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Biomedical subjects

M Rothman

Publications and source records attributed to M Rothman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The ORTHO BC-SAT--a satisfaction questionnaire for women using hormonal contraceptives.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of the ORTHO Birth Control Satisfaction Assessment Tool (ORTHO BC-SAT). DESIGN: 339 women using 1 of 4 hormonal birth control methods (oral contraceptives, transdermal patch, vaginal ring, injections), completed the questionnaire 1-2 times. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The questionnaire was developed based on findings from the literature, focus groups, and interviews. Internal consistency reliability, test-retest reliability, construct validity, and known groups validity were evaluated. RESULTS: Based on variable clustering, 8 domains were identified (Ease of Use/Convenience, Compliance, Lifestyle Impact, Symptom/Side Effect Bother, Menstrual Impact, Future Fertility Concerns, Assurance/Confidence, Overall Satisfaction). Internal consistency reliability was demonstrated with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.70 to 0.89. All multi-item scales reported acceptable test-retest reliability (0.79-0.87). Construct validity was demonstrated by support of a hypothesized pattern of correlations. Known groups validity was confirmed by examining scale scores of women categorized by levels of symptom bother. As expected, women with the least amount of bother reported higher scores on all satisfaction scales than those with higher bother (p < 0.0001), except on Future Fertility Concerns (p = 0.27). CONCLUSION: Our results support the reliability and validity of the ORTHO BC-SAT. It may be used in future studies to evaluate satisfaction among hormonal contraceptive users.

Adult↗

Angiographic and clinical one-year follow-up of the Cordis tantalum coil stent in a multicenter international study demonstrating improved restenosis rates when compared to pooled PTCA and BENESTENT-I data: the European Antiplatelet Stent Investigation (EASI).

The Cordis tantalum coil stent was assessed in a nonrandomized multicenter trial: 275 patients with stable or unstable angina were entered. Clinical follow-up was for 1 year, with repeat angiography at 6 months. The major adverse cardiac event rates (MACE) were 3%, 14%, and 17% at 1, 7, and 13 months, respectively. The procedural success rate was 96% and the subacute occlusion rate 1.5%, in a group of patients over 60% of whom had ACC/AHA type B2 or C lesions. The binary restenosis rate at 6 months was 17.3%. Minimum lumen diameter increased from 1.07 +/- 0.28 mm preprocedure to 2.93 +/- 0.34 mm poststenting and at 6 months was 1.99 +/- 0.69 mm. These results demonstrate that the Cordis tantalum stent can be used to treat complex lesions with good procedural success and low rates of subacute thrombosis and restenosis at 6 months.

Aged↗

Symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease: development of a questionnaire for use in clinical trials.

UNLABELLED: Many persons who suffer from GERD report additional symptoms, e.g., chest pain, dyspepsia, dysphagia, that are often not measured in clinical trials even though they may be distressing to the GERD sufferer. The primary goal of this study was to develop and assess the psychometric characteristics of a new GERD symptom scale measuring frequency, severity, and distress. The GERD Symptom Assessment Scale (GSAS) was administered to a sample of 169 GERD sufferers at baseline and two weeks. Internal consistency, construct validity, and test-retest reliability were assessed. Responsiveness was evaluated using clinical trial data assessing drug efficacy. RESULTS: Internal consistency was >0.80 for the symptom severity and distress scales. All three scales showed stability over two weeks (ICC >0.70). Both validity hypotheses were supported. Comparison of effect sizes showed the GSAS is sensitive to changes in severity of symptoms. In conclusion, the GSAS is a reliable, valid, and responsive measure of GERD symptoms.

Adolescent↗

Use of a self-report constipation questionnaire with older adults in long-term care.

PURPOSE: The Patient Assessment of Constipation (PAC), a symptom and quality-of-life inventory, was developed among community-dwelling adults under age 65. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and validity of an interview format of the PAC for older adults residing in long-term care. DESIGN AND METHODS: The PAC was administered to 24 nursing home residents aged 65 and older. Cognitive interviewing methods were used to evaluate subjects' understanding and interpretation of PAC items. RESULTS: The PAC interview required an average of 11 min, 15 s, to complete. Administration modifications for this population included rereading Likert anchor points and the stem question for each item. Subject item interpretation was generally accurate, as was interpretation of Likert anchors. IMPLICATIONS: The PAC is easily administered and well understood by older adult residents in long-term care and provides a brief method for obtaining constipation-specific symptom and quality-of-life data from this population.

Aged↗

Recommendations on health-related quality of life research to support labeling and promotional claims in the United States.

Health-related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes evaluation is becoming an important component of clinical trials of new pharmaceuticals and medical devices. HRQL research provides patients, providers, and decision makers with important information on the impact of disease and treatment on physical, psychological, and social functioning and well-being. These outcomes are also useful to the pharmaceutical and device industries as they attempt to understand and communicate product value to physicians, patients, health insurers and others. HRQL labeling and promotional claims in the US are likely to increase over the next few years. The evidentiary requirements to make such a claim should be based on accepted scientific standards of HRQL evaluation and consistent with the regulatory requirements for clinical efficacy. This report outlines the scientific practices that should be considered in the evaluation of evidence for an HRQL claim, including the selection of appropriate domains, evidence to support the reliability and validity of HRQL measurement, considerations in research design and statistical analyses, and the issue of clinical significance. Representatives from the pharmaceutical and device industries, regulatory agencies, and the HRQL scientific community should work together to make certain the use of HRQL in labeling and promotion are based on sound scientific evidence, and that these messages are clearly and accurately reported to the consumers.

Advertising↗

Multicenter evaluation of the phosphorylcholine-coated biodivYsio stent in short de novo coronary lesions: The SOPHOS study.

AIMS: The BiodivYsio trade mark stent (Biocompatibles Ltd, Farnham, UK) is coated with a phosphorylcholine (PC)-containing copolymer to confer biocompatibility. The SOPHOS (Study Of PHosphorylcholine coating On Stents) study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of this novel coronary stent and by indirect comparison to indicate equivalence with other formal stent studies. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with angina and a single short (#x2A7F;12 mm) de novo lesion in a native coronary artery of >/=2.75 mm diameter were included. A total of 425 patients were allocated in 24 centers. Clinical data were collected at one-, six- and nine-month follow-up. Angiography was performed before and after the stent implantation. In addition, in the first 200 patients (SOPHOS A) angiography was routinely performed at six months. The following 225 patients (SOPHOS B) were merely followed up clinically. The primary end-point of the study, the six-month MACE-rate (MACE = Major Adverse Cardiac Events) was 13.4% (two cardiac death; five Q-wave/nine non-Q-wave myocardial infarctions (MI); nine CABG and 32 target lesion revascularization (TLR), which is similar to the calculated 15% MACE-rate in comparable reference studies. Secondary end-points included among others restenosis at six months in the SOPHOS A population. The target vessel diameter was 2.98 +/- 0.48 mm. Minimal lumen diameter pre/post procedure and at follow-up was 1.00 +/- 0.32, 2.69 +/- 0.37, 1.91 +/- 0.71 mm, respectively. The binary restenosis rate (>/=50% diameter stenosis at follow-up) was 17.7%. CONCLUSION: The coronary BiodivYsio stent is safe and effective as a primary device for the treatment of native coronary artery lesions in patients with stable or unstable angina pectoris. Clinical and angiographic results are in the statistical range of equivalence with comparable studies with other current stents.

Journal Article↗

Nicotine patch and paroxetine for smoking cessation.

Smokers (N = 224) were randomized to 1 of 3 groups: (a) transdermal system (TNS) + placebo; (b) TNS + paroxetine (20 mg); (c) TNS + paroxetine (40 mg). Assignment to treatment was double-blind. Nicotine patch (TNS) treatment was provided for 8 weeks; paroxetine or placebo was provided for 9 weeks. Abstinence rates at Weeks 4, 10, and 26 were as follows: (a) TNS + placebo: 45%, 36%, and 25%; (b) TNS + paroxetine (20 mg): 48%, 33%, and 21%; (c) TNS + paroxetine (40 mg): 57%, 39%, and 27%. The differences were not statistically significant. The combined treatment was more effective in reducing both craving and depression symptoms associated with smoking cessation. A subgroup analysis comparing compliant participants was also conducted. Abstinence rates at Weeks 4, 10, and 26 were as follows: (a) TNS + placebo: 46%, 35%, and 24%; (b) TNS + paroxetine (20 mg): 64%, 43%, and 33%; (c) TNS + paroxetine (40 mg): 74%, 51%, and 38%. The differences between paroxetine groups and placebo at Week 4 were statistically significant. Although paroxetine may add value to the current standard of care in excess of potential risk, more conclusive evidence is needed.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Serotonergic function in cocaine addicts: prolactin responses to sequential D,L-fenfluramine challenges.

BACKGROUND: Preclinical studies have shown that cocaine produces alterations in serotonergic function but our knowledge of the serotonergic alterations due to cocaine abuse in humans is still fragmentary. We therefore assessed the central serotonergic responsivity of cocaine addicts and control subjects by neuroendocrine challenges with the serotonin releaser and reuptake inhibitor D,L-fenfluramine (FEN). METHODS: Plasma prolactin levels following a 60 mg oral dose of FEN and placebo were studied in 25 hospitalized male cocaine addicts and 13 healthy male subjects. Control subjects underwent one set of FEN/placebo challenges and cocaine addicts two sets of challenges, during the first and third weeks following cocaine discontinuation. Patients were divided into two subgroups as a function of presence (FH+) and absence (FH-) of a paternal history of substance abuse. The following comparisons were made: 1) Control subjects versus entire patient group and versus patient subgroups; 2) entire patient group and patient subgroups responses to first versus second challenges; 3) FH+ versus FH- patients' early responses and FH+ versus FH- patients' late responses. RESULTS: The prolactin responses to FEN increased significantly in the entire patient group as time following cocaine discontinuation increased. The FH+ patients had significantly blunted early responses by comparison with FH- patients and control subjects. There was a more pronounced rebound of the responses of FH+ patients by comparison with those of FH- patients. As a result, comparisons of the late responses of FH+ and FH- patients and of FH+ patients and control subjects became nonsignificant. CONCLUSIONS: Cocaine use appears to have an effect on the serotonergic mechanisms mediating prolactin release in humans. In the present study, this effect was more pronounced in a subgroup of patients with a paternal history of alcoholism or drug abuse. The greater blunting of the prolactin response observed within days of cocaine discontinuation followed by a greater rebound of this response 2 weeks later could indicate an increased vulnerability to the disruptive effects of cocaine in these patients.

Administration, Oral↗

A prospective study of the cost-utility of the multichannel cochlear implant.

CONTEXT: Prior clinical studies have indicated that cochlear implantation provides benefits to individuals with advanced sensorineural hearing loss who are unable to gain effective speech recognition with hearing aids. OBJECTIVE: To determine the cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) for adults receiving multichannel cochlear implants. DESIGN: Prospective 12-month multicenter study using preference-based quality-of-life measures and total cost determinations, comparing profoundly hearing-impaired adult subjects with and without cochlear implants. SETTING: Hospital-based and patient-resource clinics. PATIENTS: Severely to profoundly hearing-impaired adult recipients of a cochlear implant and adults eligible for the device who had not yet received it. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Clinical assessment of implant participants included medical and audiologic (speech understanding) data at the time of enrollment, 6 months, and 12 months. All participants' health-utility was assessed at the time of enrollment, 6 months, and 12 months using the Health Utility Index. One-year medical resource utilization and cost data included bills related to implants, patient diaries, charge estimates from clinical sites, and published literature. A decision model was developed to determine cost per QALY. RESULTS: Of the 84 enrolled adults, 62 (75%) completed the study. Mean health-utility scores at the time of enrollment were identical between groups. The marginal 12-month health-utility gain for implant recipients was 0.20; 90% of this improvement was achieved within 6 months. For patients with a mean 22-year life expectancy, the marginal cost per QALY was $14,670. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, multichannel cochlear implants significantly improved recipients' performance on measures of speech understanding and ratings of health-utility within 6 months of implantation. The multichannel cochlear implant yielded a very favorable cost per QALY.

Adult↗

A comparison of three health status measures in primary care outpatients.

Our objective was to compare a brief, relatively new global health status measure, the Health Utilities Index Mark II (HUI), to two commonly applied health status measures (Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36] and the Sickness Jgipact Profile [SIP] in a general medical outpatient population. Using a cross-sectional survey, we surveyed 160 patients in the General Medical Clinic of the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Each subject answered demographic questions and then completed the three health status measures. The mean tJgie taken to complete the measures was 3, 10, and 20 minutes for the HUI, SF-36, and SIP, respectively (p <.0001). The HUI exhibited a modest "floor" effect; that is, scores were concentrated near the sicker of the scale. In contrast, responses to the SIP were heavily concentrated near the healthier end of the scale. Spearman correlation coefficients between the HUI and scales within the other two measures ranged from. 54 (SF-36 mental health) to 0.69 (SF-36 physical functioning). Subjects accepted all measures well. These three health service measures varied in their distribution of responses and ttime required to complete. Users should consider the degree of sickness of the population to be assessed when choosing a measure.

Adult↗

Gender differences in temporal lobe structures of patients with schizophrenia: a volumetric MRI study.

OBJECTIVE: The temporal lobe and associated structures have been previously implicated in the neuroanatomy of schizophrenia. This study was designed to assess the potential influence of gender on the morphology of temporal lobe structures, including the superior temporal gyrus and the amygdala/hippocampal complex, in patients with schizophrenia and to examine whether schizophrenic patients differ morphologically in these structures from comparison subjects. METHOD: Magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure the volume of temporal lobe structures, including the superior temporal gyrus, the amygdala/hippocampal complex, and the temporal lobe (excluding the volumes of the superior temporal gyrus and amygdala/hippocampal complex), and two comparison areas--the prefrontal cortex and caudate--in 36 male and 23 female patients with schizophrenia and 19 male and 18 female comparison subjects. RESULTS: There was a significant main effect of diagnosis in the superior temporal gyrus and the amygdala/hippocampal complex, with smaller volumes in patients than in comparison subjects. There was a significant gender-by-diagnosis-by-hemisphere interaction for temporal lobe volume. Temporal lobe volume on the left was significantly smaller in male patients than in male comparison subjects. Female patients and female comparison subjects demonstrated no significant difference in temporal lobe volume. There were no statistically significant gender interactions for the superior temporal gyrus, the amygdala/hippocampal complex, or the comparison regions. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that there may be a unique interaction between gender and the pathophysiologic processes that lead to altered temporal lobe volume in patients with schizophrenia.

Adult↗

Interventional cardiology in Europe 1994. Working Group Coronary Circulation of the European Society of Cardiology.

The working group Coronary Circulation of the European Society of Cardiology conducts an annual survey of cardiac interventions in Europe with the support of the national societies of cardiology. A detailed questionnaire about cardiac interventions performed during 1994 was mailed to all members of the European Society of Cardiology. Incomplete or absent data from eight national members precluded their inclusion in the final analysis. Thus, this report summarizes the cardiac interventions performed during 1994 in 29 of 37 members of the European Society of Cardiology, representing a total population of approximately 490 million inhabitants. CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY: A total of 922,687 coronary angiograms were reported during 1994, representing an increase of 22% compared with 1993 and of 35% compared with 1992. The mean incidence of coronary angiograms was 1881/10(6) inhabitants, ranging from 4417/10(6) inhabitants in Germany to 35/10(6) inhabitants in Romania, Germany, France, Great Britain, and Italy with 50% of the European population performed 73% of all cardiac interventions. CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY: During 1994, a total of 224,722 coronary angioplasty (PTCA) procedures were reported in Europe, an increase of 22% compared with 1993 and of 52% compared with 1992. Adjusted per capita, the mean incidence of coronary angioplasty was 458/10(6) inhabitants, ranging from 1091/10(6) inhabitants in Germany to 6/10(6) inhabitants in Romania. On average, the ratio PTCA per coronary angiogram was 0.24, ranging from 0.37 in the Netherlands to 0.06 in Cyprus. Ad hoc PTCA accounted for 22% of all PTCA cases. The majority (81%) of PTCAs were restricted to a single vessel. Major complications were reported in 2% of patients undergoing PTCA, including death (0.3%), myocardial infarction (1.0%) and need for emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (0.7%). CORONARY STENTING: Coronary stents were utilized in 21,599 coronary interventions during 1994, an increase of 235% compared with 1993 and thus representing the fastest growth in interventional cardiology. The number of European countries employing stents during coronary angioplasty grew from 14 during 1993 to 24 during 1994. Elective use (38%) became the most frequent indication for coronary stenting during 1994, replacing bail-out stenting as the primary indication during 1993. OTHER NEW DEVICES: Other new interventional therapeutic devices were employed in 8827 cases. Only the Rotablator was used more frequently during 1994 as compared with 1993. All other new therapeutic devices showed a decline. Coronary ultrasound was utilized in 3032 interventions and coronary angioscopy in 304 cases during 1994. NON-CORONARY INTERVENTIONS: Valvuloplasty remained the most frequent non-coronary intervention in Europe during 1994 with a total of 2622 mitral. 609 pulmonary and 506 aortic valvuloplasties. CATHETERIZATION FACILITIES: The number of facilities per 10(6) inhabitants performing invasive cardiac procedures in Europe during 1994 ranged from 7.7 in Iceland to 0.2 in Romania (European mean 2.9). The number of trained operators per 10(6) inhabitants ranged from 24 in Germany to 0.4 in Romania (European mean 10). During 1994, a mean of 701 coronary angiograms and 170 PTCAs were performed per catheterization facility in Europe (range: 1052 coronary angiograms and 293 PTCAs per facility in Norway to 218 coronary angiograms and 37 PTCAs per facility in Romania). CONCLUSIONS: The number of both coronary angiograms and coronary angioplasties continues to grow at an annual rate of approximately 20% in Europe. There is a wide range in the amount of revascularization procedures performed between western and eastern European countries. However, countries with the lowest numbers of coronary angiograms and coronary angioplasties, e.g. Romania, also show the fastest annual growth. About one quarter of all patients undergoing coronary angiography are subsequently revascularized by coronary angioplasty. (ABSTRACT TRUN

Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary↗

Intravascular ultrasound-guided optimized stent deployment. Immediate and 6 months clinical and angiographic results from the Multicenter Ultrasound Stenting in Coronaries Study (MUSIC Study)

OBJECTIVES: A study was set up to validate the safety and feasibility of intravascular ultrasound-guided stenting without subsequent anticoagulation, and its impact on the 6 months restenosis rate. METHODS: The study was designed to be multicentred, prospective, and observational. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-one patients with stable angina and a de novo coronary artery lesion were enrolled. In four patients, the implantation of a Palmaz-Schatz (with spiral bridge) stent had failed. One of these four patients died 3 days following bypass surgery. In two other patients, intravascular ultrasound assessment was not performed. One hundred and twenty-five of the remaining 155 patients (81%) were treated with aspirin (100 mg x day(-1)), because all three criteria for optimized stent expansion were met. Twenty-two of the remaining 38 patients (25%), in whom at least one criterion was not met were treated with aspirin and acenocoumarol (3 months, INR 2.5-3.5), while 16 patients only received aspirin. Stent thrombosis was documented in two patients (1.3%) for which repeat angioplasty was performed. During the hospital stay, there were no deaths or Q-wave myocardial infarctions. Five patients (3.2%) sustained a non-Q-wave myocardial infarction. During the follow-up period (198+/-38 days, complete for all patients, except one), one patient (0.6%) sustained a Q-wave myocardial infarction, one (0.6%) underwent bypass surgery, and repeat angioplasty was performed in nine patients (5.7%). In two of the nine patients, repeat angioplasty involved another lesion. Therefore, the target lesion revascularization rate during follow-up was 4.5% (seven patients). At quantitative coronary angiography, the minimal lumen diameter (mean+/-SD) increased from 1.12+/-0.34 mm before to 2.89+/-0.35 mm after stenting. Repeat angiography at 6 months was performed in 144 patients (92%). The minimal lumen diameter at follow-up was 2.12+/-0.67 mm. Restenosis (diameter stenosis of 50% or more) was documented in 12 patients or 8.3%. When the two patients with documented stent thrombosis are included, the restenosis rate amounts to 97%. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that, in selected patients, stents can safely be implanted without the use of systemic anticoagulation, provided optimal stent expansion is achieved. The exact role of intravascular ultrasound in the achievement of these results needs to be established by appropriately designed studies. In the meantime, intravascular ultrasound coupled with the Palmaz-Schatz stent incorporating a spiral bridge, may have contributed considerably to the immediate angiographic outcome, which in turn may explain the favourable clinical and angiographic outcome at 6 months.

Aged↗

Effect of fenfluramine challenge on cocaine craving in addicted male users.

The authors studied the effects of a challenging dose of the serotonin (5-HT)-releaser/reuptake inhibitor d,l-fenfluramine (FEN) on spontaneous cocaine craving in a group of cocaine-addicted users in order to evaluate the involvement of serotonergic pathways in the modulation of craving for cocaine. Nineteen cocaine-dependent male inpatients received 60 mg of FEN or placebo (double-blind). Data were compared with those obtained in a previous study of another serotonergic probe, the partial postsynaptic agonist meta-chlorophenyl-piperazine (m-CPP). FEN significantly reduced cocaine craving and increased cortisol and prolactin when compared with placebo. When the responses to the two drugs were compared, there were no differences in the cortisol and prolactin rises, but m-CPP was a more potent inhibitor of cocaine craving than FEN. These data suggest that 5-HT releasers/reuptake inhibitors and serotonergic agents with greater postsynaptic activity should be further examined.

Adult↗

Mouse-human chimeric anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody C225 inhibits the growth of human renal cell carcinoma xenografts in nude mice.

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and its ligand transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) are overexpressed in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The chimeric anti-EGF receptor monoclonal antibody C225 was used to determine the effects of blocking the EGF receptor on RCC growth both in vitro and in vivo. A panel of RCC cell lines all tested positive at various levels for EGF receptor cell surface expression. C225 inhibited DNA synthesis of cultured A498, Caki-1, SK-RC-4, SK-RC-29, and SW839 cells in a dose-dependent manner, ranging from 20 to 45% inhibition compared with untreated controls. C225 also inhibited exogenous ligand-stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation of EGF receptor on RCC cells. The antitumor effects of C225 on RCC tumor growth were evaluated in ascites, s.c., and orthotopic RCC xenograft models. Mice treated with C225 in a Caki-1 ascites xenograft model showed a significant increase in survival (P = 0.002). All control mice died with ascites tumors by week 9, whereas >70% of C225-treated mice survived beyond 12 weeks. C225 also inhibited the growth of s.c. SK-RC-29 tumors in a dose-dependent manner. Mice treated with C225 (1 mg/dose) displayed a significant decrease in tumor volume compared with mice treated with control antibody (P < 0.05) or vehicle alone (P < 0.01). Lastly, C225 inhibited the growth and metastasis of RCC tumors growing orthotopically in the renal subcapsule of nude mice. Histological examination of RCC tumors from mice treated with C225 showed a substantial decrease in proliferating cell nuclear antigen staining and an increase in tumor cell apoptosis. These data suggest that C225 affects growth of RCC tumors by inhibiting EGF receptor-dependent proliferation and demonstrate the potential for therapeutic application of C225 in the treatment of human renal cancer.

Animals↗