scholarly journals Rising and Falling Trends in the Use of Chemotherapy and Targeted Therapy Near the End of Life in Older Patients With Cancer

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (20) ◽  
pp. 1721-1731 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penny Fang ◽  
Reshma Jagsi ◽  
Weiguo He ◽  
Xiudong Lei ◽  
Eric G. Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Targeted Therapy ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Temporal Trends ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Oncology Practice

PURPOSE End-of-life (EOL) chemotherapy has been described as the most widespread, wasteful, and unnecessary practice in oncology, with benchmarking aimed to reduce physician use of chemotherapy within 14 days of EOL. We evaluated the recent transformation of EOL chemotherapy and targeted therapy practices nationally. METHODS In patients older than 65 years of age who died as a result of breast (n = 19,887), lung (n = 79,613), colorectal (n = 29,844), or prostate (n = 17,910) cancer between 2007 and 2013, we evaluated the guideline-benchmarked measure of chemotherapy use within 14 days of EOL in SEER-Medicare. Comparison outcomes were nonbenchmarked measures of chemotherapy and targeted therapy across time points within 6 months of EOL. Cochran-Armitage test was used to evaluate temporal trends. Multilevel logistic models and intraclass correlation coefficient was used to evaluate variation in EOL chemotherapy use at the physician level. RESULTS From 2007 to 2013, chemotherapy within 14 days of EOL declined from 6.7% to 4.9% of patients ( Ptrend < .001; ∆ = −1.8%). Similar declines occurred for chemotherapy within 1 month ( Ptrend < .001; ∆ = −1.8%) and 2 months ( Ptrend < .001; ∆ = −1.3%) of EOL. In contrast, chemotherapy within 4 to 6 months of EOL rose ( Ptrend ≤ .04; ∆ = 0.7% to 1.7%), and 43.0% of all patients received chemotherapy within 6 months of EOL. Frequency of targeted therapy use across all time points within 6 months of EOL was stable to marginally rising from 2007 to 2013 ( Ptrend = .09 to .82; ∆ = −0.2% to 1.8%); overall, 1.2% received targeted therapy within 14 days and 3.6% within 1 month of EOL. By 2013, 13.2% of patients received any targeted therapy within 6 months of EOL. In a multilevel model, 5.19% (intraclass correlation coefficient) of variation in 14-day EOL chemotherapy was attributed to the physician level. CONCLUSION With national benchmarking, chemotherapy within 14 days of EOL successfully declined to less than 5%, with comprehensive benchmark uptake by physicians. Results may inform current strategies to help to achieve high-value EOL oncology practice.

Variation in Cervical Length over Time during a Single Transvaginal Ultrasound Examination

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (08) ◽  
pp. 781-784
Author(s):  
Katherine A. Connolly ◽  
Luciana Vieira ◽  
Elizabeth M. Yoselevsky ◽  
Stephanie Pan ◽  
Joanne L. Stone
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Ultrasound Examination ◽  
Transvaginal Ultrasound ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Cervical Length ◽  
Linear Mixed Effect Model ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Significant Difference

Objective To quantify the degree of change in cervical length (CL) over a 3-minute transvaginal ultrasound. Study Design We conducted a prospective observational study of nulliparous patients who underwent routine transvaginal CL screening at the time of their second-trimester ultrasound. We recorded CL at four time points (0, 1, 2, 3 minutes) and compared these values to determine the minute-to-minute change within a single patient. Results A total of 771 patients were included. The mean gestational age was 20.8 weeks (±0.84). We used a linear mixed effect model to assess if each minute during the ultrasound is associated with a change in CL. The intraclass correlation coefficient between minute 0 to minute 3 was 0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.80, 0.84). This indicates that there is a relatively high within-patient correlation in CL during their ultrasound. Additionally, we stratified patients based on their starting CL; the intraclass correlation coefficient remained high for all groups. We additionally compared CL at each minute. Although there is a statistically significant difference between several time points, the actual difference is small and not clinically meaningful. Conclusion The variation in CL over a 3-minute transvaginal ultrasound examination is not clinically significant. It may be reasonable to conduct this examination over a shorter period.

scholarly journals The Finnish Canine Stifle Index: responsiveness to change and intertester reliability

2019 ◽  
Vol 186 (18) ◽  
pp. 604-604
Author(s):  
Heli K Hyytiäinen ◽  
Mikael Morelius ◽  
Anu K Lappalainen ◽  
Anna F Bostrom ◽  
Kirsti A Lind ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Confidence Intervals ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disease ◽  
Performance Level ◽  
Time Points ◽  
Responsiveness To Change ◽  
Canine Stifle

BackgroundThe responsiveness and the intertester reliability of the Finnish Canine Stifle Index (FCSI) were tested, and a cut-off between compromised and severely compromised performance level was set.MethodsThree groups of dogs were used, 29 with any stifle dysfunction (STIF), 17 with other musculoskeletal disease except stifle (OTHER) and 11 controls (CTRL). All dogs were tested with the FCSI by the same physiotherapist at three occasions, at baseline, at six weeks and 10 weeks, and once also by another physiotherapist.ResultsDogs in the STIF group demonstrated significantly higher (P<0.001) FCSI scores than in OTHER or CTRL groups at baseline. Only the STIF group showed a significant (P<0.001) change in FCSI score at all time points, indicating responsiveness to change. There were no significant differences between the evaluators (P=0.736), showing good intertester reliability, supported by moderate to good (0.78) intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). The evaluator performing the FCSI did not have a significant effect when comparing the groups of dogs (P=0.214). The 95 per cent confidence intervals of the ICC per group were 0.79 (0.60, 0.91) for STIF, 0.83 (0.53, 0.96) for OTHER 0.78 (0.64, 0.88) for all dogs. A cut-off differentiating a severely compromised from a compromised performance was set at 120, having sensitivity of 83 per cent and specificity of 89 per cent.ConclusionThe FCSI is a recommendable measure of dogs’ stifle functionality.

scholarly journals Biomechanical Measurement of Rabbit Cornea by a Modified Scheimpflug Device

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Jianjun Gu ◽  
Xiaoxiao Zhang ◽  
Bin Yang ◽  
Zheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bulk Modulus ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Anterior Segment ◽  
Intraobserver Reliability ◽  
Rabbit Cornea ◽  
Deformation Response ◽  
Biomechanical Measurements ◽  
Biomechanical Measurement

Purpose. To explore the probability and variation in biomechanical measurements of rabbit cornea by a modified Scheimpflug device.Methods. A modified Scheimpflug device was developed by imaging anterior segment of the model imitating the intact eye at various posterior pressures. The eight isolated rabbit corneas were mounted on the Barron artificial chamber and images of the anterior segment were taken at posterior pressures of 15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 mmHg by the device. The repeatability and reliability of the parameters including CCT, ACD, ACV, and CV were evaluated at each posterior pressure. All the variations of the parameters at the different posterior pressures were calculated.Results. All parameters showed good intraobserver reliability (Cronbach’s alpha; intraclass correlation coefficient,α, ICC > 0.96) and repeatability in the modified Scheimpflug device. With the increase of posterior pressures, the ratio of CCT decreased linearly and the bulk modulus gradually reduced to a platform. The increase of ACD was almost linear with the posterior pressures elevated.Conclusions. The modified Scheimpflug device was a valuable tool to investigate the biomechanics of the cornea. The posterior pressure 15–75 mmHg range produced small viscoelastic deformations and nearly linear pressure-deformation response in the rabbit cornea.

scholarly journals A preliminary study of intensivist-performed DVT ultrasound screening in trauma ICU patients (APSIT Study)

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lloyd Roberts ◽  
Tom Rozen ◽  
Deirdre Murphy ◽  
Adam Lawler ◽  
Mark Fitzgerald ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Deep Vein Thrombosis ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Major Trauma ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Trauma Patients ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Deep Vein

Abstract Background Multiple screening Duplex ultrasound scans (DUS) are performed in trauma patients at high risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Intensive care physician performed compression ultrasound (IP-CUS) has shown promise as a diagnostic test for DVT in a non-trauma setting. Whether IP-CUS can be used as a screening test in trauma patients is unknown. Our study aimed to assess the agreement between IP-CUS and vascular sonographer performed DUS for proximal lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (PLEDVT) screening in high-risk trauma patients in ICU. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at the ICU of Alfred Hospital, a major trauma center in Melbourne, Australia, between Feb and Nov 2015. All adult major trauma patients admitted with high risk for DVT were eligible for inclusion. IP-CUS was performed immediately before or after DUS for PLEDVT screening. The paired studies were repeated twice weekly until the DVT diagnosis, death or ICU discharge. Written informed consent from the patient, or person responsible, or procedural authorisation, was obtained. The individuals performing the scans were blinded to the others’ results. The agreement analysis was performed using Cohen’s Kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient for repeated binary measurements. Results During the study period, 117 patients had 193 pairs of scans, and 45 (39%) patients had more than one pair of scans. The median age (IQR) was 47 (28–68) years with 77% males, mean (SD) injury severity score 27.5 (9.53), and a median (IQR) ICU length of stay 7 (3.2–11.6) days. There were 16 cases (13.6%) of PLEDVT with an incidence rate of 2.6 (1.6–4.2) cases per 100 patient-days in ICU. The overall agreement was 96.7% (95% CI 94.15–99.33). The Cohen’s Kappa between the IP-CUS and DUS was 0.77 (95% CI 0.59–0.95), and the intraclass correlation coefficient for repeated binary measures was 0.75 (95% CI 0.67–0.81). Conclusions There is a substantial agreement between IP-CUS and DUS for PLEDVT screening in trauma patients in ICU with high risk for DVT. Large multicentre studies are needed to confirm this finding.

Test-Retest-Reliability of Computer-Based Metamorphopsia Measurement in Macular Diseases

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Claessens ◽  
Alexander K. Schuster ◽  
Ronald V. Krüger ◽  
Marian Liegl ◽  
Laila Singh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Macular Edema ◽  
Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Intraclass Correlation ◽  
Measuring Method ◽  
Repeated Measurements ◽  
Retest Reliability ◽  
Macular Diseases ◽  
Computer Based ◽  
Test Retest Reliability

AbstractIn this study, the test-retest-reliability as one aspect of reliability of metamorphopsia measurements using a computer-based measuring method was determined in patients with macular diseases. Metamorphopsia amplitude, position, and area were quantified using AMD – A Metamorphopsia Detector software (app4eyes GmbH & Co. KG, Germany) in patients with diabetic, myopic, or uveitic macular edema, intermediate or neovascular age-associated macular degeneration, epiretinal membrane, vitelliform maculopathy, Irvine-Gass syndrome, or macular edema due to venous retinal occlusion. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated in order to determine the repeatability of two repeated measurements and was used as an indicator of the reliability of the measurements. In this study, metamorphopsia measurements were conducted on 36 eyes with macular diseases. Metamorphopsia measurements made using AMD – A Metamorphopsia Detector software were highly reliable and repeatable in patients with maculopathies. The intraclass correlation coefficient of all indices was excellent (0.95 – 0.97). For diseases of the vitreoretinal interface or macular diseases with intra- or subretinal edema, this metamorphopsia measurement represents a supplement for visual function testing in the clinic, as well as in clinical studies.

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