Function, Adjustment, Quality of Life and Symptoms (FAQS) in Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) Survivors: A Study Protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The population of survivors following allogeneic HSCT continues to increase, and yet their experiences of recovery and long-term survivorship have not been fully characterized. This paper presents a study protocol examining over time the functional status, psychosocial adjustment, health-related quality of life, and symptom experience of survivors who have undergone allogeneic transplantation. The aims of the study are to: 1) explore the patterns of change in these health outcomes during the survivorship phase; 2) characterize subgroups of survivors experiencing adverse outcomes; and 3) examine relationships among outcomes and demographic and clinical factors (such as age, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), and disease relapse).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this longitudinal observational study, adults who survive a minimum of 3 years from date of allogeneic transplantation complete a series of questionnaires annually. Demographic and clinical data are collected along with a series of patient-reported outcome measures, specifically: 1) Medical Outcomes Study SF- 36; 2) Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) - General, 3) FACIT-Fatigue; 4) FACIT- Spiritual; 5) Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale; 6) Rotterdam Symptom Checklist-Revised; and 7) Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study will provide multidimensional patient-reported outcomes data to expand the understanding of the survivorship experience across the trajectory of allogeneic transplantation recovery. There are a number of inherent challenges in recruiting and retaining a diverse and representative sample of long-term transplant survivors. Study results will contribute to an understanding of outcomes experienced by transplant survivors, including those with chronic GVHD, malignant disease relapse, and other late effects following allogeneic transplantation.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00128960">NCT00128960</a></p

Reduced costs with bisoprolol treatment for heart failure - An economic analysis of the second Cardiac Insufficiency Bisoprolol Study (CIBIS-II)

Background Beta-blockers, used as an adjunctive to diuretics, digoxin and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, improve survival in chronic heart failure. We report a prospectively planned economic analysis of the cost of adjunctive beta-blocker therapy in the second Cardiac Insufficiency BIsoprolol Study (CIBIS II). Methods Resource utilization data (drug therapy, number of hospital admissions, length of hospital stay, ward type) were collected prospectively in all patients in CIBIS . These data were used to determine the additional direct costs incurred, and savings made, with bisoprolol therapy. As well as the cost of the drug, additional costs related to bisoprolol therapy were added to cover the supervision of treatment initiation and titration (four outpatient clinic/office visits). Per them (hospital bed day) costings were carried out for France, Germany and the U.K. Diagnosis related group costings were performed for France and the U.K. Our analyses took the perspective of a third party payer in France and Germany and the National Health Service in the U.K. Results Overall, fewer patients were hospitalized in the bisoprolol group, there were fewer hospital admissions perpatient hospitalized, fewer hospital admissions overall, fewer days spent in hospital and fewer days spent in the most expensive type of ward. As a consequence the cost of care in the bisoprolol group was 5-10% less in all three countries, in the per them analysis, even taking into account the cost of bisoprolol and the extra initiation/up-titration visits. The cost per patient treated in the placebo and bisoprolol groups was FF35 009 vs FF31 762 in France, DM11 563 vs DM10 784 in Germany and pound 4987 vs pound 4722 in the U.K. The diagnosis related group analysis gave similar results. Interpretation Not only did bisoprolol increase survival and reduce hospital admissions in CIBIS II, it also cut the cost of care in so doing. This `win-win' situation of positive health benefits associated with cost savings is Favourable from the point of view of both the patient and health care systems. These findings add further support for the use of beta-blockers in chronic heart failure

Biological Flora of the British Isles: Sorbus torminalis

1.This account presents information on all aspects of the biology of Sorbus torminalis (L.) Crantz (Wild Service-tree) that are relevant to understanding its ecological characteristics and behaviour. The main topics are presented within the standard framework of the Biological Flora of the British Isles: distribution, habitat, communities, responses to biotic factors, responses to environment, structure and physiology, phenology, floral and seed characters, herbivores and disease, history, and conservation.2.Sorbus torminalis is an uncommon, mostly small tree (but can reach 33 m) native to lowland England and Wales, and temperate and Mediterranean regions of mainland Europe. It is the most shade-tolerant member of the genus in the British Isles and as a result it is more closely associated with woodland than any other British species. Like other British Sorbus species, however, it grows best where competition for space and sunlight is limited. Seedlings are shade tolerant but adults are only moderately so. This, combined with its low competitive ability, restricts the best growth to open areas. In shade, saplings and young adults form a sapling bank, showing reproduction and extensive growth only when released. Sorbus torminalis tolerates a wide range of soil reaction (pH 3.5-8.0) but grows best on calcareous clays and thin soils over limestone.3.Sorbus torminalis is a sexual, diploid, non-apomictic species that has hybridised with a number of other Sorbus species to form microspecies. The hermaphrodite flowers are primarily insect pollinated. Seed production is reliable only in warm years, especially at the edge of its range, although even then seed viability is low. The fruits are primarily dispersed by carnivorous mammals. Seeds display embryo dormancy but most will germinate the first spring after falling.4.This tree is very tolerant of short droughts but only moderately tolerant of frost, hence its southerly and lowland distribution. It faces no particular individual threats although the small size of most populations makes it susceptible to habitat loss and fragmentation, particularly through the loss of open coppiced areas. As a consequence it appears to be declining throughout Britain and Europe despite its wide range of historical uses and the high value of its timber. The extent to which these losses will be offset by increases due to climate change is unknown.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

Mémoriser les collocations dans une langue B

Une langue B se caractérise par l'absence de l'intuition stylistique qui est présente dans une langue A. Cette carence doit être palliée par un apprentissage conscient de la combinatoire des mots. La quantité de collocations à apprendre et à activer étant considérable, nous avons cherché à déterminer comment en accélérer l'apprentissage : nous avons conçu un logiciel de mémorisation basé sur le système des flashcards, spécialement adapté aux besoins du perfectionnement linguistique et à la gestion du vocabulaire sur le long terme. 17 personnes l'ont testé dans le cadre d'une expérience visant à comparer, en termes d'efficacité, le logiciel et la technique traditionnelle de la liste sur papier. A court terme, l'efficacité n'est avérée que pour certains profils d'utilisateurs, alors qu'à moyen terme, il semble que le logiciel permette d'être globalement plus efficace dans l'apprentissage des collocations. La capacité à s'approprier l'outil semble jouer un rôle clé dans le gain d'efficacité. Les raisons qui expliquent la présence ou non de cette capacité restent à expliquer et pourraient faire l'objet d'une étude plus approfondie

Maitrise de la ronce (Rubus fruticosus L.agg.) en foret par traitement herbicide d'automne ou d'hiver

Notice dans BelInra (https://belinra.inra.fr/gestion/catalog.php?categ=isbd&id=103737)il s'agit d'un type de produit dont les métadonnées ne correspondent pas aux métadonnées attendues dans les autres types de produit : DISSERTATIONMaitrise de la ronce (Rubus fruticosus L.agg.) en foret par traitement herbicide d'automne ou d'hive

Commissioning of a Metal Vapor Laser for the Illumination of High Speed Motion Pictures

An effort to produce high-speed (20000 frames/s) motion pictures for the purpose of projectile analysis using a pulse-mode copper vapor laser as the sole illumination source was conducted. A single-shaft rotating prism camera was successfully synchronized with a 20-W continuous average power, copper vapor laser. Initial work performed on this task was focused on laser commissioning, which consisted of laser cavity purging, laser tuning, and optical component selection. Additional work reported includes laser bench setup, fiber-optic delivery of laser light, laser/camera synchronization, and film selectionCenter for Electromechanic

La duree d'humectation en protection des plantes: mesure et modelisation

National audienc