Bayesian Two-sided Complete Group Chain Sampling Plan for Binomial Distribution using Beta Prior through Quality Regions

Acceptance sampling is a technique for statistical quality assurance based on the inspection of a random sample to decide the lot disposition: accept or reject. Producer’s risk and consumer’s risk are inevitable in acceptance sampling. Most conventional plans only focus on minimizing the consumer’s risk. This study focused on minimizing both producer’s and consumer’s risks through the quality region. Experts from available historical knowledge concurred that Bayesian is the best approach to make the correct decision. In this study, a Bayesian two-sided complete group chain sampling plan (BTSCGChSP) was proposed for the average probability of acceptance. The binomial distribution was used to derive the probability of lot acceptance, and the beta distribution was used as the prior distribution. For selected design parameters in BTSCGChSP, the acceptable quality level and limiting quality level were considered to estimate quality regions that were directly associated with producer’s and consumer’s risks, respectively. Four quality regions: (i) quality decision region , (ii) probabilistic quality region (PQR), (iii) limiting quality region, and (iv) indifference quality region, were evaluated. To compare with the existing Bayesian group chain sampling plan (BGChSP), operating characteristic curves were used for the same parameter values and probability of lot acceptance. The findings explained that BTSCGChSP provided a smaller proportion of defectives than BGChSP for the same probability of acceptance. If quality regions were found for the same values of consumer and producer risks, then the BTSCGChSP region would contain fewer defectives than in the BGChSP region. Therefore, for industrial practitioners, the proposed plan is a better substitute for existing BGChSP and other conventional plans.

Chemotherapy completion rate for locally advanced rectal cancer at a safety-net hospital.

e15597 Background: Patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) typically receive chemoradiation prior to surgery, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy (standard). Recently there has been a growing trend toward total neoadjuvant therapy (TNT), in which all chemotherapy is given in the neoadjuvant setting, having the advantage of higher chemotherapy completion rates. Data exploring adherence to both standard therapy and TNT within a vulnerable, underserved population is lacking. Within our safety-net hospital, we determined the chemotherapy completion rates for LARC patients who received TNT vs standard treatment. We also compared two populations within the standard treatment group- those who received all doses of prescribed adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) and those who did not. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed for all patients with LARC (stage II or III) presenting to Los Angeles County + USC Medical Center from 2015 to 2020. Patients who progressed prior to receiving their first dose of chemotherapy and patients lost to follow-up were excluded. Patient demographics, stage, neoadjuvant/adjuvant treatment, operative characteristics, and postoperative course were abstracted. T-tests and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests were used to compare means and medians, respectively; chi-squared tests were used to compare categorical variables. Results: 67 patients were included- 59 in the standard group and 8 in the TNT group. Mean follow-up was 30 months. All patients in the TNT group completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In the standard treatment group, the overall AC completion rate was 81% (n = 48) (Complete Group). 19% (n = 11) did not receive all prescribed doses of AC (Incomplete Group). Compared to patients in the Incomplete Group, patients in the Complete Group were significantly older (mean age 55 vs 48, p = 0.017), had a shorter mean time interval from surgery to initiation of AC (9 weeks vs 13 weeks, p = 0.016), and were less likely to experience a delay in receiving AC > 90 days (15% vs 46%, p = 0.022). In total, 12 patients (20%) in the standard group experienced a delay in AC, of which six (50%) were due to anastomotic leak and/or pelvic abscess. Three of those patients who experienced a delay (25%) required either drain placement or re-operation to address their complication. More patients in the Complete Group went on to have their temporary stomas reversed compared to those in the Incomplete Group (94% vs 70%, p = 0.031). Conclusions: While this population had a high AC completion rate, a meaningful proportion of all patients (though more in the Incomplete Group) experienced a delay in AC > 90 days, with surgical complications responsible for the delay in half of these patients. In contrast, all patients who received TNT completed neoadjuvant chemotherapy. TNT may be a reasonable alternative to reduce therapy delays and further improve chemotherapy completion rates in an underserved population.

Steroidogenic Activity in Unresected Adrenals Associated With Surgical Outcomes in Primary Aldosteronism

In patients with primary aldosteronism diagnosed with unilateral lesions through adrenal venous sampling, excess aldosterone occasionally persists after adrenalectomy. We investigated whether aldosterone values from unresected adrenals would be associated with postoperative outcomes. Overall, 102 primary aldosteronism patients, who underwent segmental adrenal venous sampling and unilateral adrenalectomy, were assessed for biochemical success (as outlined in the PASO [Primary Aldosteronism Surgical Outcomes] Study) at 1 year after surgery by using the saline infusion test. We divided patients into the biochemical complete or incomplete success group. Eighty-seven and 15 patients had complete and incomplete biochemical success, respectively. The biochemical incomplete group, compared with the biochemical complete group, had higher maximum aldosterone in tributary veins (11 000 versus 7030 pg/mL, P =0.006), maximum aldosterone/cortisol in tributary veins (18.05 versus 9.13, P <0.001), aldosterone in the central vein (9260 versus 5800 pg/mL, P =0.011), and aldosterone/cortisol in the central vein (13.67 versus 8.08, P <0.001) of the unresected adrenal gland. In logistic regression analyses, maximum aldosterone/cortisol in tributary veins had the highest area under the curve (0.780). Aldosterone/cortisol in the central vein had a nearly equivalent area under the curve (0.775). The lateralization index showed no significant differences between the groups. The clinical incomplete group similarly had higher aldosterone and aldosterone/cortisol in the unresected adrenal gland than did the clinical complete group. Therefore, steroidogenic activity in unresected adrenals (eg, absolute aldosterone value and aldosterone/cortisol) were associated with surgical outcomes. Our results may aid clinicians in determining the surgical application for primary aldosteronism.

Pretreatment PSA levels affects the completion rate of Ra-223 treatment

The aim of this study was to review our initial experience of using radium 223 (Ra-223) for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and to evaluate whether pretreatment PSA levels correlate with completion of Ra-223 treatment. In addition, we examined change ratios of PSA, ALP and BAP after the third administration to evaluate the correlation of these change ratios with completion of the subsequent Ra-223 treatment. Forty patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Ra-223 treatment was considered completed in patients who received five or six administrations. Patient backgrounds and changes in biomarkers were compared between patient groups (complete vs. incomplete Ra-223 treatment). PSA levels before treatment were significantly lower in the complete compared with the incomplete group (cutoff value; 21.7). ALP and BAP levels had decreased after the third administration in the complete group, compared with baseline levels, while levels in the incomplete group had increased. Significant difference was seen in ALP levels, while was not seen in BAP levels between the two groups. Ra-223 treatment should be considered for CRPC with low PSA levels. Changes in PSA and ALP during Ra-223 treatment might provide markers to identify patients likely to complete Ra-223 treatment, with implications for prognosis.

Capital City as a Factor of Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis—Application on Transport Companies in the Czech Republic

The manuscript applied multi-criteria analysis using several indicators to evaluate 18 transport companies established on the level of the Czech statutory towns during period of 2001–2016 that provided for a mass commuting system. Transport companies were chosen for evaluation in the towns being company establishers in the area of mass commuting systems. Based on the prepared analysis outcomes, we suppose that transport companies in big Czech cities and towns using combination of various transport means within the mass commuting system reached lower effectiveness. The Transport Company of the Czech capital city Prague only one operates subway, i.e., it works with specific requirements laid on assurance of this public transport type. Nevertheless, its inclusion in the analysis didn’t affect total results, thus we are able to work with a complete group of transport companies in the Czech Republic when evaluating their economic effectiveness.

Antenatal Glucocorticoids Reduce the Incidence of Refractory Hypotension in Low Birthweight Infants during the Early Neonatal Period, but Do Not Affect It beyond This Time

Objective This study aimed to clarify the effect of antenatal glucocorticoids (AGs) on the incidence of refractory hypotension (RH) in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants after the first week of life. Study Design We included VLBW infants born at a gestational age of <30 weeks and divided them into three groups: the complete group (born within 7 days of completing a single course [two doses] of AGs), the incomplete group (born without complete course), and the late delivery group (born at ≥8 days after a single course). We compared the incidence and period of onset of RH among the three groups. Results A total of 115 infants were enrolled. The incidence of RH in the first week of life was significantly lower in the complete group than in the other groups. However, there was no significant difference in the incidence of RH after the first week of life among the groups. Conclusion AGs contribute to circulatory stabilization during the first week of life, but this effect does not last after 1 or 2 weeks of administration. In infants who receive AGs, physicians should consider that the risk of RH after the first week of life is not low.