scholarly journals Constructing a More Closely Matched Control Group in a Difference-in-Differences Analysis: Its Effect on History Interacting with Group Bias

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-130
Author(s):  
Pallavi Basu ◽  
Dylan S. Small
Keyword(s):  
Matched Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Difference In Differences ◽  
Matched Control Group

scholarly journals Fitness Matters as We Age: A Celebration of the VA Gerofit Program

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 771-771
Author(s):  
Miriam Morey ◽  
Cathy Lee
Keyword(s):  
Matched Control ◽  
Exercise Adherence ◽  
Health Promotion Program ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Health Administration ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Program Outcomes ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Supervised Exercise ◽  
The Impact

Abstract In recognition of the GSA’s 75th Anniversary “Why Age Matters” we celebrate the 7th anniversary of the Gerofit dissemination initiative. Gerofit is an exercise and health promotion program for older Veterans that has been declared a Veterans Health Administration (VA) “Best Practice” and been disseminated to 17 VA’s across the country. Over 7000 Veterans have participated in Gerofit initiated programs and have reported robust outcomes including improved quality of life, physical and mental health, and high levels of satisfaction with the programs. For this symposium, we focus on newly acquired program outcomes that emphasize the importance of fitness as we age. The first paper compares hospitalization and emergency room visits between individuals participating in Gerofit for 12 months compared to a matched control group. The second paper describes four-year trajectories of physical performance to highlight the impact of becoming fit over expected normative trajectories. The third paper examines outcomes of a home-based geriatric walking clinic. The fourth paper describes the impact of exercise adherence on chronic pain. The fifth paper describes changes in medication utilization compared to a matched control group following 12-months of supervised exercise. These papers highlight the importance of fitness as a contributor to overall health during the aging process and celebrates that fitness matters, no matter when you start!

Survival of BRCA1 breast and ovarian cancer patients: a population-based study from southern Sweden.

1998 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
O T Jóhannsson ◽  
J Ranstam ◽  
A Borg ◽  
H Olsson
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Matched Control ◽  
Brca1 Mutation ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Breast And Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Group Survival

PURPOSE Recent studies indicate that BRCA1 breast and ovarian tumors may have an advantageous survival. In this population-based study, the survival of carriers of a mutated BRCA1 gene was investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS The survival of 71 BRCA1-associated cancer patients (33 breast cancer, seven breast and ovarian cancer, and 31 ovarian cancer patients from 21 families with BRCA1 germline mutations) diagnosed after 1958 was compared with that of a population-based comparison group that consisted of all other invasive breast (n = 28,281) and ovarian (n = 7,011) cancers diagnosed during 1958 to 1995, as well as an age- and stage-matched control group. RESULTS No apparent survival advantage was found for BRCA1-associated breast cancers upon direct comparison. After adjustment for age and calendar year of diagnosis, survival was equal to or worse than that of the comparison group (hazards ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9 to 2.4). In comparison with an age- and stage-matched control group, survival again appeared equal or worse (HR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.6 to 3.7). For BRCA1-associated ovarian cancers, an initial survival advantage was noted that disappeared with time. Due to this time dependency, multivariate analyses cannot adequately be analyzed. Compared with the age- and stage-matched control group, survival again appeared equal or worse (HR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.5 to 2.8). CONCLUSION The results suggest that survival for carriers of a BRCA1 mutation may be similar, or worse than, that for breast and ovarian cancer in general. This finding is in accordance with the adverse histopathologic features observed in BRCA1 tumors and underlines the need for surveillance in families that carry a BRCA1 mutation.

scholarly journals Effects of Nutrient Intake Timing on Post-Exercise Glycogen Accumulation and its Related Signaling Pathways in Mouse Skeletal Muscle

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 2555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takahashi ◽  
Matsunaga ◽  
Banjo ◽  
Takahashi ◽  
Sato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Muscle Glycogen ◽  
Nutrient Intake ◽  
Matched Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Glycogen Depletion ◽  
Post Exercise ◽  
Glycogen Accumulation ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference

We investigated the effects of nutrient intake timing on glycogen accumulation and its related signals in skeletal muscle after an exercise that did not induce large glycogen depletion. Male ICR mice ran on a treadmill at 25 m/min for 60 min under a fed condition. Mice were orally administered a solution containing 1.2 mg/g carbohydrate and 0.4 mg/g protein or water either immediately (early nutrient, EN) or 180 min (late nutrient, LN) after the exercise. Tissues were harvested at 30 min after the oral administration. No significant difference in blood glucose or plasma insulin concentrations was found between the EN and LN groups. The plantaris muscle glycogen concentration was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the EN group—but not in the LN group—compared to the respective time-matched control group. Akt Ser473 phosphorylation was significantly higher in the EN group than in the time-matched control group (p < 0.01), while LN had no effect. Positive main effects of time were found for the phosphorylations in Akt substrate of 160 kDa (AS160) Thr642 (p < 0.05), 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) Thr172 (p < 0.01), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase Ser79 (p < 0.01); however, no effect of nutrient intake was found for these. We showed that delayed nutrient intake could not increase muscle glycogen after endurance exercise which did not induce large glycogen depletion. The results also suggest that post-exercise muscle glycogen accumulation after nutrient intake might be partly influenced by Akt activation. Meanwhile, increased AS160 and AMPK activation by post-exercise fasting might not lead to glycogen accumulation.

Identification of Features Associated with Flying Phobia in Aircrew

1981 ◽  
Vol 139 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. B. Aitken ◽  
J. A. Lister ◽  
C. J. Main
Keyword(s):  
Family History ◽  
Skin Conductance ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
Matched Control ◽  
Anxiety Symptoms ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Psychometric Tests ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Spontaneous Fluctuation ◽  
History Of

SummaryThe psychological and physiological features of 20 aircrew consecutively referred for treatment of anxiety symptoms when flying were compared with a matched control group of uncomplaining aircrew. There were no significant differences between the two groups on psychometric tests of personality, though there were differences in skin conductance; the phobics had a higher rate of spontaneous fluctuation, and habituated less to a repeated auditory tone. More of the phobic group worried about their wives and acknowledged childhood and other adulthood phobias; more had a family history of an episode perhaps best described as flying trauma. Many were on an overseas posting when symptoms presented. These few features could correctly classify 85 per cent of the subjects into the phobic or control group. This type of ‘phobic aircrew index’ now requires to be validated prospectively for its predictive value.

scholarly journals Clinical Features and Outcome of HTLV-1 Carriers Diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma in Peru: A Matched Cohort Study

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 22-23
Author(s):  
Gustavo Sandival-Ampuero ◽  
Ursula Aviles-Perez ◽  
Bryan Valcarcel ◽  
Juan C Haro ◽  
Daniela Dueñas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Overall Survival ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Hodgkin Lymphoma ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
National Cancer Institute ◽  
Matched Control ◽  
Response Rates ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Cell Neoplasm

Background: The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is an oncogenic retrovirus that affects CD4+ T-cell lymphocytes and is the cause for adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), an aggressive peripheral T-cell neoplasm. Hodgkin-like ATLL subtype is a unique entity usually indistinguishable from Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in the setting of HTLV-1 infection. HTLV-1 proviral integration and TCR Cb1 gene rearrangement testing are often necessary to differentiate both entities. However, less is known on HTLV-1 carriers diagnosed with HL (HTLV-1+ HL). We aim to compare survival outcomes between HTLV-1+ HL and matched controls treated at the National Cancer Institute in Peru. Methods: We reviewed medical records of patients diagnosed and managed for HL at the National Cancer Institute (Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas, INEN) in Lima-Peru between 2002 and 2019. All patients should have had serologic evaluation for HTLV-1 infection at the time of diagnosis and should have had no suspicion (or confirmation) of a T-cell neoplasm during pathological examination. To investigate the impact of HTLV-1 infection on survival, we matched HTLV-1+ HL cases to HTLV-1-negative HL patients (controls) based on age, sex, cancer staging, and comorbidities. Treatment responses were assessed according to the Lugano criteria. Survival curves (event-free and overall survival) were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the Log-rank test. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was fitted and reported as Hazard Ratios (HR) with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Results: A total of 68 HL patients were identified and had sufficient data for analysis. Twenty cases had HTLV-1+ HL and 48 HTLV-1-negative HL. Table 1 summarizes the clinical features and outcomes of HL patients. In all patients the median age at diagnosis was 55 years with a female/male ratio of 1:1. Histological subtypes of HL were not statistically different among both groups with mixed cellularity as the most common subtype (HTLV-1+ HL 50% vs. HTLV-1-negative HL 38%), followed by nodular sclerosis (HTLV-1+ HL 15% vs. 31%), lymphocyte-rich (HTLV-1+ HL 15% vs. 15%), and nodular lymphocyte-predominant (HTLV-1+ HL 5% vs. 4%). ECOG performance status ≤2, advanced-stage disease (III-IV), presence of B symptoms, and presence of extranodal disease at the time of diagnosis were not different in both groups. Co-infections were presented in 5 (7.4%) HL patients (1 strongyloidiasis and 3 tuberculosis in the HTLV-1+ HL group, and 1 tuberculosis in the HTLV-1 negative HL group). All HTLV-1-negative HL patients were treated with first-line ABVD regimen compared to 18 (90%) HTLV-1+ HL patients; the remaining HTLV-1+ HL patients received involved-field radiation (n=1) and best supportive care (n=1). HTLV-1+ HL patients had inferior response rates (complete and partial response) compared to the matched control group (CR: 60% vs. 71%, and PR: 15% vs. 27%, respectively, p=0.015). At a median follow-up of 5-years, the overall survival was 55% in HTLV-1+ HL versus 67% in the matched control group (aHR: 1.39, 95%CI [0.6-3.4], p=0.47) (Figure 1). In the multivariate analysis, HTLV-1 infection was not a significant prognostic factor for worse event-free or overall survival. Relapsed rates were not different between both groups (HTLV-1+ HL 25% vs. 20.8%), however, more deaths were seen in the HTLV-1+ HL group (60% vs. 35%) but this was not statistically significant. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case series describing the characteristics and outcome of HTLV-1 carriers diagnosed with HL. We found lower response rates to conventional treatment in HTLV-1+ HL patients compared to HTLV-1 negative individuals. However, long-term outcomes and relapsed rates were not different among groups. Further investigation is needed to confirm the potential impact of HTLV-1 infection in HL outcome. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Enhanced Visualization of the Cervical Vertebra during Intraoperative Fluoroscopy Using a Shoulder Traction Device

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 502-506
Author(s):  
Van Tri Truong ◽  
Fidaa Al-Shakfa ◽  
Ghassan Boubez ◽  
Daniel Shedid ◽  
Sung-Joo Yuh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Spine ◽  
Matched Control ◽  
Skin Irritation ◽  
Cervical Vertebra ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Cervical Spine Surgery ◽  
Intraoperative Fluoroscopy ◽  
Traction Device ◽  
The Mean

Study Design: A retrospective, matched cohort study of a prospective database.Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the Cervision system (Spinologics, Montreal, Canada), a new shoulder traction device that improves the fluoroscopic visualization of the lower cervical spine using caudal traction of the shoulders out of the radiographic field.Overview of Literature: Operating at a wrong level is a common error that may be committed by nearly 50% of surgeons during their career. Intraoperative fluoroscopy of the cervical vertebrae is an extremely important step in cervical spine surgery. Optimal lateral cervical radiography of the C1–T1 vertebrae is not always possible due to overlap of the shoulders.Methods: In this study, a group of patients (n=33, device group) underwent surgery with the new device used to apply caudal traction to both shoulders, and another group of patients (n=33, matched control group) had surgery with the tape traction. Data about the lowest vertebra visible on lateral fluoroscopic view, installation time, skin irritation under the traction area, and postoperative brachial palsy were recorded, and these parameters were analyzed using the <i>t</i>-test.Results: The mean numbers of visible cervical vertebra were 6.3±0.41 in the device group and 5.6±0.32 in the matched control group (<i>p</i> <0.01, unpaired <i>t</i>-test). The mean installation times were 83.9±5.15 minutes in the device group and 73.7±6.32 minutes in the matched control group (<i>p</i> <0.02). Seven patients from the matched control group presented with skin irritation. However, none of the patients from the device group had the condition (p =0.005, Pearson chi-square test). Postoperative brachial palsy was not observed in both groups.Conclusions: The Cervision system is more effective and superior to tape traction in pulling the shoulders down to improve the visualization of the cervical vertebra on lateral fluoroscopic view during cervical spine surgery.

On the Value Integration of Successfully Reformed Ex-Convicts: A Comparison With Moral Exemplars

2015 ◽  
Vol 58 (6) ◽  
pp. 640-658
Author(s):  
Jennifer Cole Wright ◽  
Heath Hoffmann ◽  
Olivia Coen
Keyword(s):  
Matched Control ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Moral Exemplars ◽  
Matched Control Group ◽  
Community Values ◽  
Unmitigated Agency ◽  
Value Integration

The issue of successfully reintegrating ex-prisoners into society is a critical one. To assess the process of successful reintegration, we interviewed five male ex-convicts about their past versus present lives. Their responses were coded for self-oriented (agency) and community-oriented values. We found a shift away from “unmitigated” agency, toward community values from past to present, and also an integration of agency with community similar to that found in moral exemplars. This increase in integration was not found in a demographically matched control group. The transitions exemplified in these ex-convicts’ narratives help define potential paths for successful reintegration into society.

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