Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant brain tumors in children. To date, the treatment of average-risk (non-metastatic, completely resected) medulloblastoma includes craniospinal radiation therapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Modern treatment modalities and now risk stratification of subgroups have extended the survival of these patients, exposing the long-term morbidities associated with radiation therapy. METHODS We performed a single-arm, multi-institution study, seeking to reduce the late effects of treatment in patients with average-risk medulloblastoma prior to advances in molecular subgrouping. To do so, we reduced the dose of craniospinal irradiation by 25% to 18 gray with the goal of maintaining the therapeutic efficacy as described in CCG 9892 with maintenance chemotherapy. RESULTS 28 patients aged 3–30 years were enrolled across three institutions between April 2001 and December 2010. Median age at enrollment was 9 years with a median follow-up time of 11.7 years. The 3-year relapse-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were 78.6% (95% CI 58.4% to 89.8%) and 92.9% (95% CI 74.4% to 98.2%), respectively. The 5-year RFS and OS were 71.4% (95% CI 50.1% to 84.6%) and 85.7% (95% CI 66.3% to 94.4%), respectively. Toxicities were similar to those seen in other studies; there were no grade 5 toxicities. CONCLUSIONS Given the known neurocognitive adverse effects associated with cranial radiation therapy, studies to evaluate the feasibility of dose reduction are needed. In this study, we demonstrate that select patients with average-risk medulloblastoma may benefit from reduced craniospinal radiation dose of 18 gray without impacting relapse-free or overall survival.

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