This second edition of Measuring Nonuse Damages Using Conjoint Valuation is essentially a reprint of a 1992 monograph that has been in steady demand since its original appearance. The RTI Press... Full Abstract  »

Objective To evaluate and quantify the economic benefits attributable to improvements in water supply and sanitation in rural India. Methods We combined propensity-score “pre-matching” and rich... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Although 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) have demonstrated that they reduce the risk of prostate cancer (PCa), they have not demonstrated cost effectiveness in the patient... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: Our objective was to estimate preference-based weights for the IWQOL-Lite that reflect the relative importance overweight and obese people place on the domains included in the instrument.... Full Abstract  »

Background: The Food and Drug Administration, currently, is exploring quantitative benefit–risk methods to support regulatory decision-making. A scientifically valid method for assessing patients'... Full Abstract  »

Objective: The purpose of this study was to document real-world treatment patterns, medication adherence, and the impact of adherence on disease-specific and all-cause health-care costs among... Full Abstract  »

Background Previous studies have suggested that the incidence of retinopathy is lower in preterm infants with exposure to reduced levels of oxygenation than in those exposed to higher levels of... Full Abstract  »

The attraction of being able to use the internet for the recruitment of an epidemiologic cohort stems mainly from cost efficiency and convenience. The pregnancy planning study ('Snart-Gravid')-a... Full Abstract  »

Objectives HLA-B*5701 is a major histocompatibility complex class I allele associated with an immunologically-mediated hypersensitivity reaction to abacavir. The objectives of this study were to... Full Abstract  »

Objective: EGF103009 (ClinicalTrials. gov identifier: NCT00105950) was a phase 2, open-label, multicenter study that showed lapatinib monotherapy to be clinically active in women with relapsed or... Full Abstract  »

The Preference and Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ) compares patient preference and satisfaction between a 6-month subcutaneous injection and weekly oral tablet for treatment of bone loss. Patients... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Current asthma guidelines recommend the use of long-acting beta-agonists (LABAs) in combination with inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) for long-term control and prevention of symptoms in... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Opioid-induced constipation is a common adverse event in patients with advanced illness and has a significant negative impact on patients' quality of life and costs. AIM: To examine the... Full Abstract  »

Background. Despite the availability of effective asthma treatments and evidence-based management guidelines focusing on asthma control, many patients have asthma that is inadequately controlled.... Full Abstract  »

Sexual dysfunction is a common but often unrecognized side effect of many antidepressants. Building upon the results of a previous investigation, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and impact... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: In a phase 3 randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, first-line therapy with lapatinib plus paclitaxel significantly improved clinical outcomes based on a... Full Abstract  »

We estimated the prevalence of medication nonadherence in Parkinson's disease (PD) and the association between treatment nonadherence and healthcare costs. Insurance claims from over 30 US health... Full Abstract  »

Willingness-to-pay (WTP) estimates derived from discrete-choice experiments (DCEs) generally assume that the marginal utility of income is constant. This assumption is consistent with theoretical... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) primarily is a disorder of adults characterized by autoantibody-induced platelet destruction and reduced platelet production, leading to a low... Full Abstract  »

This paper develops a graphical analysis and an analytical model that demonstrate how weak substitution can be used for non-market valuation. Weak complementarity and weak substitution represent... Full Abstract  »

Objectives: Persistently impaired psychosocial functioning has been recognized in many individuals with bipolar disorder. However, existing measures of functional disability have been adapted for... Full Abstract  »

Oral dabigatran etexilate is indicated for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients undergoing total knee replacement or total hip replacement. We investigated the... Full Abstract  »

A choice-format, conjoint-analysis survey was developed and fielded to estimate how features of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines affect mothers' perceived benefit and stated vaccine uptake for... Full Abstract  »

Researchers usually employ orthogonal arrays or D-optimal designs with little or no attribute overlap in stated-choice surveys. The challenge is to balance statistical efficiency and respondent... Full Abstract  »

Responses of inattentive or inconsistent subjects in stated-choice (SC) surveys can lead to imprecise or biased estimates. Several SC studies have investigated inconsistency and most of these... Full Abstract  »

Background: Patient preferences can affect colorectal cancer (CRC) screening test use. We compared utility-based preferences for alternative CRC screening tests from a stated-preference... Full Abstract  »

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of upper gastrointestinal complications associated with use of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) selective (celecoxib and rofecoxib) and individual nonselective... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) has been shown to be effective and is approved in children exposed to a case of influenza in a household setting. Given limited... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) with oseltamivir (Tamiflu) has been shown to be effective and is approved in children exposed to a case of influenza in a household setting. Given limited... Full Abstract  »

Objective: This study's objective was to review the literature on the epidemiological and economic burden and treatment of chronic low back pain (CLBP) in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK.... Full Abstract  »

The introduction of prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing as a screening tool has transformed the clinical landscape of prostate cancer. Screening allows prostate cancer to be diagnosed many years... Full Abstract  »

Regulatory decisions to approve, restrict development, or halt the marketing of new pharmaceuticals require evaluating the balance between benefits and risks, given the available evidence at a point... Full Abstract  »

Objectives: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of a low-cost cholera vaccine licensed and used in Vietnam, using recently collected data from four developing countries where cholera is endemic. Our... Full Abstract  »

As survival of transplant recipients improves, long-term complications become more important. We reviewed epidemiologic literature on real-world risks of de novo neoplasia post-transplant. We... Full Abstract  »

The safety of mobile telephones is a pressing question, now that the brains of nearly half the humans on the planet have become exposed within a short span of time to a physical agent to which their... Full Abstract  »

Patterns of opioid use, resource utilization, and costs in cancer patients with and without constipation were compared using retrospective insurance claims data. Inclusion criteria were > =30 days... Full Abstract  »

Sustainable and equitable access to safe water and adequate sanitation are widely acknowledged as vital, yet neglected, development goals. Water supply and sanitation (WSS) policies are justified... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of a sanitation campaign that combines “shaming” (i.e. emotional motivators) with subsidies for poor households in rural Orissa, an Indian state with a... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Disturbed sleep is commonly reported in fibromyalgia (FM). Both the Sleep Quality Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep Scale (MOS-Sleep) have demonstrated... Full Abstract  »

Subjects with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) enrolled in an online panel were asked to evaluate pairs of treatment alternatives with different attributes. Half of the sample saw a cheap-talk text.... Full Abstract  »

Disease-modifying drugs are a significant expenditure for treating multiple sclerosis. Natalizumab (NZ) has been shown to be effective in reducing relapses and disease progression. However,... Full Abstract  »

The quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) has become the dominant measure of health value in health technology assessment in recent decades despite some well-known and fundamental flaws in the... Full Abstract  »

Objective: There is consensus that a more transparent, explicit, and rigorous approach to benefit–risk evaluation is required. The objective of this study is to evaluate the incremental net benefit... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Better selection of patients for intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) treatment may improve clinical outcomes. We examined the cost-effectiveness of... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To identify predictors of attempts to stop smoking and predictors of relapse. METHODS: This study included 2431 smokers from pre-existing Internet panels in the United States, United... Full Abstract  »

Objective: The objective was to describe the healthcare and information-seeking behavior of women with self-reported sexual problems and accompanying sexually related personal distress identified... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to estimate the willingness of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to accept life-threatening adverse event risks in exchange for improvements in their MS related... Full Abstract  »

AIMS: Medication non-adherence is particularly common in patients with Type 2 diabetes. We constructed a discrete-choice experiment to examine the relative importance of oral glucose-lowering... Full Abstract  »

The clinical, humanistic and economic consequences associated with haemophilia and inhibitors are considerable. Primary treatment for mild-to-moderate bleeding disorders in such patients is... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate oral cancer screening by visual inspection. METHODS: A cluster randomized controlled trial was initiated in Trivandrum district, Kerala, India. Of 13 population clusters,... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: The cost-effectiveness of treating influenzalike illness (ILI) with oseltamivir in the United States was assessed. METHODS: A decision-analysis model was developed with a one-year time... Full Abstract  »

Background Physical inactivity is a major driver of costly health problems, especially in older adults. Structured walking programs are one approach for increasing physical activity, although there... Full Abstract  »

The Onset-of-Effect Questionnaire (OEQ) is a self-administered instrument used to assess patient perception of how quickly asthma maintenance medications begin to work. This study was designed to... Full Abstract  »

The 'old' familiar diseases of cholera and typhoid remain a serious health threat in many developing countries. Health policy analysis often argue that vaccination confers positive economic... Full Abstract  »

Abstract Objective: Cost-effectiveness analyses of new treatments for cardiovascular disease frequently require input parameters whose values are known with uncertainty due to limited data. The... Full Abstract  »

Understanding patient-specific differences in risk tolerance for new treatments that offer improved efficacy can assist in making difficult regulatory and clinical decisions for new treatments that... Full Abstract  »

While African Americans in the United States are disproportionately affected by HIV, they are less likely to take antiretroviral therapies. Different first-line antiretroviral therapies are... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: We examine the lifetime cost-effectiveness of treatment with fluticasone propionate/salmeterol (500/50 microg) compared with no maintenance treatment in COPD in the US. METHODS: A... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE—To develop and test a patient questionnaire on treatment satisfaction with diabetes regimens. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—Survey items were developed from community clinic focus groups,... Full Abstract  »

While the clinical implications of advanced melanoma have been extensively documented, little is known about the direct medical costs associated with the disease, particularly for elderly patients... Full Abstract  »

Objective: This was an evaluation of the cost-effectiveness of oral dabigatran etexilate compared with subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin (enoxaparin) for the prevention of venous... Full Abstract  »

Dabigatran etexilate has been investigated in three phase III trials for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). Health technology assessment agencies increasingly require meta-analyses of... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the spectrum of clinical outcomes achieved with depression treatment and the associated impact on quality of life (QOL), functional status, overall well-being, health-care... Full Abstract  »

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a progressive, ultimately fatal neurodegenerative illness affecting millions of patients, families, and caregivers. Effective disease-modifying therapies for AD are... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: We wished to determine whether a pre-existing diagnosis of breast cancer or the use of tamoxifen among patients with pre-existing breast cancer influences the histologic type of... Full Abstract  »

INTRODUCTION: The primary treatment for mild-to-moderate bleeding disorders in hemophilia is either recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) or activated prothrombin complex concentrate (aPCC). The... Full Abstract  »

Background: Crofelemer improves bowel function in several conditions characterized by states of prominent secretory diarrhea. Aim: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluated... Full Abstract  »

Over 22,000 cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in 2007 in the United States, but only a fraction of them can be attributed to mutations in highly penetrant genes such as BRCA1. To determine... Full Abstract  »

This study evaluated the impact of a universal school-based violence prevention program on social-cognitive factors associated with aggression and nonviolent behavior in early adolescence. The... Full Abstract  »

The burden of typhoid fever remains high in impoverished settings, and increasing antibiotic resistance is making treatment costly. One strategy for reducing the typhoid morbidity and mortality is... Full Abstract  »

The relationship between overall survival (OS) and disease progression end points has been demonstrated in colorectal, colon, and non-small cell lung cancers. We assessed the association between OS... Full Abstract  »

Context The COMBINE (Combined Pharmacotherapies and Behavioral Intervention) clinical trial recently evaluated the efficacy of medications, behavioral therapies, and their combinations for the... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: In the last two decades, there has been considerable evolution of methods for cost-effectiveness modelling. Some of the first models were developed in the area of venous thromboembolism... Full Abstract  »

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by abdominal pain and altered bowel function. Few agents are available for the treatment of IBS. Historically, one... Full Abstract  »

Purpose To assess the relative incidence of peptic ulcer bleeding and perforation (PUBP) in users of selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors and nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory... Full Abstract  »

Stated-choice (SC) surveys, such as conjoint analysis, present some interesting problems for researchers that are not addressed in the traditional survey-development literature. While the... Full Abstract  »

Public concern is increasing over the safety of medicines, particularly serious adverse events detected after extensive use of products in the general marketplace. This concern has led to the need... Full Abstract  »

The addition of lapatinib (Tykerb/Tyverb) to capecitabine (Xeloda) delays disease progression more effectively than capecitabine monotherapy in women with previously treated HER2+ metastatic breast... Full Abstract  »

Background and objectives: In 2003, the National Kidney Foundation introduced guidelines for the control of parathyroid hormone, calcium, and phosphorus in hemodialysis patients. Design, setting,... Full Abstract  »

After renal transplantation, immunosuppressive regimens associated with high short-term survival rates are not necessarily associated with high long-term survival rates, suggesting that regimens may... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To explore the extent to which clinical characteristics influence the association between cyclooxygenase 2 inhibitors (coxibs) and/or nonselective nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs... Full Abstract  »

Body mass index (BMI) has various deficiencies as a measure of obesity, especially when the BMI measure is based on self-reported height and weight. BMI is an indirect measure of body fat compared... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Case definitions are essential to epidemiological research. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate ICD-9 codes 410 and 411 to identify cases of acute coronary syndromes (ACS), and the clinical... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: In models of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), asimadoline, a kappa-opioid agonist, improves pain and abnormal bowel function. AIM: To evaluate the effects of three doses of asimadoline... Full Abstract  »

Ovarian cancer is most frequently diagnosed in postmenopausal women; however, the strongest risk predictors, pregnancy and oral contraceptive use, occur in most women in their twenties and thirties.... Full Abstract  »

Performing economic evaluations of established health care programs is essential to identify and control for underlying program-level variations and to make valid comparisons. At a time when the... Full Abstract  »

We examine snowmobile use conflict in Yellowstone National Park to assess the effect of different winter management policies on heterogeneous visitors’ welfare. Using a stated preference choice... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: To estimate the rate of new-onset seizure in ADHD patients in relation to ADHD pharmacotherapy. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 34,727 patients, ages 6 to 17, with at least two... Full Abstract  »

Background The General Practice Research Database (GPRD) has been used to identify associations between pregnancy medication exposures and birth defects, but experts have argued that databases such... Full Abstract  »

Introduction In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) started a 3-year colorectal cancer screening demonstration project and funded five programs to explore the feasibility of a... Full Abstract  »

This study explored whether reactions to the Cancer Genetics Network (CGN) or CGN enrollment differed by receipt of a standard informational brochure versus a targeted version addressing factors... Full Abstract  »

Oral bromelain has been anecdotally reported to decrease inflammation in ulcerative colitis (UC). Proteolytically active bromelain is known to decrease expression of mRNAs encoding pro-inflammatory... Full Abstract  »

Previous studies have shown that cost of illness (COI) measures are lower than the conceptually correct willingness-to-pay (WTP) measure of the economic benefits of disease prevention. We compare... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to determine whether cyclin E overexpression defines an etiologically distinct subgroup of ovarian cancer. METHODS: We analyzed data from 538 epithelial... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: This study assessed the extent of refill nonadherence with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and the potential association between AED nonadherence and health care costs in an adult-managed care... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project 2004 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we estimated inpatient resource utilization among patients with hematologic malignancies,... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: To estimate the cost effectiveness of TAC (docetaxel, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) compared with FAC (fluorouracil, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide) when administered as adjuvant... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND. The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) was established by the U.S. Congress in 1990. In recent years, there has been an emphasis on ascertaining the... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of duloxetine when considered as an additional treatment option for UK-based patients suffering from diabetic... Full Abstract  »

With a number of advantages, lower partial moments (LPM) serve as alternatives to variance as measures of portfolio risk. For two specific targets, a separation property holds in the context of... Full Abstract  »

Background Confounding-by-indication is a bias in nonexperimental studies that occurs when outcomes are compared for treated and untreated patients and the treatment or medication dose is related to... Full Abstract  »

The thoroughly revised and updated Third Edition of the acclaimed Modern Epidemiology reflects both the conceptual development of this evolving science and the increasingly focal role that... Full Abstract  »

Purpose To evaluate the value of a registry, set in real-life practice, as a contribution to evidence-based medicine and to estimate the impact of information collected in such a registry, on the... Full Abstract  »

Purpose To validate ICD 9 codes with a high positive predictive value (PPV) for incident strokes. The study population consisted of Tennessee Medicaid enrollees aged from 50 to 84 years.... Full Abstract  »

Aims The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to estimate the time to insulin initiation in patients with Type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled on oral glucose-lowering agents (OGLAs).... Full Abstract  »

Outbreaks of infectious animal diseases represent a major threat to agriculture and can impose significant social and economic costs. The potential for devastating epidemics, such as the recent... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: A population-based study was used to describe healthcare seeking behavior for menopausal symptoms and treatment among women 40-65 years old in the United States. METHODS: Participants... Full Abstract  »

Purpose We evaluated the responsiveness and treatment sensitivity of the Erection Quality Scale, and provided further psychometric validation of this scale. Materials and Methods An 8-week,... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The optimal adjuvant therapy for women with stages III and IV endometrial cancer following surgical staging and cytoreductive surgery is controversial. We sought to determine the outcome... Full Abstract  »

Purpose Many pharmacoepidemiologic studies use automated prescription claims data to estimate the association between exposure and disease. One limitation of automated data, when studying drugs... Full Abstract  »

Given the initiatives to improve resource allocation decisions for HIV prevention activities, a linear programming model was designed specifically for use by state and local decision-makers. A pilot... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Regulatory assessments of drug risks do not routinely consider patient preferences, despite evidence that some patients are willing to accept increased side-effect risk in... Full Abstract  »

AIMS: The objective of this study was to describe the proportion and characteristics of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) in France, Italy,... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: Men with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) from benign prostatic hyperplasia often do not discuss their symptoms with their primary care physicians (PCPs). The primary objectives of this... Full Abstract  »

Abstract: Background. Voriconazole, a broad-spectrum triazole, has demonstrated significantly improved survival compared with conventional amphotericin B (CAB) as initial therapy for invasive... Full Abstract  »

Background: Evidence that long-term hormone therapy (HT) may increase the risk of serious adverse events led to a sharp reduction in all HT use, including short-term use for vasomotor symptom relief.... Full Abstract  »

Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Asia, Europe, and Africa have caused severe impacts on the poultry sector through bird mortality and culling, as well as resulting trade... Full Abstract  »

Though published in 1981, the footnote on the first page of ‘The Rise and Fall of Epidemiology’1 indicates that it was a preprint of a talk ‘to be presented December 10, 2004, at the annual meeting... Full Abstract  »

Background: Data on the incidence of serious allergic reactions to fluoroquinolone antibacterials are mainly derived from spontaneous reports that cannot be used to accurately estimate incidence.... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in the US, and its prevalence continues to increase. Despite the availability of effective asthma controller medications, many patients... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Medication nonadherence is high among patients with bipolar disorder, and may lead to poor clinical outcomes, decreased quality of life, and increased resource utilization.... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The optimal management of patients with stage I uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is unclear. We sought to determine whether outcomes of women with surgical stage I UPSC differ... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: To estimate the rate of new-onset afebrile provoked and unprovoked seizure in a general pediatric population and subgroups of patients with and without psychiatric diagnoses other than... Full Abstract  »

INTRODUCTION: A few epidemiological studies suggested an increased coronary heart disease (CHD) risk with high doses of oral corticosteroids. METHODS: We performed a cohort study with nested... Full Abstract  »

Confounding can be a major source of bias in nonexperimental research. The authors recently introduced propensity score calibration (PSC), which combines propensity scores and regression calibration... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Item response theory (IRT) is increasingly being applied to health-related quality of life instrument development and refinement. This article discusses results obtained using... Full Abstract  »

The choice of primary endpoint for a clinical trial is one of the most important determinants of the ability of a clinical trial to demonstrate efficacy of therapeutic agents. Although there are... Full Abstract  »

Purpose - To evaluate whether the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) differs among adult diabetic patients treated with thiazolidinediones (TZDs) and similar patients treated with combined oral... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Before the introduction of the immunomodulatory therapies for multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment options for MS consisted of symptomatic management (physical therapy and pharmacological... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to examine the relation of factors that are present at birth to subsequent hospitalization for childhood pneumococcal disease. METHODS. We conducted a... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: To estimate the net cardiovascular (CV) (coronary heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure), and gastrointestinal (GI) (peptic ulcer complications) risk-benefit public health impact... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: This article assesses the ability of the economic outcome measures in the Economic Form 90 to detect differences across levels of alcohol dependence as measured by the Alcohol Dependence... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Postterm delivery is a risk factor for perinatal complications, some of which increase risk for neurologic morbidity. We aimed to examine the association between postterm delivery and... Full Abstract  »

Abstract: Background: Although the prevalence of trauma in the United States is high, data on the economic burden of this public health problem to third-party payors is limited. Methods:... Full Abstract  »

INTRODUCTION: Androgens may play a role in the development of ovarian cancers. Two trinucleotide repeat polymorphisms have been described in exon 1 of the androgen receptor (AR) gene that may affect... Full Abstract  »

We conducted a study to examine the relation of asthma and its treatment to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We identified cohorts of members with and without asthma from January 1996 though June... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: We sought to estimate the effect of screening and brief intervention (SBI) for risky alcohol use on the health care utilization of risky drinkers in 4 managed care organizations. RESEARCH... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: The cost-effectiveness of aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in women is unclear. We sought to perform a cost-utility analysis to address this issue. METHODS: We... Full Abstract  »

Background The cost-effectiveness of aspirin for primary prevention of cardiovascular events in women is unclear. We sought to perform a cost-utility analysis to address this issue. Methods We... Full Abstract  »

We examine the effect of giving respondents time to think about their stated choices (SC) in a survey of cholera and typhoid vaccine preferences in Hue, Vietnam. Because neither vaccine is widely... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To compare the risk of suicide in adults using the antidepressant venlafaxine compared with citalopram, fluoxetine, and dothiepin. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: UK... Full Abstract  »

The present study examined the impact of once-daily fexofenadine hydrochloride (HCl) 180 mg on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in subjects with chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU). This was a... Full Abstract  »

Objective The clinical significance and optimal management of patients with stage IIIA endometrial cancer are controversial. We sought to determine whether recurrence and survival of patients with... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Alosetron was reintroduced for treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with a risk management programme in November 2002. Recommended starting dosage was 1 mg/day for 4 weeks. If symptoms... Full Abstract  »

Written by an international team of outstanding editors and contributors, Pharmacovigilance, 2nd Edition is the definitive text on this important subject. The new edition has been completely... Full Abstract  »

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the third most common cause of hospital-acquired acute renal failure. Three is increasing evidnce that CIN has a significant adverse impact on patient... Full Abstract  »

Background and purpose To explore aspects of restless legs syndrome (RLS) associated with detrimental impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Patients and methods The RLS... Full Abstract  »

Treating patients with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) using recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIla) has been found to improve survival and functional outcome. To examine how the introduction of... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: The Medical Outcomes Study-Sleep Scale (MOS-SS) is a commonly used self-reported instrument for assessing key constructs of sleep quality and quantity. Even though the MOS-SS has... Full Abstract  »

Therapeutic risk management is required to ensure that the benefits of a particular drug outweigh the risks in general practice. Current risk management strategies and handling of risk management... Full Abstract  »

We carried out a cost-effectiveness evaluation of transdermal fentanyl compared to three other widely used opioids: transdermal buprenorphine, sustained-release morphine, and controlled-release... Full Abstract  »

Background/Aims: The effect of inflammatory skin diseases on pregnancy has been incompletely characterized. We sought to estimate the incidence of pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes among women with... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: COX-2 and NSAIDS differ in their gastrointestinal (GI) and cardiovascular (CV) toxicity from pharmacological, clinical and epidemiologic point of views. OBJECTIVE: Describe the patterns... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is among the most costly and debilitating forms of stroke. Results from a recent Phase IIb clinical trial demonstrate that administration of... Full Abstract  »

Objectives: To estimate the risk of a first hospital admission for heart failure (HF) associated with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Methods: Cohort study with a nested... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Using data from a case-control study of endometrial cancer, we investigated the relationship between the progestin and estrogen potency in combination oral contraceptives (OCs) and the... Full Abstract  »

Observational analogs of randomized clinical trials (RCTs) are well accepted in the study of disease risk factors, diagnosis, and prognosis. There is controversy about observational studies when the... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: Both propensity score (PS) matching and inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) allow causal contrasts, albeit different ones. In the presence of effect-measure modification,... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the literature describing the impact of uterine fibroids on health-related quality of life (HRQOL), the measures used to assess HRQOL, and related areas for future research.... Full Abstract  »

Summary Background In November 2002, alosetron HCl (Lotronex, GlaxoSmithKline Research Triangle Park, NC, USA) was re-introduced to the US marketplace for women with severe diarrhoea-predominant... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Studies in Western populations have shown the association of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB). The role of Helicobacter pylori... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: The principal aim of this study was to illustrate applying discrete-choice methods for eliciting preferences for technology adoption criteria, including threshold values for... Full Abstract  »

Objective: The relationship between postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) and cerebrovascular disease has been examined in several epidemiological studies and clinical trials with conflicting results.... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Case descriptions suggest IBS patients are more likely to have other disorders, including migraine, fibromyalgia, and depression. We sought to examine the prevalence of these conditions... Full Abstract  »

AIMS: The ATTEMPT study was designed to chart the natural history of smoking cessation and associated short-term health outcomes and effects on medical resource utilization among a cohort recruited... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To assess use and channeling of cyclooxygenase 2 selective inhibitors (coxibs) over time and to estimate the percentage of coxib users with cardiovascular contraindications. METHODS: The... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Hepatic adverse events associated with the use of nonaspirin drugs and NSAIDs are uncommon, but the widespread use of these drugs may impact public health. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a... Full Abstract  »

Pharmacovigilance science has traditionally been a discipline focussed on the postmarketing or post-authorisation period, with due attention directed towards pre-clinical safety data, clinical... Full Abstract  »

Individuals can reduce their exposure to air pollution by reducing the amount of time they spend outdoors. Reducing outdoor time is an example of an averting behavior that should be measured as part... Full Abstract  »

Many economists argue that willingness-to-pay (WTP) measures are most appropriate for assessing the welfare effects of health changes. Nevertheless, the health evaluation literature is still... Full Abstract  »

The molecular etiology of epithelial ovarian cancer remains unclear. Using microarray expression analysis, we recently reported that expression of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein–2... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether pelvic lymph node count is associated with patterns of recurrence or survival in patients with FIGO stage I and II endometrial cancer. METHODS: Single institution... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Doctor visits for irritable bowel syndrome are associated with high medical costs. Predictors of medical consultation for irritable bowel syndrome remain poorly understood. AIM: To... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to estimate how much at-risk individuals are willing to pay for type 2 diabetes primary prevention programs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: An Internet-based,... Full Abstract  »

Despite the growing popularity of propensity score (PS) methods in epidemiology, relatively little has been written in the epidemiologic literature about the problem of variable selection for PS... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Propensity score (PS) analyses attempt to control for confounding in nonexperimental studies by adjusting for the likelihood that a given patient is exposed. Such analyses have been... Full Abstract  »

There are very few studies that quantify the interactions and tradeoffs between statistical and cognitive efficiency in designing stated-choice studies. While a conceptual framework for evaluating... Full Abstract  »

Purpose To estimate the prevalence of glucose metabolism abnormalities, including diabetes, and its associated cardiovascular risk factors and co-morbidity in the US elderly population. Methods... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the return on US investment (ROI) in overall health as well as four specific conditions. METHODS: The study utilized three distinct approaches to "triangulate" the evidence as... Full Abstract  »

Assessing the cost effectiveness of a new health intervention often requires modelling to estimate the impact of the intervention on cost, survival and quality of life over the lifetime of a cohort... Full Abstract  »

The success of a clinical trial is judged by achieving statistical and clinical significance on the primary endpoint. This is particularly relevant in those trials that are initiated to achieve... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Aspirin and statins are both effective for primary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD), but their combined use has not been well studied. OBJECTIVE: To perform a cost-utility... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To compare a linear scoring rule with the subjective importance of different domain and symptom levels of the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To identify optimal first-line therapies based on the rate of virologic success (VS) and the preservation of future treatment options in antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naive subjects.... Full Abstract  »

Whether non-aspirin non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) affect the risk of myocardial infarction is unclear. Also, it is unknown whether the effect varies by individual NSAIDs. To... Full Abstract  »

Objectives: It is postulated that patients with different cancer diagnoses, stages of disease and treatments will exhibit different individual preferences for health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL)... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that lack of treatment adherence is a serious problem, especially among patients with psychiatric disorders. The current study was conducted to assess adherence and... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: A depressed Apgar score at 5 minutes is a marker for perinatal insults, including neurologic damage. We examined the association between 5-minute Apgar score and the risk of epilepsy... Full Abstract  »

In most mammalian cells, regulatory volume decrease (RVD) is mediated by swelling-activated Cl(-) and K(+) channels. Previous studies in the human neuroblastoma cell line CHP-100 have demonstrated... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Sexual dysfunction is a common side effect of antidepressant treatment, but recognition of the problem is variable. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence and impact of... Full Abstract  »

Along the Texas-Mexico border, the prevalence of neural tube defects (NTDs) among Mexican-American women doubled during 1990-1991. The human outbreak began during the same crop year as epizootics... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Previous epidemiologic research suggests that analgesic use may reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, although results are not consistent. METHODS: In a population-based, case-control... Full Abstract  »

We investigated whether maternal breast cancer affects birth outcome in a nationwide cohort study of 695 births from 1973 to 2002 of women with breast cancer with respect to preterm birth, low birth... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Emerging clinical evidence suggests that gastroesophageal reflux disease is associated with pulmonary allograft dysfunction. In this study, we used a model of rat lung transplantation to... Full Abstract  »

Abstract Men migrating to the United States from Mexico and Central America confront opposing family norms. They need to leave their families to gain family economic security; yet, leaving renders... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: To investigate whether associations between anti-secondhand smoke (SHS) media, social cognitions about SHS, and home restrictions on smoking follow patterns observed in smoking behavior.... Full Abstract  »

Bacterial infections are important complications in patients with haematological malignancies. We compared the outcome of bacteraemia among elderly and younger patients with haematological... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: As there is no biological marker for irritable bowel syndrome, a diagnosis is made using symptom-based criteria. AIM: To evaluate the stability of self-reported symptoms consistent with... Full Abstract  »

The psychometric properties of the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), a widely used measure of pain and its impact on functioning, were assessed using data from two clinical trials of controlled-release... Full Abstract  »

This investigation focused on the relation between college student drinking behavior and study skills, behaviors, habits, and attitudes among undergraduate students at a predominantly African... Full Abstract  »

From a practical perspective, (arguably) most consumer decisions are not made in isolation of the households in which consumers are inserted, yet we commonly treat them econometrically as if they... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Use of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is standard practice for preventing postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE). Ximelagatran is a new direct thrombin inhibitor for this... Full Abstract  »

Objective. Surgical staging of endometrial cancer identifies those patients with microscopic metastatic disease most likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy and may also confer therapeutic benefit.... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To conduct a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies to derive a pooled estimate of the association between asthma and cancer incidence and between allergy and cancer incidence. DATA... Full Abstract  »

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome is a common gastrointestinal disorder, and its prevalence and demographics have been evaluated by different methodologies with varying results. Aim: To evaluate... Full Abstract  »

Haemophilia is a rare, inherited blood disorder in which blood clotting is impaired such that patients suffer from excessive internal and external bleeding. At present there is no cure for... Full Abstract  »

Successful treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) can have substantial implications. As rates of antibiotic resistance of Streptococcus pneumoniae--the most common pathogen of CAP-increase,... Full Abstract  »

Previous studies of anthropometric factors and ovarian cancer risk have been inconsistent and none have evaluated the association among African–American women. Data from a population-based,... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To present a summary of published estimates of the economic burden of uterine fibroids in the United States and identify areas for additional research. METHODS: A search of three... Full Abstract  »

INTRODUCTION: Improved glycemic control reduces the risk of long-term diabetes complications (1–3). However, subcutaneous insulin injections represent a barrier to achieving "optimal" blood glucose... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: Cohort studies indicate that starting highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) when the CD4+ T-cell count is less than 200 cells/muL is associated with poor outcomes. These studies... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To examine sexual function in a cohort of Baby Boomer women of diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds; to compare differences between pre-and early perimenopausal women; and to identify... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: This article describes the methodology used in estimating the mean cost per patient of the interventions delivered in COMBINE, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) comparing... Full Abstract  »

Objective The objective of this study was to determine if use of menopausal hormones was associated with ovarian cancer and if risk varied by type of hormone used. Study design Data from a... Full Abstract  »

Acute respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-induced bronchiolitis is often associated with continuing respiratory symptoms following hospitalization. To date, there is no validated objective measure to... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: Selective lymphadenectomy is widely accepted in the management of endometrial cancer. Purported benefits are individualization of adjuvant therapy based on extent of disease and resection... Full Abstract  »

Background: Results from a phase III study of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer demonstrated longer time to disease progression for patients taking letrozole versus tamoxifen. This... Full Abstract  »

A budget impact analysis for a new pharmaceutical product provides estimates of the likely impact of the new drug on a healthcare decision makers short- and longer-term annual budgets. Budget... Full Abstract  »

Objectives It has been suggested that the 6A allele of the type I TGF? receptor (TGF?R1) polyalanine repeat tract polymorphism may increase susceptibility to various types of cancer including... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Estimates of risk of Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) associated with some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) have used denominators based on the number of... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: It has been hypothesized that antidepressants may enhance cancer growth. Previous studies of antidepressant use and ovarian cancer have been inconsistent and have been limited in their... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To compare levels of persistency with 2 cholinesterase (ChE) inhibitors-rivastigmine and donepezil for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) through the use of administrative claims... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: To establish the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for depressive illness, schizophrenia, catatonia and mania. DATA SOURCES: Electronic... Full Abstract  »

Forest policies and management increasingly rely on economic models to explain behaviors of landowners and to project forest outputs, inventories and land use. However, it is unclear whether the... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To report the frequency of major malformations in lamotrigine-exposed pregnancies from September1, 1992, through March 31, 2004, in the International Lamotrigine Pregnancy Registry.... Full Abstract  »

Background: Most epidemiological studies evaluating the association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acute renal failure (ARF) found an increased risk for developing ARF... Full Abstract  »

Abstract: Prophylaxis-based antiviral treatment and intensive monitoring followed by pre-emptive antiviral treatment are both commonly used management strategies to reduce risk of cytomegalovirus... Full Abstract  »

Objective: The objective of this study was to conduct an economic evaluation of voriconazole compared with conventional amphotericin B deoxycholate (CAB) using data from a recently reported... Full Abstract  »

The pricing of medicines has become one of the most hotly debated topics of recent times, with the pharmaceutical industry seemingly being attacked from all quarters. From a company perspective,... Full Abstract  »

As measures of portfolio risk, Lower Partial Moments (LPMs) have several advantages over variance, the traditional measure of risk. A separation theorem can be proven in the context of mean-LPM... Full Abstract  »

Little is known about optimal application and behavior of exposure propensity scores (EPS) in small studies. In a cohort of 103,133 elderly Medicaid beneficiaries in New Jersey, the effect of... Full Abstract  »

ISOQOL is pleased to offer a volume of invited papers from the recent Symposium “Stating the Art: Advancing Outcomes Research Methodology and Clinical Applications,” which captures the... Full Abstract  »

Concepts of cause and causal inference are largely self-taught from early learning experiences. A model of causation that describes causes in terms of sufficient causes and their component causes... Full Abstract  »

This paper investigates two complementary pieces of data on households' demand for improved water services, coping costs and willingness to pay (WTP), from a survey of 1500 randomly sampled... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: Dextofisopam is a non-serotonergic agent thought to modulate autonomic function via a novel hypothalamic receptor, resulting in decreased stimulated autonomic activity. We explored the... Full Abstract  »

Background: We apply currently published clinical outcomes data to length of stay and hospital cost to determine the potential economic benefit associated with the use of specialized nutritional... Full Abstract  »

Background: Metabolic abnormalities are common in HIV-infected individuals and, although multifactorial in origin, have been strongly associated with antiretroviral therapy. Methods: Using... Full Abstract  »

Objectives To study the relationship between exposure to protease inhibitor (PI) therapy and increased risk of cardiovascular events in HIV-infected patients. Methods We estimated the risk of... Full Abstract  »

Background Epidemiological studies indicate that occupational hand eczema (OHE) often is associated with persistent dermatitis and prolonged sick leave, which may lead to unemployment. Previous... Full Abstract  »

Aims To assess the extent to which the increased risk of congenital abnormalities seen in women with pre-gestational insulin-treated diabetes mellitus is unspecific or related to the embryology of... Full Abstract  »

Seasonal variation in the occurrence of cerebrovascular disease has been reported, but data about subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) are few and inconclusive. We conducted a nationwide population-based... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To examine nonvertebral fracture risk in relation to inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) exposure among adults with respiratory disease. Design and patients: Nested case-control study within... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether serologic testing for herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) in pregnant women and their partners is cost-effective. STUDY DESIGN: A... Full Abstract  »

Objective: The progestagenic milieu of pregnancy and oral contraceptive use is protective against epithelial ovarian cancer. A functional single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter of the... Full Abstract  »

Biological studies were conducted on (3R)-7-Hydroxy-N-{(1S)-1-{[(3R,4R)-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-1-pi peridinyl]methyl}-2-methylpropyl}-1,2,3,.4-tetrahydro-3-isoquinoline-car boxamide... Full Abstract  »

This study measures the monetary value households place on preventing malaria in Tigray, Ethiopia. We estimate a household demand function for a hypothetical malaria vaccine and compute the value of... Full Abstract  »

Background: The third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP III) of the National Cholesterol Education Program defines clinical criteria for diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome, which increases cardiovascular... Full Abstract  »

Objective: Although highly active antiretroviral therapy has been shown to lower plasma HIV-1 RNA in HIV infection, many patients do not reach the target goal of undetectable viremia. We... Full Abstract  »

Recent changes in the regulatory environment have called attention to the need for and potential benefits of greater and more detailed evidence to inform decisions based on the risk-benefit... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: The Erection Quality Scale (EQS) is a new, self-report measure for assessing the quality of penile erections. It is intended to complement existing diagnostic and outcome measures... Full Abstract  »

Background: Lower enrolment of minorities into research studies has been reported frequently. Most studies have little information about nonparticipants, making it difficult to identify... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: We provide a comprehensive, longitudinal assessment of health related quality of life (HRQOL) following radical perineal prostatectomy (RPP). Materials and Methods: We report the... Full Abstract  »

Background— Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are reversible inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2. Whether transient and incomplete COX-1 inhibition with NSAIDs other than... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate herpes simplex virus-2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence from a weighted sample of adults attending relatively affluent, suburban primary care physician... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Optimal treatment for acute pain is a function of an individual's willingness to make trade-offs between treatment side effects and pain control. The objective was to investigate the... Full Abstract  »

Objective. We wished to evaluate survival and adverse outcomes of patients with stage IB2 cervical cancer treated primarily with radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy. Methods. A review was... Full Abstract  »

This paper reports on the measurement properties of a scale intended to measure nicotine dependence in adolescents using data from the American Legacy Longitudinal Tobacco Use Reduction Study.... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic uremic syndrome are rare disorders characterized by platelet aggregation, microthrombi, and resulting tissue damage. We studied the... Full Abstract  »

Many economic analyses of immunization programmes focus on the benefits in terms of public-sector cost savings, but do not incorporate estimates of the private cost savings that individuals receive... Full Abstract  »

Purpose To describe a bias that can occur in the analysis of data from certain randomized trials. Methods and Results Although randomized trials are effective at preventing confounding, a... Full Abstract  »

High-intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is an aggressive form of the disease, which can respond well to combination chemotherapy, with long-term survival seen in 40-50% of patients.... Full Abstract  »

Data on the burden of disease, costs of illness, and cost-effectiveness of vaccines are needed to facilitate the use of available anti-typhoid vaccines in developing countries. This one-year... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This prospective, observational study compared disease progression and death in HIV-1 patients treated with stavudine vs. zidovudine in the Collaborations in HIV Outcomes... Full Abstract  »

Through the American Legacy Foundation's Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use (SYMATU), programs aimed at empowering youths to take action against tobacco use were funded. It is believed... Full Abstract  »

Recent econometric analyses have shown that timber supply choices reflect heterogeneous preferences for amenities and management of forests in the US South. However, this evidence is insufficient to... Full Abstract  »

Purpose Oseltamivir was approved by the FDA for the treatment of influenza in 1999. The primary objective was to compare health outcomes among influenza patients who were treated with oseltamivir... Full Abstract  »

Objective: This study examines total pharmacy cost and usage patterns of schizophrenic patients in acute mental health inpatient settings for three atypical antipsychotics risperidone, olanzapine,... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: People with sickle cell disease are particularly susceptible to pneumococcal infection, which may be fatal. Infants (children aged up to 23 months) are at particularly high risk, but... Full Abstract  »

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Major risk factors for ARDS have been identified. However, only a minority of patients with such risks develops ARDS. It is likely that, given the same type and degree of insult,... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND Oral acyclovir is commonly used for genital herpes and other herpesvirus infections. Data on potential fetal risk are extremely limited. From 1984 to 1998, the Acyclovir in Pregnancy... Full Abstract  »

A core component of Legacy’s Statewide Youth Movement Against Tobacco Use is the ability of state and local initiatives to empower youth to effect change in their communities. The authors’... Full Abstract  »

Because depressed patients commonly experience reductions in motivation and energy, both as symptoms of their disorder and as side effects of pharmacotherapy, it is important to identify... Full Abstract  »

To evaluate work loss associated with bipolar disorder, workers with bipolar disorder or depression and matched nonpsychiatric controls were identified from an employer health claims database. Mean... Full Abstract  »

We studied the pattern of annual cyclical variation of hypospadia by month of birth for all boys born in Denmark after 1983 and hospitalized with hypospadias. We found little indication of any... Full Abstract  »

The periodic safety update report for marketed drugs (PSUR) was designed to be a stand-alone document that allows a periodic but comprehensive assessment of the worldwide safety data of a marketed... Full Abstract  »

Purpose The proportional reporting ratio (PRR) is the proportion of spontaneous reports for a given drug that are linked to a specific adverse outcome, divided by the corresponding proportion for... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To review the effectiveness and feasibility of risk managementstrategies implemented for drugs with significant known risks.Data Sources: Published medical literature and regulatory... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Registry data can provide valuable information about possible treatment effects; however, pretreatment differences in patient characteristics may influence treatment assignment. Careful... Full Abstract  »

In conjoint analysis (CA) studies, choosing between scenarios with multiple health attributes may be demanding for respondents. This study examined whether simplifying the choice task in CA designs,... Full Abstract  »

Bupropion hydrochloride is effective in promoting long-term abstinence from smoking and may reduce risk for relapse through attenuation of withdrawal symptoms and craving. Bupropion is a weak... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: We sought to identify the demographic, oral health, and surgical risk factors associated with prolonged recovery after third molar surgery using health-related quality of life (HRQOL)... Full Abstract  »

The process of translating the Short-Form Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) in 27 countries and the comparability of the content of the translations is discussed. HIT-6 translations were developed using... Full Abstract  »

This commentary reviews the work of John Graunt and Kenneth J. Rothman on statistical significance and the need for prespecification of study end points. The authors argue that it is dangerous to... Full Abstract  »

In contrast to economic models that provide probabilistic estimates of economic impact, data extracted from clinical trials may be used to evaluate and compare actual resource utilization and costs.... Full Abstract  »

Delayed graft function (DGF) is the need for dialysis in the first week after transplantation. Studied were risk factors for DGF in adult (age >/=16 yr) cadaveric renal transplant recipients by... Full Abstract  »

(-)-6-Phosphonomethyl-deca-hydroisoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (LY235959) is a competitive N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist shown to prevent the development of tolerance to the... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: Because inherited BRCA1or BRCA2 mutations strikingly increase ovarian cancer risk, polymorphisms in these genes could represent low penetrance susceptibility alleles. Previous studies of... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: It has been suggested that the 2G allele of a guanine insertion-deletion promoter polymorphism in the promoter of the matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) gene may increase susceptibility to... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: GSTP1 is a gene that helps detoxify foreign substances in the body. Functional polymorphisms of GSTP1 have been studied as risk factors for lung cancer. Past studies have compared the... Full Abstract  »

Since severe asthma is a poorly understood, major health problem, 12 clinical specialist centres in nine European countries formed a European Network For Understanding Mechanisms Of Severe Asthma... Full Abstract  »

This study examined the sexual practices and function of midlife women by ethnicity (African American, Caucasian, Chinese, Hispanic, Japanese) and menopausal status. Sexual behavior was compared in... Full Abstract  »

Objective The goal of this study was to characterize types, frequency, combinations, and relative onset of symptoms among ovarian cancer cases and controls. Methods Participants were from an... Full Abstract  »

We evaluated three questions that commonly arise when unit costing exercises for multinational trials are conducted: (1). In countries where investigators plan to collect hospital unit cost... Full Abstract  »

p21 (Waf1/Cip1) is a downstream target of p53. We evaluated the association between p21 polymorphism (codon 31), p53 polymorphism (codon 72) and their corresponding in vivo mRNA expression. In this... Full Abstract  »

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) exposure has been associated with lung cancer risk. ETS is composed of emissions from cigarette smoke and contains a higher concentration of tobacco smoke... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Valproate is used widely for the treatment of epilepsy but has been associated with hyperandrogenism, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia. The mechanism for these associations is unknown,... Full Abstract  »

We hypothesized that the mouse liver tumor response to non-genotoxic carcinogens would involve some common early gene and protein expression changes that could ultimately be used to predict chemical... Full Abstract  »

XRCC1 (X-ray cross-complementing group 1) and ERCC2 (excision repair cross-complementing group 2) are two major DNA repair proteins. Polymorphisms of these two genes have been associated with... Full Abstract  »

In light of the large number of empirical studies of agroforestry adoption published during the last decade, we believe it is time to take stock and identify general determinants of agroforestry... Full Abstract  »

The protective effects of pregnancy and OC3 use on ovarian cancer risk may be attributable to the action of progestins on the ovarian epithelium (1) . It has been hypothesized that a PROGINS is... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: The molecular determinants of survival in ovarian cancer are poorly understood. Using expression microarrays, we recently found that high expression of the tumor necrosis factor-related... Full Abstract  »

With the increased use of continuous testing in computerized adaptive testing, new concerns about test security have evolved, such as how to ensure that items in an item pool are safeguarded from... Full Abstract  »

Dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease of unknown etiology and pathogenesis, is associated with heart failure and compensatory hypertrophy. Although cell and animal models suggest a role for altered gene... Full Abstract  »

Objectives: The authors examined published economic evaluations of schizophrenia and antipsychotic therapies to determine the role of compliance with medication therapy in the economic cost of... Full Abstract  »

This paper asks the question 'are cost-effectiveness league tables a good way to provide information to decision makers about the value of new healthcare interventions?' League tables that rank... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To assess the short-term direct medical costs and effectiveness associated with achieving recommended glycaemic goals using commonly prescribed first-line oral antihyperglycaemic... Full Abstract  »

We used data collected on participants in the Framingham Offspring Study to test the hypothesis that low levels of serum albumin and low levels of serum bilirubin have synergistic effects on the... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: The Acne-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Acne-QoL) is a responsive, reliable and valid instrument developed to measure the impact of facial acne across four dimensions of patient... Full Abstract  »

Background. Studies have shown that folic acid supplementation in early pregnancy markedly reduces the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). Investigation of the relation between relative dose of... Full Abstract  »

Immune responses to the factor IX protein pose problems for hemophilia B patients who develop antibodies against factor IX and for potential future treatment with gene therapy. To better define the... Full Abstract  »

In today's environment, the demand for efficient healthcare resource allocation is increasing. As new technologies become available, allocation decisions become more complex and tools to assist... Full Abstract  »

Background. Tobramycin solution for inhalation (TOBI(R); TSI) is indicated to treat patients with cystic fibrosis who are infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Preliminary findings from a randomized... Full Abstract  »

Background. Several case-control studies have reported that women who use vaginal douche products are at increased risk for pelvic inflammatory disease. Women who douche regularly may do so for... Full Abstract  »

Background and Purpose-Lower concentrations of albumin have been positively related to coronary disease. The aim of this project was to assess the association between serum albumin and carotid... Full Abstract  »

Purpose: Infections have been hypothesized to be a risk factor for Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Because infections usually occur seasonally, the authors looked at the seasonal pattern... Full Abstract  »

Objective: The purpose of this study was to estimate provider-incurred costs of alcohol screening and brief intervention (SBI) for risky drinking as implemented in four managed care organizations... Full Abstract  »

The most recent (Fifth) revision of the Declaration of Helsinki, adopted in October 2000 by the World Medical Association (WMA), reinforces the longstanding prohibition against offering placebo... Full Abstract  »

Assessment of the impact of xenobiotic exposure on human health and disease progression is complex. Knowledge of mode(s) of action, including mechanism(s) contributing to toxicity and disease... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Few assessments of the costs and benefits of reducing acute cardiorespiratory morbidity related to air pollution have employed a comprehensive, explicit approach to capturing the full... Full Abstract  »

The myeloperoxidase (MPO) G-to-A substitution polymorphism in the promoter region of the MPO gene has been associated with a 40-70% reduction in lung cancer risk in several studies, although a... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To examine preferences for HIV test methods using conjoint analysis, a method used to measure economic preferences (utilities). DATA SOURCES: Self-administered surveys at four publicly... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To compare and contrast methods and findings from two approaches to valuation used in the same survey: measurement of 'attitudes' using simple rankings and ratings versus measurement of... Full Abstract  »

The Acne-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire (Acne-QoL) was developed to measure the impact of facial acne across four dimensions of patient quality of life. The main objective of the current... Full Abstract  »

Background Serious skin disorders have been associated with the use of oral antifungals in a number of case reports and series of cases. However the incidence of these disorders remains... Full Abstract  »

RATIONALE: The nonpeptidic compound SNC80 [(+)-4[(alphaR)-alpha-((2S, 5R)-4-allyl-2, 5,-dimethyl-l-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]- N, N-diethylbenzamide], has a high degree of selectivity for delta... Full Abstract  »

Estimated associations between self-reported age at menopause and health may be attenuated if self-report is inaccurate. In a cross-sectional study, it is not possible to assess validity or... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R) antagonist Alosetron (Alos) reduces the symptoms of female patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS); yet, the mechanism(s)... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: In 1992, the International Lamotrigine Pregnancy Registry was initiated to enroll prospectively and to monitor pregnancies exposed to lamotrigine (LTG) for the occurrence of major birth... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the psychometric properties of the Patient Perception of Migraine Questionnaire (PPMQ), which measures patient satisfaction with migraine therapy.... Full Abstract  »

Spasticity is a common disabling feature of multiple sclerosis. A variety of drugs are in regular use as oral treatment, including baclofen, dantrolene, tizanidine, and diazepam. Published evidence... Full Abstract  »

Background: The long-term efficacy and safety of formoterol dry powder capsules for inhalation in pediatric asthma have not previously been evaluated. Objective: We examined the effectiveness of... Full Abstract  »

The equivalence of cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-benefit analysis (CBA) has been vigorously debated in the health economic literature. In this paper we review and refine the conditions... Full Abstract  »

AIM: To conduct a placebo-controlled functional brain imaging study to assess the effect of the 5-hydroxytryptamine-3 receptor antagonist, alosetron, on irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, regional... Full Abstract  »

The application of gene expression profiling technology to examine multiple genes and signaling pathways simultaneously promises a significant advance in understanding toxic mechanisms to ultimately... Full Abstract  »

GSTP1 and GSTM1 are genes involved in Phase II metabolism, whereas p53 is a tumor suppressor gene. Individually, functional polymorphisms of these genes have been studied as risk factors for lung... Full Abstract  »

Activation of the insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF-1R) by IGF-1 is associated with the risk and progression of many types of cancer, although despite this it remains unclear how activated... Full Abstract  »

This work estimates the health and cost impacts of a pre-school booster vaccination for Bordetella pertussis, when added to existing UK primary vaccination. A transition state simulation model of... Full Abstract  »

Motivational theories of drug use have assigned negative affect a central role in determining drug urges and drug relapse. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of social stress on... Full Abstract  »

In “the welfare economics of city bigness”, George Tolley asserts that the virtual price of amenities can be used to judge the efficiency of a urban spatial land use patterns. Expanding this test to... Full Abstract  »

Dextromethorphan (DXM) is a noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist shown to prevent the development of tolerance to the antinociceptive effects of morphine in rodents. DXM... Full Abstract  »

Healthcare providers are often faced with the need to make treatment decisions about antiretroviral therapy regimens for patients with HIV infection without definitive information as to the optimal... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is a common inherited haemoglobin disorder. The abnormal haemoglobin causes distortion of red blood cells, anaemia, vaso-occlusion and dysfunction in virtually any... Full Abstract  »

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction - Frequency and Variety of Medication Use Among Pregnant Women - Pre-Marketing Sources of Data Regarding Reproductive Safety - Post-Marketing... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is an inherited disorder of haemoglobin, which results in abnormal red blood cells. These can deform and cause blockages in blood vessels, leading to acute crises... Full Abstract  »

This article presents an analytic tool populated with data from published studies to illustrate the likely impacts of a switch from typical to atypical antipsychotic drugs over a 3-year period on... Full Abstract  »

This chapter contains sections titled: Introduction - Research Ethics - Existing Law - New Federal Law: Medical Privacy Under HIPAA - Implications and Next Step - Note Added in Proof -... Full Abstract  »

We examine households' demand for improved water services in Kathmandu, Nepal, where the government is considering the possibility of involving the private sector in the operation of municipal water... Full Abstract  »

Book: Interest in the field of pharmacovigilance has grown rapidly in recent years with the possible toxicity of a drug becoming as much a focus of clinical trials as its benefits. This key text is... Full Abstract  »

Background: Some leukotriene receptor antagonists, such as zafirlukast and montelukast, have been associated with systemic eosinophilia, with interest focused on Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS).... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: People with sickle cell disease are particularly susceptible to infection. Infants and very young children are especially vulnerable, and the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease... Full Abstract  »

Background: Premature death due to pulmonary embolism is a short-term complication of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The long-term clinical course after DVT can be further complicated by excess... Full Abstract  »

Background. Cardiovascular events such as acute myocardial infarction and stroke vary seasonally, with a peak incidence during the winter and a trough during the summer. Few data exist on the... Full Abstract  »

Background-Coronary disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. The association between serum albumin and cardiovascular disease remains controversial. We used data collected... Full Abstract  »

Assigning a cause to an individual event is a natural impulse. This impulse sometimes finds its way into epidemiologic research, if researchers assign a specific cause to some cases of a disease... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Acute splenic sequestration crises are a complication of sickle cell disease, with high mortality rates and frequent recurrence in survivors of first attacks. Splenectomy and blood... Full Abstract  »

CONTEXT: Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressant, yet it is not known whether one SSRI is more effective than another. OBJECTIVE: To... Full Abstract  »

Objective. To study the incidence and mortality of coronary heart disease (CHD) and all-cause mortality in a cohort of men followed during 28 years, and their association with serum cholesterol,... Full Abstract  »

Two experiments examined the role of cognitive inflexibility and reduced working memory in age-related declines on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Both standard scoring procedures and newly... Full Abstract  »

The current study examined the anxiolytic effects of cigarette smoking and chewing gum on urge to smoke, withdrawal, and anxiety in response to a public speaking task in 45 undergraduate smokers.... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE—Although postchallenge hyperglycemia is a well-established feature of type 2 diabetes, its association with risk of mortality is uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder seen in primary care practice. The symptoms of IBS, including abdominal pain, discomfort, and abnormal bowel... Full Abstract  »

The cost-effectiveness of high-dose chemotherapy in multiple myeloma was considered as part of a UK National Health Service Executive regional evidence-based appraisal process. The use of high-dose... Full Abstract  »

SUMMARY: MAPS is a MicroArray Project System for management and interpretation of microarray gene expression experiment information and data. Microarray project information is organized to track... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Functional dyspepsia is characterized by upper abdominal pain or discomfort. AIM: To assess the benefit of the 5-HT3-receptor antagonist alosetron in a pilot, dose-ranging,... Full Abstract  »

We conducted a hospital-based case-control study of 814 lung cancer patients and 1123 controls to examine the association of the NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) gene polymorphism with lung... Full Abstract  »

An observational study using pharmacy and medical claims was used to determine whether there are differences in asthma care cost between patients that are newly started on montelukast and low-dose... Full Abstract  »

The present study was designed to evaluate the usefulness of chewing gum to reduce nicotine withdrawal, craving, and salivary cortisol concentrations during temporary nicotine deprivation. A total... Full Abstract  »

Symptoms of depression have been associated with increased smoking prevalence and failure to quit smoking in several cross-sectional and population-based studies. Few studies, however, have... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of alosetron, a treatment recently approved in the United States for irritable bowel syndrome in diarrhea-predominant female patients, on... Full Abstract  »

The fentanyl transdermal system (Duragesic) is an opioid analgesic indicated for the management of chronic moderate to severe pain. The purpose of this analysis is to estimate its economic value... Full Abstract  »

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of death and morbidity in the United Kingdom (UK) and carries with it a significant financial cost through health care resource use. More than one in... Full Abstract  »

The determination of a list of differentially expressed genes is a basic objective in many cDNA microarray experiments. We present a statistical approach that allows direct control over the... Full Abstract  »

When a new drug is introduced to the market, the availability of head-to-head data for comparisons of annual cost and health outcomes with other drugs already on the market is usually insufficient.... Full Abstract  »

Aim: Add-on therapy with omalizumab, an anti-immunoglobulin E antibody, is effective in improving disease control in patients with allergic asthma of varying severity. The aim of the present study... Full Abstract  »

Current health economic literature does not provide clear guidelines on how uncertainty around cost-effectiveness estimates should be incorporated into economic decision models. Bayesian analysis is... Full Abstract  »

There are lingering questions regarding the relation between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk in women. The authors performed a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies carried out through... Full Abstract  »

The adrenal steroid dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and its sulfate (DHEAS) have been characterized as "protective" against ischemic heart disease (IHD), especially in men, on the basis of sparse... Full Abstract  »

Objective: To describe lower urinary tract symptoms, prostate volume and peak urinary flow rate, and investigate the relationships among urological variables in a community sample of Norwegian men.... Full Abstract  »

This paper presents a dynamic generalization of a model often used to aid marketing decisions relating to conventional products. The model uses stated-preference data in a random-utility framework... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Sickle cell disease is one of the most common inherited diseases in the world, and causes haemolytic anaemia, vaso-occlusive crises and dysfunction in virtually any organ system in the... Full Abstract  »

Measuring nonuse values is one of the most controversial topics facing environmental economists today. One important issue that has received little attention is determining who has economic standing... Full Abstract  »

Impaired fetal growth is associated with increased susceptibility to several chronic diseases. We studied the association between birth weight, indicators of disproportional fetal growth, and... Full Abstract  »

To assess whether there was an association between asbestos exposure and abnormalities on chest x-rays or CT scans, chest radiographs and CT scans of 103 asbestos-exposed patients with known lung... Full Abstract  »

The p53 tumor suppressor gene frequently is mutated in many forms of human carcinomas. A common polymorphism occurs at codon 72 of exon 4, with two alleles encoding either arginine (CGC) or proline... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease may occur following renal transplantation and has been shown to have health and cost consequences in this setting. OBJECTIVE: To compare the cost... Full Abstract  »

Pertussis infection is associated with significant morbidity in younger children (<4 years), which can include pneumonia, seizures and encephalopathy. Around one in 250 cases of pertussis in infants... Full Abstract  »

The purpose of this study was to describe the cost of health care and the patterns of treatment of young patients (under 65 years of age) identified in health insurance claims as having received... Full Abstract  »

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is recognized as a major public health problem. ED may be due to a wide range of factors, but recent work has focused on the medical and physical etiology of ED. The... Full Abstract  »

Despite the well-documented relationship of socioeconomic factors (SEF) to various health problems, the relationship of SEF to erectile dysfunction (ED) is not well understood. As such, the goals of... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To develop a conceptually and semantically valid English version of a French disease-specific measure of quality of life for children, adolescents, and adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).... Full Abstract  »

The World Medical Association is now debating the next revision of the Declaration of Helsinki. Kenneth Rothman and Karin Michels argue that critics of the declaration, notably the US Food and Drug... Full Abstract  »

This study was conducted to evaluate the validity of using the Saskatchewan Health administrative claims databases for conducting depression research. To develop a claims-based definition of... Full Abstract  »

A concise, reliable means of assessing erectile dysfunction (ED) in large, multidisciplinary population-based studies is needed. A single, direct question for self-assessed ED was assessed in the... Full Abstract  »

The mechanisms by which dopamine (DA) influences gastrointestinal (GI) tract motility are incompletely understood and complicated by tissue- and species-specific differences in dopaminergic function.... Full Abstract  »

Objectives. To prospectively examine whether changes in smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, sedentary lifestyle, and obesity are associated with the risk of erectile dysfunction. Methods. Data were... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Methods to improve assessment, selection, and monitoring of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who pursue liver transplantation are sought continuously. We chose to investigate the use of... Full Abstract  »

The antiplatelet effect of aspirin reduces the risk of clinical manifestations of atherothrombosis by approximately 25% in secondary prevention settings. Data are limited in primary prevention of... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies suggest a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in healthy women taking hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). Whether this effect is shared by oral and... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To use data from a clinical trial of zanamivir, a new antiviral drug, to estimate the costs and effectiveness of alternative treatment strategies for a high-risk population in Australia... Full Abstract  »

Exposing the heart to brief episodes of ischaemia protects the myocardium and vascular endothelial cells against functional damage and cell death caused by subsequent prolonged ischaemia.... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: The purpose of this investigation was to develop a quantitative structure-bioavailability relationship (QSBR) model for drug discovery and development. METHODS: A database of drugs with... Full Abstract  »

This study uses stated-preference (SP) analysis to measure willingness to pay (WTP) to reduce acute episodes of respiratory and cardiovascular ill health. The SP survey employs a modified version of... Full Abstract  »

Background When the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel II (ATP II) guidelines were published, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III data for 1988 to 1991... Full Abstract  »

Human DNA topoisomerase IIalpha (topo II), a ubiquitous nuclear enzyme, is essential for normal and neoplastic cellular proliferation and survival. Several common anticancer drugs exert their... Full Abstract  »

Individuals' time preferences for saving lives are measured in six less developed countries in Africa, Eastern Europe, and Asia using a stated-preference method. The results indicate that... Full Abstract  »

Background. Erectile dysfunction (ED), a wide spread and troublesome condition among middle-aged men, is partly vascular in origin. In the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, a random-sample cohort... Full Abstract  »

A static deterministic model was used to estimate the effect of the shift to a triple combination therapeutic standard on the annual AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) budget, total medical care... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To estimate savings in the cost of caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) during 6 months, 1 year and 2 years of treatment with rivastigmine. An intermediate objective was to... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To estimate per-patient potential cost savings using rivastigmine in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Canada. BACKGROUND: In recent years, new members of a class of... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder with symptoms of abdominal pain, discomfort, and altered bowel function. Antagonists of the type 3 serotonin receptor... Full Abstract  »

A survey assessing the practice of epidemiology in the pharmaceutical industry was sent to all member companies and research affiliates of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America... Full Abstract  »

Purpose We estimated the incidence of erectile dysfunction in men 40 to 69 years old at study entry during an average 8.8-year followup, and determined how risk varied with age, socioeconomic... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Patient compliance, inhalation devices, and inhalation techniques influence the effectiveness of inhaled medications. METHODS: This article presents the results of a systematic... Full Abstract  »

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the subject of a vast clinical literature, but little information has been gathered from random samples of the general public. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS)... Full Abstract  »

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of maternal obesity and diabetes mellitus on the risk of nonchromosomal congenital defects. We used data from 22,951 pregnant women enrolled in a... Full Abstract  »

We examined the relation between place of birth and cognitive function in young adult life in a historical cohort study based upon birth data from the computerized Danish Medical Birth Registry and... Full Abstract  »

It is too soon for a verdict on the health risks from cellular telephones, especially in view of changing technology. From the Interphone project and some other large studies in progress, better... Full Abstract  »

The World Medical Association is now debating the next revision of the Declaration of Helsinki. Kenneth Rothman and Karin Michels argue that critics of the declaration, notably the US Food and Drug... Full Abstract  »

Gestational factors have been hypothesized to play a role in the susceptibility to asthma and atopic dermatitis. We examined whether fetal growth was associated with asthma and atopic dermatitis... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Glaxo Wellcome becomes aware of prenatal exposures to its medications as early as the clinical trial phase of development. An international process for monitoring prenatal exposure to all... Full Abstract  »

As part of an NHS Executive Trent regional initiative we considered the role and cost-effectiveness of high dose chemotherapy in the treatment of relapsed Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.... Full Abstract  »

AIMS: The aim of this cohort study was to estimate the risk of clinical acute liver injury among users of oral antifungals identified in the general population of the General Practice Research... Full Abstract  »

In a previous study, Wrigley's chewing gum was shown to reduce cravings to smoke and nicotine withdrawal when smokers were not allowed access to cigarettes. The present study expanded these findings... Full Abstract  »

Wilson's disease is a hereditary defect in copper excretion leading to the accumulation of copper in the tissues, with subsequent tissue damage. The most serious sequela is that of progressive... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the incidence of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in adult liver transplant recipients, using routine preemptive therapy guided by the pp65... Full Abstract  »

We characterized the population of users of inhaled long-acting beta 2-agonists in the region of Friuli-Venezia Giulia, in Italy, and assessed changes in asthma treatment and control after... Full Abstract  »

PURPOSE: Serious, although rare, ventricular arrhythmias and deaths have been reported in patients taking cisapride monohydrate. Without quantification of the risk involved, it is impossible to... Full Abstract  »

History of depression in smokers has been associated with an inability to quit smoking and with an increased likelihood of smoking relapse. This study prospectively tracked nicotine withdrawal... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: No currently available treatment provides consistent relief of irritable bowel syndrome. Colonic sensory and motor function are modulated partly through 5HT3-receptors. AIM: To evaluate... Full Abstract  »

A novel bioequivalence testing approach was used to determine intrasubject variability and switchability of two ciclosporin formulations, SangCya (test) and Neoral (reference). Twenty healthy... Full Abstract  »

The risk of a newly diagnosed episode of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, acute liver and renal failure, agranulocytosis, aplastic anemia, severe skin disorders, and anaphylaxis was examined within... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is diagnosed by the presence of a constellation of symptoms fulfilling the Manning or Rome Criteria, after exclusion of organic disease. To exclude other... Full Abstract  »

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is one of the most common gastrointestinal-related conditions. In this review, the safety and efficacy of alosetron, a potent and selective 5-HT3 receptor antagonist,... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of Thymoglobulin (a rabbit-derived polyclonal antibody) to Atgam (a horse-derived polyclonal antibody) for induction in adult... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: Consumer surveys are being used increasingly to assess the quality of care provided by health plans, physician groups, and clinicians. The purpose of the Consumer Assessment of Health... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: This article describes the process through which the MMC survey was developed and examines issues in using this survey with Medicare beneficiaries that have implications for all CAHPS... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of the Consumer Assessments of Health Plans Study (CAHPS) is to develop an integrated set of tested, standardized surveys to obtain meaningful information from health plan... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Between September 20, 1995 and September 20, 1997, 208 adult patients undergoing renal transplantation were randomized to receive tacrolimus/prednisone (n=106) or... Full Abstract  »

Registries can be used to provide an early warning system for potential teratogenic effects associated with the use of specific medications during pregnancy. Glaxo Wellcome has developed 5... Full Abstract  »

Activation of L-type calcium channels in the neuroendocrine, cholecytstokinin-secreting cell line, STC-1, is vital for secretion of CCK. In the present study, the regulation of L-type Ca2+ channels... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a generic treatment algorithm for influenza and influenza-like illness (ILI) that could be used to estimate the costs and outcomes of current and new... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: Healthcare resource use data were collected for 1 year as part of the CAESAR (Canada, Australia, Europe, South Africa) clinical trial, which evaluated the effect of adding lamivudine to... Full Abstract  »

This article describes a model that estimates annual patient health and cost outcomes for schizophrenia under alternative treatment scenarios. We estimate these outcomes for typical antipsychotics... Full Abstract  »

Adult height has been found to be inversely associated with mortality. Recently, it has been suggested that growth in utero is linked with adult risk of several chronic diseases. The authors... Full Abstract  »

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) represents one of the most common gastrointestinal-related diagnoses. Although the precise etiologic basis of IBS is not known, a common presenting symptom is... Full Abstract  »

The purpose of appropriateness/person-fit indices is to identify response patterns for which a given item response theory model is inappropriate for an examinee even though that model is appropriate... Full Abstract  »

In 1994 a surveillance programme was initiated to monitor the effects of exposure to the human head from radiofrequency waves, such as those emitted from handheld cellular telephones. Cellular... Full Abstract  »

Objective To examine whether in utero exposure to uterotonic drugs effects cognitive performance in draft-age men. Design Historical cohort study based on birth registry data and cognitive function... Full Abstract  »

Studies of long-term consequences of birth in breech presentation are sparse. Therefore, we conducted a cohort study linking birth registry data with data collected during evaluation for military... Full Abstract  »

Study objective-To evaluate the risk of mortality from lymphatic and haematopoietic cancers and other causes among students. Design-The study used school records, yearbooks, and Texas Department of... Full Abstract  »

The perimenopause represents a time of great variability in reproductive hormone dynamics and menstrual cycle characteristics, but age-related changes begin prior to this. These changes include a... Full Abstract  »

Since the discovery of the vasorelaxant properties of nitric oxide and the vasoconstrictor effect of endothelin-1, there have been many studies of the distribution and functional significance of... Full Abstract  »

In this paper, we discuss the use of cost-benefit analysis (CBA) for evaluating new healthcare interventions, present the theoretical basis for the use of willingness to pay as a method for valuing... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of hospital volume on in-hospital surgical outcomes for knee replacement using six years of Medicare claims data. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: The data include... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: An increased incidence of de novo nonlymphoid malignancies has been shown in immunocompromised patients. However, the true risk over time compared to the general population has not been... Full Abstract  »

We conducted a cohort study to investigate the frequency of serious blood dyscrasias in patients age 10-74 years, taking antiepileptic drugs between January 1, 1990, and October 31, 1994. Main... Full Abstract  »

The outcome of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on patient and graft survival after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) has been controversial. An earlier experience with a higher dose of... Full Abstract  »

Objective. Researchers have often stated that economic evaluations of new drugs have rarely been used to inform healthcare decisions, despite the large volume of published studies. In this... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: To predict the cost-effectiveness of lamotrigine by evaluating the costs and health outcomes in treated patients. BACKGROUND: Lamotrigine adjunctive therapy has been found to be... Full Abstract  »

Evidence-based medicine and clinical practice guidelines have become increasingly salient to the international health care community in the 1990s. Key issues in health policy in this period can be... Full Abstract  »

We used automated health insurance claims records of a New England insurer to assess the relation between salmeterol and severe nonfatal asthma. We identified 61,712 members who received a... Full Abstract  »

BACKGROUND: At our center from August 1989 to December 1992, 834 adults underwent orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) using tacrolimus as the primary immunosuppressive agent. A total of 183... Full Abstract  »

Objectives: Glaxo Wellcome (G.W.) becomes aware of prenatal exposures to its medications from as early as the clinical trial phase of development. An international process for monitoring prenatal... Full Abstract  »

In this paper, we present a Markov model for estimating the cost-effectiveness of combination therapy with lamivudine (LMV) and zidovudine (ZDV) compared with ZDV alone. We also compare the... Full Abstract  »

The last decade has seen a surge in the use of computerized health care data for pharmacoepidemiology. Of all European databases, the General Practice Research Database (GPRD) in the UK, has been... Full Abstract  »

The economic analysis of many health policies requires evaluation of the benefits of programs that may prolong human lives. This article contributes to the development of credible values for... Full Abstract  »

Irritable bowel syndrome is characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and altered bowel function. In designing studies to evaluate new treatments for this disease, however, it is difficult to select... Full Abstract  »

A greater understanding of value associated with new pharmaceutical products should lead to better decision-making. Most commonly cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs) are used to indicate value;... Full Abstract  »

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of our study was to compare the ability of MR spectroscopy with that of standard presurgical methods to accurately lateralize the abnormal hippocampus in a group of patients... Full Abstract  »

The authors evaluated the risk of venous thromboembolism associated with hormone replacement therapy in a cohort of 265,431 women aged 45-79 years who did not have major risk factors for venous... Full Abstract  »

The association between use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) has been assessed in relatively few epidemiological studies. Evidence from the earliest... Full Abstract  »

Epidemiological studies on the relation between selenium and human cancer have yielded strongly conflicting results. Prompted by the observation of a positive association between selenium intake and... Full Abstract  »

The expanded Second Edition of Dr. Rothman's acclaimed Modern Epidemiology reflects the remarkable conceptual development of this evolving science and the engagement of epidemiologists with an... Full Abstract  »