scholarly journals A new paradigm for personalized cancer screening

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Walker ◽  
Heiko Enderling
Keyword(s):  
Stage Iv ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Stage Disease ◽  
Optimal Screening ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Statistical Approaches ◽  
Premalignant Progression ◽  
Personalized Cancer

AbstractA series of distinct histologic lesions precedes the onset of malignancy in many common cancers, yet early detection remains a major challenge. Many patients still experience late (stage IV) diagnoses and thus poor prognosis and limited options for therapeutic intervention. For cancers with known biomarkers of premalignant progression, optimized patient-specific screening protocols would minimize the risk of undetected progression to advanced stage disease. Here, we propose simple, cost-effective mathematical and statistical approaches to forecasting disease progression that could guide the personalization of optimal screening times for high-risk patients.

New Paradigm for State Department of Transportation Environmental Initiatives: New York State’s Guidelines and Procedures

2000 ◽  
Vol 1702 (1) ◽  
pp. 92-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary McVoy ◽  
Mark Sengenberger ◽  
Elizabeth Novak
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York State ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
State Department ◽  
Regulatory Compliance ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Environmental Damage ◽  
York State Department ◽  
Department Of Transportation ◽  
New Paradigm

Public-works agencies have an obligation to enhance the environment as opportunities arise. The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) has developed an environmental initiative to make an affirmative contribution to the environment, using the department’s organizational strengths. The environmental initiative is a paradigm shift applicable to all departments of transportation (DOTs). Conventional reactive regulatory compliance can reduce unnecessary environmental damage and sometimes gain grudging regulatory agency cooperation; however, it is not a positive, satisfying way of doing the people’s work. Through proactive steps, NYSDOT has become an important part of the state’s environmental solution (often at little or no additional cost) and has changed its working relationships with environmental agencies and groups. As these agencies and groups have become partners, instead of adversaries, permit-approval times have improved, mitigation costs have declined, morale has improved, and cost-effective environmental benefits are being realized. Procedures are outlined to apply the engineering capabilities of a DOT to the environmental-stewardship responsibilities shared by all governmental organizations.

An evaluation of a shoulder rehabilitation class in a UK hospital following evidence-based modifications

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Emily Kell ◽  
John A. Hammond ◽  
Sophie Andrews ◽  
Christina Germeni ◽  
Helen Hingston ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Satisfaction ◽  
Shoulder Pain ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Rehabilitation Programme ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Satisfaction Survey ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Patient Satisfaction Survey ◽  
Significant Difference

OBJECTIVES: Shoulder pain is a common musculoskeletal disorder, which carries a high cost to healthcare systems. Exercise is a common conservative management strategy for a range of shoulder conditions and can reduce shoulder pain and improve function. Exercise classes that integrate education and self-management strategies have been shown to be cost-effective, offer psycho-social benefits and promote self-efficacy. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of an 8-week educational and exercise-based shoulder rehabilitation programme following the introduction of evidence-based modifications. METHODS: A retrospective evaluation of a shoulder rehabilitation programme at X Trust was conducted, comparing existing anonymised Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) and Patient-Specific Functional Scale (PSFS) scores from two cohorts of class participants from 2017-18 and 2018-19 that were previously collected by the physiotherapy team. Data from the two cohorts were analysed separately, and in comparison, to assess class efficacy. Descriptive data were also analysed from a patient satisfaction survey from the 2018-19 cohort. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients completed the 8-week shoulder rehabilitation programme during the period of data collection (2018-2019). The 2018-19 cohort showed significant improvements in SPADI (p 0.001) and PSFS scores (p 0.001). No significant difference was found between the improvements seen in the 2017-18 cohort and the 2018-19 cohort. 96% of the 31 respondents who completed the patient satisfaction survey felt the class helped to achieve their goals. CONCLUSION: A group-based shoulder rehabilitation class, which included loaded exercises and patient education, led to improvements in pain, disability and function for patients with rotator cuff related shoulder pain (RCRSP) in this outpatient setting, but anticipated additional benefits based on evidence were not observed.

scholarly journals An Innovative and Cost-Advantage CAD Solution for Cubitus Varus Surgical Planning in Children

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 4057
Author(s):  
Leonardo Frizziero ◽  
Gian Maria Santi ◽  
Christian Leon-Cardenas ◽  
Giampiero Donnici ◽  
Alfredo Liverani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computer Aided Design ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Varus Deformity ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Cubitus Varus ◽  
Surgical Guide ◽  
Traditional Procedure ◽  
Custom Made ◽  
Patient Specific Instruments

The study of CAD (computer aided design) modeling, design and manufacturing techniques has undergone a rapid growth over the past decades. In medicine, this development mainly concerned the dental and maxillofacial sectors. Significant progress has also been made in orthopedics with pre-operative CAD simulations, printing of bone models and production of patient-specific instruments. However, the traditional procedure that formulates the surgical plan based exclusively on two-dimensional images and interventions performed without the aid of specific instruments for the patient and is currently the most used surgical technique. The production of custom-made tools for the patient, in fact, is often expensive and its use is limited to a few hospitals. The purpose of this study is to show an innovative and cost-effective procedure aimed at prototyping a custom-made surgical guide for address the cubitus varus deformity on a pediatric patient. The cutting guides were obtained through an additive manufacturing process that starts from the 3D digital model of the patient’s bone and allows to design specific models using Creo Parametric. The result is a tool that adheres perfectly to the patient’s bone and guides the surgeon during the osteotomy procedure. The low cost of the methodology described makes it worth noticing by any health institution.

Use of Circulating Cell-Free DNA to Guide Precision Medicine in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 399-413
Author(s):  
Van K. Morris ◽  
John H. Strickler
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Precision Medicine ◽  
Residual Disease ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Blood Draw ◽  
Cell Free Dna ◽  
Free Dna ◽  
Metastatic Setting ◽  
Diagnostic Technology

Patient-specific biomarkers form the foundation of precision medicine strategies. To realize the promise of precision medicine in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC), access to cost-effective, convenient, and safe assays is critical. Improvements in diagnostic technology have enabled ultrasensitive and specific assays to identify cell-free DNA (cfDNA) from a routine blood draw. Clinicians are already employing these minimally invasive assays to identify drivers of therapeutic resistance and measure genomic heterogeneity, particularly when tumor tissue is difficult to access or serial sampling is necessary. As cfDNA diagnostic technology continues to improve, more innovative applications are anticipated. In this review, we focus on four clinical applications for cfDNA analysis in the management of CRC: detecting minimal residual disease, monitoring treatment response in the metastatic setting, identifying drivers of treatment sensitivity and resistance, and guiding therapeutic strategies to overcome resistance.

Treatment Outcomes and Relative Dose Intensity of Chemotherapy in Slovene Patients With Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samo Rozman ◽  
Nina Ružić Gorenjec ◽  
Barbara Jezeršek Novaković
Keyword(s):  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Proportional Hazards ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Dose Intensity ◽  
Progression Free Survival ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards ◽  
Relative Dose Intensity ◽  
Cox Proportional Hazards Models ◽  
Stage Disease ◽  
Stage Iv Disease

Abstract This retrospective study was undertaken to investigate the association of relative dose intensity (RDI) with the outcome of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) patients with advanced stage disease receiving ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, dacarbazine) and escalated BEACOPP regimen (bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, prednisone). A total of 114 HL patients treated between 2004 and 2013 were enrolled for evaluation. RDI calculations were based on a Hryniuk's model. The association of variables with overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) was analysed using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. The median age of patients was 39 years, majority of patients were males and had stage IV disease. Fifty-four patients received ABVD and 60 received BEACOPP chemotherapy with 24 and 4 deaths, respectively. Patients in BEACOPP group were significantly younger with lower Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) in comparison with ABVD group, making the comparison of groups impossible. In ABVD group, RDI was not significantly associated with OS (p=0.590) or PFS (p=0.354) in a multivariate model where age was controlled. The low number of events prevented the analysis in the BEACOPP group. Patients' age was strongly associated with both OS and PFS: all statistically significant predictors for OS and PFS from univariate analyses (chemotherapy regimen, CCI, RDI) lost its effect in multivariate analyses where age was controlled. Based on our observations, we can conclude that RDI is not associated with the OS or PFS after the age is controlled, neither in all patients combined nor in individual chemotherapy groups.

Effect of a Real-Time Risk Score on 30-day Readmission Reduction in Singapore

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (02) ◽  
pp. 372-382
Author(s):  
Christine Xia Wu ◽  
Ernest Suresh ◽  
Francis Wei Loong Phng ◽  
Kai Pik Tai ◽  
Janthorn Pakdeethai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Risk Score ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Learning Models ◽  
Medicine Department ◽  
High Risk Patients ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Machine Learning Models

Abstract Objective To develop a risk score for the real-time prediction of readmissions for patients using patient specific information captured in electronic medical records (EMR) in Singapore to enable the prospective identification of high-risk patients for enrolment in timely interventions. Methods Machine-learning models were built to estimate the probability of a patient being readmitted within 30 days of discharge. EMR of 25,472 patients discharged from the medicine department at Ng Teng Fong General Hospital between January 2016 and December 2016 were extracted retrospectively for training and internal validation of the models. We developed and implemented a real-time 30-day readmission risk score generation in the EMR system, which enabled the flagging of high-risk patients to care providers in the hospital. Based on the daily high-risk patient list, the various interfaces and flow sheets in the EMR were configured according to the information needs of the various stakeholders such as the inpatient medical, nursing, case management, emergency department, and postdischarge care teams. Results Overall, the machine-learning models achieved good performance with area under the receiver operating characteristic ranging from 0.77 to 0.81. The models were used to proactively identify and attend to patients who are at risk of readmission before an actual readmission occurs. This approach successfully reduced the 30-day readmission rate for patients admitted to the medicine department from 11.7% in 2017 to 10.1% in 2019 (p < 0.01) after risk adjustment. Conclusion Machine-learning models can be deployed in the EMR system to provide real-time forecasts for a more comprehensive outlook in the aspects of decision-making and care provision.

scholarly journals Description of a pharmacist-led clinical video telehealth group clinic for opioid overdose prevention and naloxone education

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 294-297
Author(s):  
Aimee N. Jensen ◽  
Candace M. Beam ◽  
Amber R. Douglass ◽  
Jennifer E. Brabson ◽  
Michelle Colvard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Patient Specific ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Overdose Prevention ◽  
Innovative Practice ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas

Abstract To achieve the nationwide goal of reducing opioid-related deaths, a clinical pharmacy specialist–led clinical video telehealth (CVT) clinic was created at a Veterans Affairs medical center (VAMC) to deliver opioid overdose prevention and naloxone education to at-risk patients. The purpose of this innovative practice was to improve access to this potentially life-saving intervention to patients across urban and rural areas. This study is a single-center, descriptive analysis of adult patients across 2 VAMC campuses and 4 community-based outpatient clinics from July 11, 2016, through December 31, 2016. The purpose of this innovative practice was to increase access to overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) to at-risk patients across urban and rural areas. Patient-specific factors were also examined among those receiving naloxone through the CVT clinic compared to other prescribers. During the first 6 months from the initiation of the clinic, 1 pharmacist prescribed 21% of the health care system's naloxone. These patients identified by the pharmacist-led CVT clinic were more likely to be considered high-risk due to concomitant use of opioids and benzodiazepines. In conclusion, the pharmacist-led CVT group clinic has been an efficient strategy to extend OEND services to high-risk patients beyond central, urban areas.

Cable Thru Downhole Insert Safety Valve: A New Paradigm

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuswanto Kuswanto ◽  
Oka Fabian ◽  
Orient B Samuel ◽  
Mohd Yuzmanizeil B Yaakub ◽  
Chua Hing Leong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Safety Valve ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Submersible Pump ◽  
New Paradigm ◽  
Reservoir Properties ◽  
Technology Application ◽  
Artificial Lift ◽  
Water Cut ◽  
The Right ◽  
Gas Lift

Abstract The B Field is located in the South China Sea, about 45 KM offshore Sarawak, Malaysia, in a water depth approximately 230 ft. Its structure is generally regarded as a gentle rollover anticline with collapsed crest resulting from growth faulting. The reservoirs were deposited in a coastal to shallow marine with some channels observed. Multiple stacked reservoirs consist of a series of very thick stacked alternating sandstone and minor shale layers with differing reservoir properties. The shallow zones are unconsolidated, and the wells were completed with internal gravel packs. Wells in B Field mostly were completed in multi-layered reservoirs as dual strings with SSDs and meant to produce as a commingled production. The well BX is located within B Field and designed as oil producer well with a conventional tubing jointedElectrical Submersible Pump (ESP) system which was installed back in 2008. Refer to figure 1, the initial completion schematic is 3-1/2″ single string that consist of the single production packer, gas lift mandrel, tubing retrievable Surface Controlled Subsurface Safety Valve (SCSSV) and ESP. The production packers equipped with the feed thru design to accommodate the ESP cable and the gas vent valve as part of the ESP completion design. The gas lift mandrel was installed in the completion string as a backup artificial lift method to receive the gas lift and orifice valve in the event of the conventional ESP failed. Hence the well still able to produce by introducing the gas thru the annulus to activate the gas lift valve. Eventually throughout the end of the the field life, the well would depend on the ESP system for the primary lifting method due to gas lift depth limitation and the gas supply. The conventional ESP failed after seven years of operation which is above the average ESP lifetime. The well last produced at a flow rate with 28 % water cut, however the well is not at the end of the field life. Based on the economical study with the right technology and cost efficient approach, the well still economicaly profitable. The Thru Tubing (TT) ESP technology is approached as cost effective solution compare to fully well workover. Despite a couple of operational challenges, for example, setting the cable hanger, maintaining downhole barrier requirement, the Thru Tubing Electrical Submersible Pump Cable Deployed (TTESP CD) and Cable Thru Insert Safety Valve (CT-ISV) was successfully installed. Several post-installation findings have uncovered some problems which are requiring some additional technical and operation improvement for future similar applications. This paper will highlight the deployment of the Cable Thru Insert Safety Valve (CT-ISV) that was successfully installed as pilot, which is the first application in the world, and also highlights the success, lesson learnt and improvement for future requirement for the CT-ISV application as one of the solution for retrofitting completion application without jeopardizing the well integrity. This achievement is collaboration between Company and service partner as the technology and deployment under the proprietary scope. Further technology application, the replication of this insert safety valve was conducted and successfully deployed on other three wells.

Blood tests to predict one- to two-year survival of patients with difficult cancers.

2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e16158-e16158
Author(s):  
Robert L. De Jager ◽  
Howard Bruckner ◽  
Fred Bassali ◽  
Elisheva Dusowitz ◽  
AJ Book ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
Intrahepatic Bile Duct ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio ◽  
Blood Tests ◽  
Kaplan Meier ◽  
Risk Patients ◽  
Intent To Treat ◽  
Treat Analysis

e16158 Background: A sequence of drug combinations produces > 1 median (M) -strong 2-year (yr) survival (S) (Bruckner et al AACR 14 Antica Res (ACR) 16, 18 SIGO 19). Trials included high-risk patients (pts). Each initial series has 5-yr Ss, after pts were referred for hospice care. Prognostic ALAN blood tests (Ts) have been validated for stage IV (Adv) Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) (Salati et al EuJCa18). Other Ts predict unexpected favorable (F) S of pts with gastric ca, PS 2-3. Bruckner et al JAMA, 82); but, there is little known about Ts for resistant (R) Ca. Methods: Planned Kaplan-Meier intent to treat analysis to find Ts that: expand eligibility (El) for therapy; identify biomarkers that predict therapy can prolong S and identify new hypotheses for therapy. El pts have:R to test drugs, Pancreatic (PC), Intrahepatic bile duct, CCA, Colon, CRC and new (N) APC. All series: -/+ high risk, -/+ aged, PS 0-2. El: Helsinki criteria- consent, recovered from severe (gr3) toxicity; able to reach office, -/+ help, and S > 6 wks. Inel: CNS involved, IV needed, F clinical factors predict 1 yr MST. Ts include A.L.A.N. scores, (AS) (Salati ibid) and other blood Ts (ACR ibid, Lavin et al CTR 82) Therapy GFLIO in mg/M2: gemcitabine 500, leucovorin 180, fluorouracil 1200, 24 hr infusion. Irinotecan 80 D2 Oxaliplatin 40. Then for progression (pg), add docetaxel 20-25, except CRC mitomycin C 4-6; next pg add cetuximab, except APC or KRAS-M, weekly, and next pg replace cetuximab with bevacizumab 10mg/kg ibid ACR 16. Results: At all ages, overall (O) S is > 1 yr for RCRC, and NAPC and sets with any 1 F or UnF T other than < 3.1 Albumin (Alb) or < 2.1 lymph/monocyte ratio (LMR) b For CCA, 17R/16N, OMS > 2 yrs 66% of pts and ≥ 2 yrs for all test sets except UnF, 26% of pts, MS 17 mos, with low Alb. For CRC: 50R OMS is 16.5 mos; 42% S 2 yrs, Fav Ts: MS > ̃ 2yrs, 39-82% of pts have FTs; Neutrophil Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR); < 3.1, 61% S 2 yrs, p < .02; Lymphs > 1.5, 53% S 2 yrs, p < .02; AS 0; 59% S 2 yrs, p < .06; Platelets < 300,000, 54% S 2 yrs, p < .06; Alb: ≥ 3.5, 48% S 2 yrs, p < .11. For N-APC: 53 pts, OS is 14.5 mos and > 12 mos in sets with any 1 UnF T other than Alb or LMR. FTs: MST 16.4-18 mos. 34-77% of pts have FTs; Alb ≥ 3.5, 34% S 2 yrs, p < 0.001; WBC < 10, 29% S 2 yrs, p < .06; AS 0-2, 35% S 2 yrs, p 2.7E-7. For R-PC: 53 pts, OS is 12 mos for 44% of pts, FTs: MST 13.6-17 mos, 21-70% of pts have FTs: Alb ≥ 3.5 30% S 2 yrs, p .0004; AS: 0, 41% S 2 yrs, p .0006; NLR < 3, 37% S 2 yrs, p < .02. GFLIO’s < 5% gr3 induction toxicity, is reversible, with no hospitalization, neutropenic fever or gr3 neuropathy. Conclusions: Robust Ts identify many difficult pts with median > 1 and testable prospective > 2 yr rates of S. Ts warrant development: validation with GFLIO and other therapy and other cancers; to improve Ts, models for eligibility and geriatric criteria; to identify false -/+ trials; and personalize trials to correct UnF Ts. FTs, with GFLIO, can change prognosis and practice for > 50% of pts now advised “against” any therapy due to a clinical estimate of “less than 6 -10 mos to live.” Clinical trial information: NCT01905150.

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