When objective price information is not available: Impact of unpublished or missing prices on the purchase journey for high costs, high involvement products

Every model of the consumer purchase journey includes an evaluation phase, during which consumers search for product attributes including price. While much has been written about search, knowledge uncertainty, and the role of price in continued search and purchase intent, very little, if any, empirical work has been done to understand the impact on the path to purchase when objective price is not available. This study undertakes a field experiment with random assignment in a natural setting to examine the impacts on consumer behavior related to continued search, lead generation and purchase intent when objective price is not available. The results provide evidence that the absence of objective price information during the evaluation stage of the purchase journey reduces search, lead generation and purchase intent. While this experiment was conducted in the context of a high cost, high involvement consumer product, many executives in B2B marketplaces would benefit from evidence of the impact of hiding price from B2B customers, providing a fertile area for future research

Efficacy of sorafenib, a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in an adenoid cystic carcinoma metastatic to the lung: case report and review of literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck has significantly improved with the addition of cetuximab, a monoclonal antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor, to conventional cytotoxic agents. The most significant aspect of this treatment approach is the proof that head and neck cancers are suitable for targeted therapies as has been shown in other malignancies. Unfortunately, there are other rare histologic types of head and neck cancer such as adenocarcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma. The latter has traditionally been considered to be chemotherapy resistant and surgical resection with or without adjuvant radiation therapy has been the rule as far as treatment is concerned. The course of adenoid cystic carcinoma ranges from indolent to aggressive; however, most patients succumb to the disease as a result of distant metastases. This clinical scenario poses a challenge to oncologists. Several conventional chemotherapy regimens and novel targeted agents have been tried in this rare histologic subtype without success.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>In this case report, we present a 59-year-old Caucasian female with refractory adenoid cystic carcinoma of the maxilla metastatic to the lung that responded to sorafenib, a novel multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor, which targets angiogenesis, Raf kinase pathway, platelet-derived growth factor Ret, and c-Kit.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This case illustrates the possibility that this chemoresistant tumor may need the inhibition or blocking of several oncogenic pathways. Certainly, it is imperative that more studies are done in this special population trying to identify tumorigenesis mechanisms that may be upregulated in this malignancy and could be potential targets for therapeutic development.</p

Early interstitial changes in hypertension-induced renal injury

To elucidate the mechanisms of hypertensive renal injury, we investigated the time course and extent of changes in matrix composition, as well as cell proliferation and infiltration in two-kidney, one clip rats. The nonclipped kidneys from hypertensive and sham-operated control rats (n = 5 to 10 in each group) were studied at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after clipping. Systolic blood pressure was elevated by day 7 (154 +/- 3 versus 111 +/- 4 mm Hg in sham group, P < .001, n = 10 each). Hypertension resulted in an early expansion of the interstitial volume by 37%, whereas hypertensive vascular changes and glomerular injury did not become evident until day 21. Immunofluorescence studies revealed an early interstitial accumulation of collagens I, III, IV, V, VI, and fibronectin by day 7. In contrast, the glomeruli showed a mild to moderate increase in collagens I, III, IV, V, laminin, and fibronectin but not collagen VI later in the established phase of hypertension. Staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen as a marker of cell replication was increased in tubular epithelial but not interstitial or glomerular cells. A progressive infiltration of macrophages (16 +/- 2 versus 9 +/- 1 ED1+ cells/mm2, P < .05, n = 6) and T lymphocytes (93 +/- 15 versus 74 +/- 7 CD4+ cells/mm2, n = 8) in the cortical interstitium had already occurred by day 7. On the other hand, only macrophages increased in number within the glomeruli. Thus, renovascular hypertension leads to an early tubular cell proliferation, mononuclear cell recruitment, and deposition of matrix proteins primarily within the interstitium. We conclude that the injury producing nephrosclerosis in this model extends far beyond the glomeruli. Both the tubules and the interstitium are actively involved and may be the more important initial sites of injury

Clinical Experience Of Lenalidomide Plus Low Dose Dexamethasone As First-Line Therapy For Multiple Myeloma At a Large County Hospital Caring For An Indigent Population

Abstract Background There is ample data for the response rates and clinical outcomes for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM) treated with first-line lenalidomide and dexamethasone (LEN/DEX). Phase II and III studies have reported objective response rates (ORR) in the range of 70-90%.  However, extrapolating from clinical trials to ‘real world' clinical practice is sometimes difficult. This is particularly so when it comes to large city hospital systems such as Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH) in Miami, Florida. JMH is the third-largest public hospital and third-largest teaching hospital in the United States. Patients are primarily uninsured or insured through Medicaid. Additionally, one might surmise, that for a medication like LEN- with a relatively narrow therapeutic index, high cost, and cumbersome prescribing/dispensing requirements- outcomes in the ‘real world' might be inferior to those cited in clinical study. We endeavored to explore such outcomes in JMH to determine whether the benefits of this high cost drug in this setting are concordant with published data. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients enrolled into the Celgene patient assistance program and prescribed LEN from January 1, 2010 through July 30, 2013 at JMH. We identified 96 patients enrolled into this program, 35 patients received LEN/DEX as first-line therapy for MM and are evaluable for this analysis. The primary end-point for analysis was response at 4 months. Results Medical records of 35 patients were reviewed. The mean age was 59 (46-75), majority of patients were female (60%), and 29% were black. Consistent with our patient population, 71.4% of patients were Hispanic, 44% were uninsured, and 64% had Medicaid. IgG (60%) was the most common heavy chain involved while 3 patients had light chain disease only. The majority of patients (88.6%) had stage III disease by the Durie-Salmon criteria, and 37.1% had ISS stage III disease. Cytogenetic studies were evaluable in 30 patients: 66.7% were standard-risk, 30% intermediate-risk and 3.3 % high-risk according to mSMART risk classification. At 4-month follow-up, 26 (74.3%) patients had an OR: 6 (17.1%) patients had CR, 7 (20%) had VGPR, and 13 (37.1%) had PR. 6 (17.1%) patients had progressive disease, change in therapy, or were lost to follow-up. There were no documented deep venous thromboses, a known risk of LEN therapy. Only 8 patients (23%) underwent autologous stem cell transplant following primary therapy. Conclusion Responses with upfront LEN/DEX in MM at JMH, were relatively similar to published data in large clinical studies. This provides support for the extrapolation of data from well supported clinical trials at fully-resourced medical institutions, for an oral chemotherapy drug with significant potential toxicities and logistical barriers, to a primarily Medicaid patient population in a county hospital. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare