Cost-effectiveness of [18F] fluoroethyl-L-tyrosine for temozolomide therapy assessment in patients with glioblastoma

Background and Purpose: Glioblastomas are the most aggressive of all gliomas. The prognosis of these gliomas, which are classified as grade IV tumors by the World Health Organization (WHO), is poor. Combination therapy, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy has variable outcomes and is expensive. In light of rising healthcare costs, there are societal demands for the justification of medical expenses. Therefore, we calculated the cost-effectiveness of follow-up [F-18] fluoroethyl-L-tyrosine ([F-18] FET) positron emission tomography (PET) scans performed on patients with glioblastoma after surgery and before commencing temozolomide maintenance treatment. Materials and Methods: To determine the cost-effectiveness of follow-up [F-18] FET PET procedures, we examined published clinical data and calculated the associated costs in the context of Belgian healthcare. We subsequently performed one-way deterministic sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo analysis on the calculated ratios. Results: The decision tree based on overall survival rates showed that the number of non-responders identified using PET was 57.14% higher than the number of non-responders identified using conventional MRI. Further, the decision tree based on progression-free survival rates revealed a comparable increase of 57.50% non-responders identified. The calculated cost of two required PET scans per patient during the follow-up treatment phase was 780.50 euros. Two cost-effectiveness ratios were determined for overall survival and progression-free survival rates. Both of these calculations yielded very similar results: incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of 1,365.86 and 1,357.38 euros, respectively, for each identified non-responder. The findings of the sensitivity analysis supported the calculated results, confirming that the obtained data were robust. Conclusion: Our comparative study of conventional MRI and [F-18] FET PET revealed that the latter is a valuable tool for predicting the treatment responses of patients with glioblastomas to follow-up temozolomide maintenance treatment while considering its cost-effectiveness. Thus, [F-18] FET PET scans enable clinical outcomes to be predicted accurately and at a low cost. Moreover, given the robustness of the data in the sensitivity analyses, the level of certainty of this outcome is acceptable

Heterogeneity of the gut microbiome in mice : guidelines for optimizing experimental design

Targeted manipulation of the gut flora is increasingly being recognized as a means to improve human health. Yet, the temporal dynamics and intra- and interindividual heterogeneity of the microbiome represent experimental limitations, especially in human cross-sectional studies. Therefore, rodent models represent an invaluable tool to study the host-microbiota interface. Progress in technical and computational tools to investigate the composition and function of the microbiome has opened a new era of research and we gradually begin to understand the parameters that influence variation of host-associated microbial communities. To isolate true effects from confounding factors, it is essential to include such parameters in model intervention studies. Also, explicit journal instructions to include essential information on animal experiments are mandatory. The purpose of this review is to summarize the factors that influence microbiota composition in mice and to provide guidelines to improve the reproducibility of animal experiments.Given the unmet need for standardizing the experimental work flow related to gut microbial research in animals, guidelines are required to isolate true effects from confounding factors.Given the unmet need for standardizing the experimental work flow related to gut microbial research in animals, guidelines are required to isolate true effects from confounding factors

Expenditures on Sport Apparel: Creating Consumer Profiles through Interval Regression Modelling

Using a heterodox theoretical approach, this article presents sport consumer profiles based on socio-demographic and sport-related lifestyle characteristics. Sport apparel is operationalized as a categorical, hierarchical variable. Given the censored nature of the dependent variable, a two step Heckman-type approach with an interval regression model was used. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional sample of adults in Flanders, Belgium (N=1355). The results indicate that the decision to spend money on sport clothing and shoes is mainly determined by sport-related lifestyle characteristics, confirming the emerging importance of lifestyle in understanding the decision to consume material goods. However, the variability in the amount of money spent on sport apparel is explained by both socio-demographic variables and sport-related lifestyle characteristics. Consequently, both socio-demographic and lifestyle variables are used in the interval regression models, which is introduced as a novel technique to create consumer profiles. These profiles assist sporting goods marketers in refining their strategies to reach specific target markets

Supplier-contractor collaboration in the construction industry:A taxonomic approach to the literature of the 2000-2009 decade

Purpose – Recent developments in the construction industry resulted in an increased importance of collaboration with and managing of suppliers by prime contractors. The focus of this study is on getting insights into existing knowledge on this topic and the gaps in this knowledge base. The goals of this study are threefold: to verify the current state of, to gain insights into, and to provide suggestions for supplier-contractor research. Design/methodology/approach – The current state of supplier-contractor research in the construction industry is verified through a taxonomic approach to the literature on buyer-supplier research over the last decade (2000-2009). The method followed consists of the following three steps: journal selection, initial article selection and final article selection. Findings – Supplier-contractor research in the construction industry is still a relatively under-researched phenomenon. The major topics discussed in the identified articles are aspects of partnering (conditions, characteristics and barriers/obstacles) and (sub)contracting/procurement issues (practices, selection criteria, performance and characteristics). Research limitations/implications – This study concludes that future research should focus on longitudinal studies, testing organisational barriers to partnering, the benefits of partnering in practice, conditions under which the formation of collaborative relationships between suppliers and contractors takes place, and experiences with this formation process. Practical implications – In practice, contractors do see a need to develop closer and more collaborative relationships with their suppliers. This study highlights the topics that need to be addressed to achieve these goals. Originality/value – This study is a literature overview of relatively scarce research on collaborative relationships between suppliers and contractors in the construction industry

Fighting Corruption in the Water Sector - Methods, Tools and Good Practices

This publication is part of a series of UNDP-sponsored studies that present methods, tools and good practices to map corruption risks, develop strategies and sustain partnerships to address challenges and tackle corruption in the education, health and water sectors. They complement UNDP’s MDG Acceleration Framework (MAF), which has been endorsed by the UN Development Group and enables governments and development partners, within established national processes, to identify and systematically prioritize the bottlenecks to progress toward achieving the MDGs, and then devise strategies to overcome them. The studies bring together UNDP’s efforts to support countries to develop frameworks to accelerate their efforts to meet the MDGs as well as successfully meet the commitments of the UN Convention against corruption

Determinants of Service Innovation: a Typology of Sports Federations

The increasing commercialisation of the sports sector and changing consumer demands are some of the issues that create challenges for non-profit sports in contemporary society. It is important for managers and marketers of these organisations to innovate because innovation is a way to grow within a competitive environment and to meet customers expectations. The present study aims to develop an explorative typology of sports federations based on their attitudes and perceptions of determinants of innovation and their innovation capacity. A cluster analysis suggested three clusters with different responses towards service innovation: traditional sports federations, financially secure sports federations and competitive sports federations. Sports federations perceiving competition in terms of financial and human resources, favouring change and paid staff involvement in decision-making processes, and with negative economic perceptions are significantly more innovative. These findings have implications for the management and marketing of non-profit sports organisations

Do non-profit sport organisations innovate? Types and preferences of service innovation within regional sport federations

Research question: Little is known about innovation in the non-profit sport sector. The present research addresses this gap by questioning whether and to what extent sport federations innovate. It aims to identify types of innovation implemented by sport federations and their attitude and preferences towards innovation.  Research methods: An online questionnaire was administered to a sample of key representatives (i.e. Chair, Secretary General or Directors) of regional sport federations in Belgium (n=101; 70% response rate).  Results and Findings: Directed content analysis of the service innovations described by respondents reveals ten different types of sport and non-sport service innovations. Results suggest that membership size and categories of sport influence preferences in knowledge creation/appropriation, and ultimately the type of innovation developed. This paper also suggests that sport federations are driven by demands by members in meeting their expectations of new services and are not risk averse. On average, the sport federations surveyed have a positive attitude towards newness which favours innovativeness.  Implications: The present study would help researchers to advance further into the knowledge of service innovation in non-profit organisations. It should act as a foundation for research and practice on specific types of service innovation in sport. Managers should realise the importance of attitude for innovation and use the suggested typology to provide new services in different categories and meet members’ expectations