A Study on Methodology to Make Team: Methodology — Phase II

Author(s):  
Yoichi Sugimoto ◽  
Masao Arakawa ◽  
Masahiko Ishimaru

Improvement in labor productivity is a common problem in each country. In particular, in Japan where the productive age population is decreasing, it is necessary to steadily advance efforts for the improvement at various sites throughout the entire society. In doing so, in order to make it prevail over broad areas, it is necessary to consider that on-site holding resources can be utilized, that it can be easily introduced, and that it will surely be effective. Therefore, we have focused on improving the way of collaboration from an angle of “person’s personality”. Specifically, we have aimed to build a methodology, for a “team” that is a collaborative form widely introduced and utilized at companies and educational sites, which enhances the effectiveness of team activities. As for the overall structure of the methodology, we have designed it with a three-layer structure in order to clarify separation from other intellectual properties and consideration to ethical aspects. That is, the designed methodology comprises the following three phases. Phase I: a team formation methodology; Phase II: a team management methodology; and Phase III: a team development support methodology. Study results of Phase I were presented at the 26th Design Engineering and System Division Lecture by the Japan Society of Mechanical Engineers (JSME). In this study, we have used the methodology of Phase I to devise, as a method included in Phase II, three Rules for creating a team environment that makes it easy for “introverted” persons in Jungian psychology to express their opinions. Then, we have conducted parallel group randomized trials comparing an intervention group with a control group, analyzed the results by an analysis method such as Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), and verified the effectiveness of the devised method. As a result, the findings have revealed that teams in which the team management was carried out according to the devised method tends to be more effective and prone to excellent effectiveness.

1978 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew R. Gilpin ◽  
Stanley C. Ratner

50 mature earthworms ( L. terrestris) were assigned randomly to one of five stimulus conditions in an experiment with three phases. In Phase I Group Light-Vibration-Light received 2-sec. presentations of white light (with an 18-sec. intertrial interval) to an habituation criterion; in Phase II vibration was presented on the same schedule; and in Phase III, which began 2 hr. after the end of Phase I, presentations of light were given. Group Vibration-Light-Vibration received vibration in Phases I and III and light in Phase II; Groups Vibration-Rest-Vibration and Light-Rest-Light received no stimulation in Phase II. A control group was observed on the same schedule but received no stimuli. Results indicated that previous habituation to one stimulus reduced responses to the other stimulus, regardless of the type of stimulation (stimulus generalization). Retention of habituation from Phase I to Phase III was reduced in Group Light-Vibration-Light but not Group Vibration-Light-Vibration, relative to their counterparts receiving rest in Phase II. Thus results indicated that the effects of habituation in this organism depend on the presence of stimuli from other modalities.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 8652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek A. Rosenfield ◽  
P. Viau ◽  
C. A. Oliveira ◽  
Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto

Deslorelin is a synthetic GnRH analogue, which is being used as a contraceptive in animals by acting as a gonadal suppressant.  The product Suprelorin (Virbac, Australia) contains deslorelin as a biocompatible, slow release subcutaneous implant. The continuous release of deslorelin provokes a down-regulation of GnRH receptors, and subsequently, inhibition of the synthesis and release of the gonadotropins FSH and LH, necessary for gonadal activities.  The intention of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a subcutaneous deslorelin acetate implant (2,35mg) in suppressing ovarian cyclic activity and inhibiting ovulation in captive Common Marmoset Callithrix jacchus, and investigate the reversibility of the treatment.  Two experimental groups were formed, group deslorelin (D) with three couples and control group (C) with two couples.  To monitor the effect of the implants, hormones indicating ovarian cyclic activity were monitored non-invasively by enzyme immunoassay (fecal monoclonal antibody anti-progesterone CL 425).  Fecal samples were collected three times a week from all females during three trial phases (phase I: month 1,2,3 and 4; phase II: month: 5,6 and 7 and phase III: month 8,9 and 10).  In contrast to expectations the results of this trial indicated that there was no suppression of the ovarian cyclic activity, nor inhibition of the ovulation after the application of the implants.  The outcome of our trial can possibly be explained by the fact that the dosage of 2.35mg of deslorelin is not effective in C. jacchus.  We confirmed significant changes (p<0.05) of P4 metabolites from phase I to phase II due to the treatment after the implantation of the GnRH analogue Deslorelin.  The employed non-invasive fecal progesterone monitoring could be biologically validated and proved to be efficient in the detection of ovarian cyclic activity in this neotropical primate species, C. jacchus. 


Praxis ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 107 (17-18) ◽  
pp. 951-958 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Wilhelm

Zusammenfassung. Herzinsuffizienz ist ein klinisches Syndrom mit unterschiedlichen Ätiologien und Phänotypen. Die überwachte Bewegungstherapie und individuelle körperliche Aktivität ist bei allen Formen eine Klasse-IA-Empfehlung in aktuellen Leitlinien. Eine Bewegungstherapie kann unmittelbar nach Stabilisierung einer akuten Herzinsuffizienz im Spital begonnen werden (Phase I). Sie kann nach Entlassung in einem stationären oder ambulanten Präventions- und Rehabilitationsprogramm fortgesetzt werden (Phase II). Typische Elemente sind Ausdauer-, Kraft- und Atemtraining. Die Kosten werden von der Krankenversicherung für drei bis sechs Monate übernommen. In erfahrenen Zentren können auch Patienten mit implantierten Defibrillatoren oder linksventrikulären Unterstützungssystemen trainieren. Wichtiges Ziel der Phase II ist neben muskulärer Rekonditionierung auch die Steigerung der Gesundheitskompetenz, um die Langzeit-Adhärenz bezüglich körperlicher Aktivität zu verbessern. In Phase III bieten Herzgruppen Unterstützung.


2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1464.1-1465
Author(s):  
J. Blaess ◽  
J. Walther ◽  
J. E. Gottenberg ◽  
J. Sibilia ◽  
L. Arnaud ◽  
...  

Background:Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most frequent chronic inflammatory diseases with an incidence of 0.5% to 1%. Therapeutic arsenal of RA has continuously expanded in recent years with the recent therapeutic progress with the arrival of conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), biological (bDMARDs) and targeted synthetic (tsDMARDs), JAK inhibitors. However, there are still some unmet needs for patients who do not achieve remission and who continue to worsen despite treatments. Of note, only approximately 40% of patients are ACR70 responders, in most randomized controlled trials. For these patients, finding new therapeutic avenues is challenging.Objectives:The objective of our study was to analyze the whole pipeline of immunosuppressive and immunomodulating drugs evaluated in RA and describe their mechanisms of action and stage of clinical development.Methods:We conducted a systematic review of all drug therapies in clinical development in RA in 17 databases of international clinical trials. Inclusion criterion: study from one of the databases using the keywords “Rheumatoid arthritis” (search date: June 1, 2019). Exclusion criteria: non-drug trials, trials not related to RA or duplicates. We also excluded dietary regimen or supplementations, cellular therapies, NSAIDs, glucorticoids or their derivatives and non-immunosuppressive or non-immunomodulating drugs. For each csDMARD, bDMARD and tsDMARD, we considered the study at the most advanced stage. For bDMARDs, we did not take into account biosimilars.Results:The research identified 4652 trials, of which 242 for 243 molecules met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The developed molecules belong to csDMARDs (n=21), bDMARDs (n=117), tsDMARDs (n=105).Among the 21 csDMARDs molecules: 8 (38%) has been withdrawn, 4 (19%) are already labelled in RA (hydroxychloroquine, leflunomide, methotrexate and sulfasalazine) and 9 (43%) are in development: 1 (11%) is in phase I/II, 5 (56%) in phase II, 3 (33%) in phase IV.Among the 117 bDMARDs molecules: 69 (59%) has been withdrawn, 9 (8%) are labeled in RA (abatacept, adalimumab, anakinra, certolizumab, etanercept, golimumab, infliximab, rituximab, sarilumab, tocilizumab) and 39 (33%) are in development: 9 (23%) in phase I, 3 (8%) in phase I/II, 21 (54%) in phase II, 5 (12%) are in phase III, 1 (3%) in phase IV. bDMARDs currently under development target B cells (n=4), T cells (n=2), T/B cells costimulation (n=2),TNF alpha (n=2), Interleukine 1 or his receptor (n=3), Interleukine 6 or his receptor (n=7), Interleukine 17 (n=4), Interleukine 23 (n=1), GM-CSF (n=1), other cytokines or chemokines (n=5), integrins or adhesion proteins (n=3), interferon receptor (n=1) and various other targets (n=4).Among the 105 tsDMARDs molecules: 64 (61%) has been withdrawn, 6 (6%) JAK inhibitors, have just been or will probably soon be labelled (baricitinib, filgotinib, peficitinib, tofacitinib and upadacitinib), 35 (33%) are in development: 8 (24%) in phase I, 26 (74%) in phase II, 1 (3%) in phase III and. tsDMARDs currently under development target tyrosine kinase (n=12), janus kinase (JAK) (n=3), sphingosine phostate (n=3), PI3K pathway (n=1), phosphodiesterase-4 (n=3) B cells signaling pathways (n=3) and various other targets (n=10).Conclusion:A total of 242 therapeutic trials involving 243 molecules have been or are being evaluated in RA. This development does not always lead to new treatments since 141 (58%) have already been withdrawn. Hopefully, some of the currently evaluated drugs will contribute to improve the therapeutic management of RA patients, requiring a greater personalization of therapeutic strategies, both in the choice of molecules and their place in therapeutic sequences.Disclosure of Interests:Julien Blaess: None declared, Julia Walther: None declared, Jacques-Eric Gottenberg Grant/research support from: BMS, Pfizer, Consultant of: BMS, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Eli Lilly and Co., Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, UCB, Jean Sibilia: None declared, Laurent Arnaud: None declared, Renaud FELTEN: None declared


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 660
Author(s):  
Edoardo Bardi ◽  
Martina Manfredi ◽  
Raffaella Capitelli ◽  
Emanuele Lubian ◽  
Alessandro Vetere ◽  
...  

The use of long-acting gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists to suppress fertility has been poorly investigated in reptiles, and the few available studies show inconsistent results. The efficacy of single and double intramuscular 4.7 mg deslorelin acetate implants in captive pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) was investigated, with 20 animals divided into three groups: a single-implant group (6 animals), a double-implant group (6 animals), and a control group (no implant). During one reproductive season (March to October), plasmatic concentration of sexual hormones (estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone) and ovarian morphometric activity via computed tomography were monitored about every 30 days. A significative decrease in the number of phase II ovarian follicles was detected in the double-implant group compared with the control group, but no significant difference was noted in the number of phase III and phase IV follicles, egg production, and plasmatic concentration of sexual hormones. Results show that neither a single nor a double deslorelin acetate implant can successfully inhibit reproduction in female pond sliders during the ongoing season, but the lower number of phase II follicles in the double-implant group can possibly be associated with reduced fertility in the following seasons.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 136-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Vickers ◽  
Joyce Kuo ◽  
Barrie R. Cassileth

Purpose A substantial number of cancer patients turn to treatments other than those recommended by mainstream oncologists in an effort to sustain tumor remission or halt the spread of cancer. These unconventional approaches include botanicals, high-dose nutritional supplementation, off-label pharmaceuticals, and animal products. The objective of this study was to review systematically the methodologies applied in clinical trials of unconventional treatments specifically for cancer. Methods MEDLINE 1966 to 2005 was searched using approximately 200 different medical subject heading terms (eg, alternative medicine) and free text words (eg, laetrile). We sought prospective clinical trials of unconventional treatments in cancer patients, excluding studies with only symptom control or nonclinical (eg, immune) end points. Trial data were extracted by two reviewers using a standardized protocol. Results We identified 14,735 articles, of which 214, describing 198 different clinical trials, were included. Twenty trials were phase I, three were phase I and II, 70 were phase II, and 105 were phase III. Approximately half of the trials investigated fungal products, 20% investigated other botanicals, 10% investigated vitamins and supplements, and 10% investigated off-label pharmaceuticals. Only eight of the phase I trials were dose-finding trials, and a mere 20% of phase II trials reported a statistical design. Of the 27 different agents tested in phase III, only one agent had a prior dose-finding trial, and only for three agents was the definitive study initiated after the publication of phase II data. Conclusion Unconventional cancer treatments have not been subject to appropriate early-phase trial development. Future research on unconventional therapies should involve dose-finding and phase II studies to determine the suitability of definitive trials.


2021 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zohra Jabeen ◽  
Nighat Shah ◽  
Zaeema Ahmer ◽  
Sulhera Khan ◽  
Amir Hussain Khan ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of health education as an intervention to promote BSE among intervention and non-intervention group presenting in a low resource setting at North Karachi Methodology: This Quasi-experimental study was conducted from January-August 2018 in a charitable hospital in Karachi after taking ethical approval by the Institutional Review Board of Jinnah Sindh Medical University and relevant approvals from the hospital authorities. This study recruited 172 eligible women by dividing them into intervention (n=86) and control (n=86) groups from a low resource setting in Karachi. Demographic variables were collected through pretested questionnaire by interview. Intervention group then received health education regarding carcinoma of breast, importance of BSE and monthly motivation to perform BSE through cell phone. The questionnaire was again filled after 6 months of intervention. Control group was also given health education sessions upon completion of study. Results: Results revealed that both groups were similar initially. After 6 months females in intervention group showed significant (p=<0.001) improvement in knowledge and performance of BSE from 44.2% to 88.4% but there was no change in control group. Being in intervention group (RR=2.714, 95% CI= 1.760 - 4.186, p=0.001) and education (RR=0.573, 95% CI= 0.361 - 0.910, p=0.018) showed positive association with BSE performance. Upon adjusting with age, marital status, family history and education, intervention group (RR=2.570, 95% CI= 1.654 - 3.992, p= 0.001) remained significant while education (RR=1.466, 95% CI =0.910 - 2.363, p=0.116) became insignificant. Continuous...


Author(s):  
Shuji Daimaru ◽  
Ryuji Takeuchi ◽  
Masaki Takeda ◽  
Masayuki Ishibashi

The Mizunami Underground Research Laboratory (MIU) is now under construction by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency in the Tono area of central Japan. The MIU project is being implemented in three overlapping Phases: Surface-based Investigation (Phase I), Construction (Phase II) and Operation (Phase III). The changes of groundwater pressure due to shaft excavation can be considered analogous to a large-scale pumping test. Therefore, there is the possibility that the site scale groundwater field (several km square) can be approximated by the long-term groundwater pressure monitoring data from Phase II. Based on the monitoring observations, hydrogeological characteristics were estimated using the s-log(t/r2) plot based on the Cooper-Jacob straight line method. Results of the s-log(t/r2) plots are as follows. The groundwater flow field around the MIU construction site is separated into domains by an impermeable fault. In other words, the fault is a hydraulic barrier. Hydraulic conductivity calculated from s-log(t/r2) plots are in the order of 1.0E−7(m/s). The above results from the long term monitoring during Phase II are a verification of the hydrogeological characteristics determined in the Phase I investigations.


2003 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 2926-2932 ◽  
Author(s):  
David H. Ilson ◽  
Manjit Bains ◽  
David P. Kelsen ◽  
Eileen O’Reilly ◽  
Martin Karpeh ◽  
...  

Purpose: To identify the maximum-tolerated dose and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of weekly irinotecan combined with cisplatin and radiation in esophageal cancer. Patients and Methods: Nineteen patients with clinical stage II to III esophageal squamous cell or adenocarcinoma were treated on this phase I trial. Induction chemotherapy with weekly cisplatin 30 mg/m2 and irinotecan 65 mg/m2 was administered for four treatments during weeks 1 to 5. Radiotherapy was delivered weeks 8 to 13 in 1.8-Gy daily fractions to a dose of 50.4 Gy. Cisplatin 30 mg/m2 and escalating-dose irinotecan (40, 50, 65, and 80 mg/m2) were administered on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 of radiotherapy. DLT was defined as a 2-week delay in radiotherapy for grade 3 to 4 toxicity. Results: Minimal toxicity was observed during chemoradiotherapy, with no grade 3 or 4 esophagitis, diarrhea, or stomatitis. DLT caused by myelosuppression was seen in two of six patients treated at the 80-mg/m2 dose level, thus irinotecan 65 mg/m2 was defined as the recommended phase II dose. Dysphagia improved or resolved after induction chemotherapy in 13 (81%) of 16 patients who reported dysphagia before therapy. Only one patient (5%) required a feeding tube. Six complete responses (32%) were observed, including four pathologic complete responses in 15 patients selected to undergo surgery (27%). Conclusion: Cisplatin, irinotecan, and concurrent radiotherapy can be administered on a convenient schedule with relatively minimal toxicity and an acceptable rate of complete response in esophageal cancer. Further phase II evaluation of this regimen is ongoing. A phase III comparison to fluorouracil or taxane-containing chemoradiotherapy should be considered.


2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shandra Protzko

A Review of: Del Fiol, Guilherme, Peter J. Haug, James J. Cimino, Scott P. Narus, Chuck Norlin, and Joyce A. Mitchell. ‚Effectiveness of Topic-specific Infobuttons: A Randomized Controlled Trial.‛ Journal of the American Medical Information Association 15.6 (2008): 752-9. Objective – To assess whether infobutton links that direct users to specific content topics (‚topic links‛) are more effective in answering clinical questions than links that direct users to general overview content (‚nonspecific links‛). Design – Randomized control trial. Setting – Intermountain Healthcare, an integrated system of 21 hospitals and over 120 outpatient clinics located in Utah and southeastern Idaho. Subjects – Ninety clinicians and 3,729 infobutton sessions. Methods – To ensure comparable group composition, subjects were paired and randomly allocated to the study groups. Clinicians in the intervention group had access to topic links, while those in the control group had access to nonspecific links. All subjects at Intermountain Healthcare use a Web-based electronic medical record system (EMR) called HELP2 Clinical Desktop with integrated infobutton links. An Infobutton Manager application defines the content topics and resources; in this case, Micromedex® (Thomson Healthcare, Englewood, CO) provided access to the topic links. The medication order entry module, the most popular of the outpatient modules, was selected to test the two configurations of infobuttons. A focus group of seven HELP2 users aided the researchers in determining the most salient topics to be displayed as a part of the intervention group's user-interface. The study measured infobutton session duration, or time spent seeking information, the number of infobutton sessions conducted, and the outcome and impact of the information seeking. A post-session questionnaire displayed randomly in 30% of sessions measured outcome and impact. The study was conducted between May and November, 2007. This project was funded in part by the National Library of Medicine. Main Results – Subjects in the intervention group spent 17.4% less time seeking information than those in the control group (35.5 seconds vs. 43 seconds, p = 0.008). The intervention group used infobuttons 20.5% more often (22 sessions vs. 17.5 sessions, p = 0.21) than those in the control group, a difference that was not statistically significant. Twenty-five subjects answered the post-session survey at least once for a total of 115 (9.9%) responses out of 1,161 possible sessions. The information seeking success rate was equally high in both groups (87.2% intervention vs. 89.4% control, p = .099). Subjects reported high positive clinical impact (i.e., decision enhancement or learning) in 62% of successful sessions. Subjects conveyed a moderate or high level of frustration in 80% of responses associated with unsuccessful sessions. Conclusion – Topic links provide a slight advantage in the clinical decision-making process by reducing the amount of time spent searching. But while the session length difference between the control and intervention groups is statistically significant, it is less clear whether the difference is clinically meaningful. As previous studies have indicated, infobuttons are able to answer clinical medication questions with a high success rate. It is unclear whether topic links have a clinically significant impact, or rather, whether they are more effective than nonspecific links. The authors believe that the study results ‚should generalize to high-frequency, medication-related infobutton users in other institutions‛ (758).


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