Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Data Curation”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,279 records · Page 71Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Impact of computed tomography (CT) and 18F-deoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) image fusion for conformal radiotherapy in esophageal carcinoma].

PURPOSE: To study the impact of fused (18)F-fluoro-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG)-hybrid positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) images on conformal radiation therapy (CRT) planning for patients with esophageal carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients with esophageal carcinoma were referred for concomitant radiotherapy and chemotherapy with radical intent. Each patient underwent CT and FDG-hybrid PET for simulation treatment in the same radiation treatment position. PET-images were coregistered using five fiducial markers. Target delineation was initially performed on CT images and the corresponding PET data were subsequently used as an overlay to CT data to define the target volume. RESULTS: FDG-PET identified previously undetected distant metastatic disease in 2 patients, making them ineligible for curative CRT. The Gross Tumor Volume (GTV) was decreased by CT and FDG image fusion in 12 patients (35%) and was increased in 7 patients (20.5%). The GTV reduction was >or=25% in 4 patients due to reduction of the length of the esophageal tumor. The GTV increase was >or=25% with FDG-PET in 2 patients due to the detection of occult mediastinal lymph node involvement in one patient and an increased length of the esophageal tumor in the other patient. Modifications of the GTV affected the planning treatment volume (PTV) in 18 patients. Modifications of delineation of GTV and displacement of the isocenter of PTV by FDG-PET also affected the percentage of total lung volume receiving more than 20 Gy (VL20) in 25 patients (74%), with a dose reduction in 12 patients and a dose increase in 13 patients. CONCLUSION: In our study, CT and FDG-PET image fusion appeared to have an impact on treatment planning and management of patients with esophageal carcinoma related to modifications of GTV. The impact on treatment outcome remains to be demonstrated.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Endocrine treatment of prostate cancer.

Although androgen deprivation as a treatment for patients with prostate cancer was described more than 60 years ago its optimal use remains controversial. The widespread use of prostate-specific (PSA) assay has lead to earlier diagnosis and earlier detection of recurrent disease. This means that the systemic side effects of androgen deprivation and quality of life have become more important. Debates continue regarding the proper use and timing of endocrine therapy with orchiectomy, oestrogen agonists, gonadotropin hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, GnRH antagonists, and androgen antagonists. A critical review of the literature was performed. Data support that androgen deprivation is an effective treatment for patients with advanced prostate cancer. However, although it improves survival, it is not curative, and creates a spectrum of unwanted effects that influence quality of life. Castration remains the frontline treatment for metastatic prostate cancer, where orchiectomy, oestrogen agonists and GnRH agonists produce equivalent clinical responses. Maximum androgen blockade (MAB) is not significantly more effective than single agent GnRH agonist or orchiectomy. Nonsteroidal antiandrogen monotherapy is as effective as castration in treatment of locally advanced prostate cancer offering quality of life benefits. Adjuvant endocrine treatment is able to delay disease progression at any stage. There is, however, controversy of the possible survival benefit of such treatment, including patients having PSA relapse after definitive local treatment for prostate cancer. Neoadjuvant endocrine treatment has its place mainly in the external beam radiotherapy setting. Intermittent androgen blockade is still considered experimental. The decision regarding the type of androgen deprivation should be made individually after informing the patient of all available treatment options, including watchful waiting, and on the basis of potential benefits and adverse effects. Several large studies are under way to investigate the role of adjuvant endocrine treatment in the field of early prostate cancer, intermittent androgen deprivation and endocrine therapy alone compared with endocrine therapy with radiotherapy. The real challenge, however, is to develop better means to avert hormone-refractory prostate cancer and better treatments for patients with hormone-refractory disease when it occurs.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed2006

Follow-up after primary therapy for endometrial cancer: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimum follow-up of women who are clinically disease-free following potentially curative treatment for endometrial cancer. METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library databases (1980 to October 2005) was conducted. Data were pooled across trials to determine overall estimates of recurrence patterns. RESULTS: Sixteen non-comparative retrospective studies were identified. The overall risk of recurrence was 13% for all patients and 3% or less for patients at low risk. Approximately 70% of all recurrences were symptomatic, and 68% to 100% of recurrences occurred within approximately the first 3 years of follow-up. No reliable differences in survival were detected between patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic recurrences nor were differences in patient outcomes reported by type of follow-up strategy employed. Detection of asymptomatic recurrences ranged from 5% to 33% of patients with physical examination, 0% to 4% with vaginal vault cytology, 0% to 14% with chest X-ray, 4% to 13% with abdominal ultrasound, 5% to 21% with abdominal/pelvic CT scan, and 15% in selected patients with CA 125. CONCLUSIONS: There is limited evidence to inform whether intensive follow-up schedules with multiple routine diagnostic interventions result in survival benefits any more or less than non-intensive follow-up schedules without multiple routine diagnostic interventions. Routine testing seems to be of limited benefit for patients at low risk of disease. Most recurrences tend to occur in high risk patients within 3 years, and most recurrences involve symptoms. The most appropriate follow-up strategy is likely one based upon the risk of recurrence and the natural history of the disease. Counseling on the potential symptoms of recurrence is extremely important because the majority of patients with recurrences were symptomatic. A proposed routine follow-up schedule is offered.

Disease-Free Survival↗
PubMed1998

Surveillance for stage I testicular seminoma. Is it a good option?

Postorchidectomy treatment options in patients with stage I seminoma include surveillance (reserving treatment for patients who relapse), adjuvant radiation therapy (RT), and adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjuvant retroperitoneal RT remains the treatment of choice in most centers; however, the success of surveillance in stage I nonseminomatous germ cell testis tumors, the establishment of curative chemotherapy for advanced disease, and the improvements in CT have led to re-examination of the standard treatment approach. The available data from the surveillance and adjuvant RT series suggest that almost 100% of patients with stage I testicular seminoma are cured, whichever approach is chosen. This article presents an overview of the available information on all treatment options, the pros and cons of each approach, and indications for where surveillance fits into the armamentarium of clinicians dealing with this disease.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1998

Socioeconomic and environmental covariates of premature mortality in Ontario.

This paper contributes to debates on the broad determinants of health and on the policy shift from curative to preventive and protective interventions. It addresses empirically the relative importance of influences on health with a multiple regression analysis of ecologic data from the 49 counties of Ontario. One model achieved high predictive power (that is, Adj R2 > 75%, p < 0.0001). Educational levels were a strong predictor of population health, showing a consistent inverse relationship with premature mortality ratios for both sexes and it was the strongest predictor for females. A low income variable supplied the strongest prediction for male mortality. This variable displayed a positive association with male mortality. Municipal expenditures on environmental protection exerted a negative effect on male mortality. These findings raise questions about the current directions of health policy in Ontario where the provincial government has reduced funding to social and environmental programs, while promising to maintain health care funding.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

The metabolic syndrome in long-term cancer survivors, an important target for secondary preventive measures.

With increasing numbers of cancer survivors, attention has been drawn to long-term complications of curative cancer treatment, including a range of metabolic disorders. These metabolic disorders often resemble the components of the so-called metabolic syndrome, or syndrome X, which is an important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. The mechanisms behind the development of metabolic disorders in cancer survivors have not been fully elucidated. However, association studies in the general population have demonstrated correlations between the components of the metabolic syndrome on the one hand and hormonal deficiencies, hypomagnesaemia, and endothelial dysfunction on the other. These latter disorders are regularly reported following curative cancer treatment and could, therefore, be important aetiologic factors in the development of the metabolic syndrome in cancer survivors. This review discusses data on the associations between the metabolic syndrome and treatment-related complications in cancer survivors and possibilities for preventive measures.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Disability-adjusted life years: an instrument for defining public health priorities?].

BACKGROUND: The objective of this paper is the study of a health indicator allowing surveillance and evaluation of the overall health of the Paris population, and providing information to help prioritize possible choices among preventive and curative actions. Moreover, comparison between results obtained for Paris with a global health indicator, "Disability-adjusted life years" (DALYs) and available bibliographical data will enable clarifying some points about summary measures of health. METHODS: The method used is that of the Global Burden of Disease. It allows a ranking of diseases using an indicator called DALYs. This indicator integrates mortality and morbidity components by summing expected years of life lost due to premature mortality and calculated years of healthy life lost. DALYs were calculated using local mortality data and published regional disabilities tables from the World Health Organisation (WHO). RESULTS: There were a total of 242 061 DALYs for Paris for the year 1999. The six leading specific causes are: alcoholic psychosis and dependence (accounting for 6.5% of the total), lung cancers (5.7%), ischaemic hearth disease (4.8%), depression (4.4%), dementias (4.2%), and arthritis (3.9%). Men contributed the majority of DALYs for the first three. For four of the six leading causes, the majority of DALYs came from years lived with disability, rather than mortality. Only for lung cancer and ischaemic hearth disease was the majority of DALYs from years of life lost by mortality. CONCLUSION: The results for Paris are used to illustrate how DALYs can illuminate debates about public health priorities. Such data can inform the population about health condition and provide decision makers with global health indicators. The next step will be to estimate the DALYs from local morbidity data when available, and compare these results to those based on the World Health Organisation tables, which are not sensitive to local results other than those due to mortality. Future steps include further evaluation and development of this method for surveillance, assessment and evaluation of public health actions. However, some of the results obtained with this indicator underline the limits of this kind of analysis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Prevalence of minor psychiatric disorders in an adult African rural community in South Africa.

BACKGROUND: This paper reports on a two-stage community-based epidemiological study of selected minor psychiatric disorders conducted on an adult African population in South Africa. METHODS: Using a modified random cluster sampling method, 354 adults were identified as the first-stage sample, with the SRQ-20 being used as a first-stage screen. Clinical interviews based on DSM-IV checklists for generalized anxiety disorder, major depression and dysthymia were administered as the second-stage criterion to 81 subjects from the sample. RESULTS: The weighted prevalence for generalised anxiety and depressive disorders was 23.9% (95% CI 15.1%-32.7%), comprising: generalized anxiety 3.7%, major depression 4.8%, dysthymia 7.3%, and major depression and dysthymia 8.2%. Statistically significant associations were found between caseness and age, marital status, employment, income and educational level. CONCLUSIONS: The results are discussed in relation to comparative local and international data as well as in the context of the current restructuring of the mental-health care system in South Africa from tertiary curative care to integrated primary mental-health care.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Clinical results of transhiatal esophagectomy for carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus according to biological markers.

We generally choose transhiatal esophagectomy (THE) for patients with high risk for postoperative complications and for carcinoma of the lower thoracic esophagus, even if the tumor is in the advanced stage. In order to define indications for THE in esophageal cancer patients, we investigated 40 THE cancer patients according to the expressions of EGF/EGFR, p53 and p21. In patients with stage I, II, III and IV tumors, 5-year survival rates were 66.7%, 28.6%, 30.0% and 11.4%, respectively. The sites of first recurrence were the lymph nodes (n = 10) and single organs (n = 10). Dissemination (n = 3) and local recurrence (n = 2) were also seen as a first recurrence. According to EGF/EGFR, 5-year survival rate was 69% and 14% in the low and high EGF/EGFR groups, respectively. According to p53 expression, 5-year survival was 60% and 30% in the negative and positive groups, respectively; according to p21 expression, 5-year survival was 71% and 0% in the negative and positive groups, respectively. Significant difference was seen in EGF/EGFR and p21 groups. These data support less invasive surgery for some patients even for esophageal cancer patients. THE is a less invasive surgery, that also implies fewer curative procedure. Our results also showed that THE alone will be the only curative procedure necessary for some patients. We can determine therapeutic procedures using these new factors, and thus avoid unnecessary excess surgical stress in esophageal cancer patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

rSNP_Guide, a database system for analysis of transcription factor binding to target sequences: application to SNPs and site-directed mutations.

rSNP_Guide is a novel curated database system for analysis of transcription factor (TF) binding to target sequences in regulatory gene regions altered by mutations. It accumulates experimental data on naturally occurring site variants in regulatory gene regions and site-directed mutations. This database system also contains the web tools for SNP analysis, i.e., active applet applying weight matrices to predict the regulatory site candidates altered by a mutation. The current version of the rSNP_Guide is supplemented by six sub-databases: (i) rSNP_DB, on DNA-protein interaction caused by mutation; (ii) SYSTEM, on experimental systems; (iii) rSNP_BIB, on citations to original publications; (iv) SAMPLES, on experimentally identified sequences of known regulatory sites; (v) MATRIX, on weight matrices of known TF sites; (vi) rSNP_Report, on characteristic examples of successful rSNP_Tools implementation. These databases are useful for the analysis of natural SNPs and site-directed mutations. The databases are available through the Web, http://wwwmgs.bionet.nsc.ru/mgs/systems/rsnp/.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2006

Squamous cell carcinoma of the sinonasal cavity arising as a second primary in individuals with head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Second primary tumors occur frequently in patients with head and neck carcinoma. This may be caused by generalized exposure to carcinogens resulting in "field cancerization" or to the individuals' generalized susceptibility to cancer. The paranasal sinuses are not commonly included in the sites considered at risk for this process. We therefore sought to assess the overall risk of contracting a primary cancer in this region after having a tumor elsewhere in the upper aerodigestive tract. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective. METHODS: Two thousand four hundred seventy-five patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper aerodigestive tract were analyzed using a tumor registry at a tertiary care institution. RESULTS: Five (0.2%) patients were identified as having a second primary in the sinonasal tract. The average interval between the index and second primary tumors was 28.4 (range 8-60) months. All five patients presented with symptoms typical of sinus inflammatory disease and had advanced sinus lesions at the time of diagnosis. These findings are typical of those with sinonasal carcinoma in that they present with nonspecific signs and symptoms and were diagnosed with locally advanced disease despite being in a surveillance program for their index cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Although uncommon, the data reported here support inclusion of the sinonasal tract in these surveillance programs. This could result in earlier detection and greater opportunity for curative intervention.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of male and female sexual dysfunction is high following surgery for rectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To measure sexual function and quality of life (QOL) after rectal cancer treatment. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Previous studies on sexual function after rectal cancer treatment have focused on males and have not used validated instruments. METHODS: Patients undergoing curative rectal cancer surgery from 1980 to 2003 were administered a questionnaire, including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) or International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and the EORTC QLQ-C30/CR-38. Multiple logistic regression was used to test associations of clinical factors with outcomes. RESULTS: Eighty-one women (81.0%) and 99 men (80.5%) returned the questionnaire; 32% of women and 50% of men are sexually active, compared with 61% and 91% preoperatively (P < 0.04); 29% of women and 45% of men reported that "surgery made their sexual lives worse." Mean (SD) FSFI and IIEF scores were 17.5 (11.9) and 29.3 (22.8). Specific sexual problems in women were libido 41%, arousal 29%, lubrication 56%, orgasm 35%, and dyspareunia 46%, and in men libido 47%, impotence 32%, partial impotence 52%, orgasm 41%, and ejaculation 43%. Both genders reported a negative body image. Patients seldom remembered discussing sexual risks preoperatively and seldom were treated for dysfunction. Current age (P < 0.001), surgical procedure (P = 0.003), and preoperative sexual activity (P = 0.001) were independently associated with current sexual activity. Gender (male, P = 0.014), surgical procedure (P = 0.005), and radiation therapy (P = 0.0001) were independently associated with the outcome "surgery made sexual life worse." Global QOL scores were high. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual problems after surgery for rectal cancer are common, multifactorial, inadequately discussed, and untreated. Therefore, sexual dysfunction should be discussed with rectal cancer patients, and efforts to prevent and treat it should be increased.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Relation between recurrence of cancer of the colon and blood transfusion.

Data suggest that blood transfusion can cause immunosuppression. The incidence of recurrence of tumours was examined retrospectively in patients who had undergone potentially curative operations for cancer of the colon during 1970-81. Tumours recurred in six of 68 patients (9%) who had not been given transfusions and in 56 of 129 patients (43%) who had (p much less than 0.0001). Transfusion was also found to be significantly associated with the time to recurrence after adjustment for other baseline prognostic factors (p less than 0.05). Perioperative transfusion may be a significant risk factor in the prognosis of cancer of the colon. Whether this association is causal is unknown.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

IFN-gamma gene polymorphisms associate with development of EBV+ lymphoproliferative disease in hu PBL-SCID mice.

Posttransplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) is a devastating post-transplantation complication often associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Although the type and length of immunosuppression are risk factors, a patient's inherent immune capacity also likely contributes to this disorder. This report uses severe-combined immunodeficient mice given injections of human peripheral blood leukocytes (hu PBL-SCID [Severe Combined Immunodeficient] mice) to test the hypothesis that cytokine genotype associates with the development of EBV-associated lymphoproliferative disease (LPD). We observed that the A/A (adenosine/adenosine) genotype for base + 874 of the interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) gene was significantly more prevalent in PBLs producing rapid, high-penetrance LPD in hu PBL-SCID mice, compared to PBLs producing late, low-penetrance LPD or no LPD. In examining the relationship between genotype and cytolytic T-lymphocyte (CTL) function, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) inhibited restimulation of CTLs in PBLs with adenosine at IFNG base + 874, but not in PBLs homozygous for thymidine. Importantly, neutralization of TGF-beta in hu PBL-SCID mice injected with A/A genotype PBLs resulted in reduced LPD development and expanded human CD8(+) cells. Thus, our data show that TGF-beta may promote tumor development by inhibiting CTL restimulation and expansion. Further, our data indicate that IFNG genotype may provide valuable information for both identifying transplant recipients at greater risk for PTLD and developing preventive and curative strategies.

Animals↗
PubMed2026

Whole metagenome sequencing: not deep enough for complete microbial function recovery.

BACKGROUND: Whole metagenome shotgun sequencing (WMS) is widely used to profile microbial function. However, technical variability in sequencing and analysis often obscures true biological patterns. Large-scale studies are particularly susceptible to batch effects, such as differences in sequencing depth and platform and annotation strategies, as well as sample-to-flow-cell assignments. However, the relative effects of these factors on functional inference in such studies have yet to be systematically evaluated. We analyzed oral-rinse WMS data from 671 Nigerian youths aged 9-18, sequenced on two Illumina platforms. Microbial molecular functionality encoded in these data was annotated using the mi-faser/Fusion pipeline, to capture the broad functional repertoire, and HUMAnN 3/EC numbers pipeline to characterize curated enzymatic activities. We then quantified how technical factors and batch effects shaped the recovery of microbial functionality. RESULTS: Three findings of our work were most salient. First, we observed that the choice of annotation strategy traded off between breadth and specificity of functional coverage. Second, we found that low-prevalence functions were disproportionately lost at shallow sequencing depths, indicating that in, e.g., case-control studies with few representatives of the minor class, sequencing depth could critically impact study resolution. Finally, using our newly developed model relating sequencing depth to functional recovery, we demonstrated that increasing sequencing depth does not directly or proportionally improve functional recall. That is, at as little as 10% of this study's sequencing depth, 30% of the estimated complete microbiome functional repertoire was detectable. However, even at the full depth used in this study, we were only able to recover an estimated 60% of that complete functional repertoire. We further showed that despite biomes differences in functional diversity and host contamination levels (e.g., soil, fecal), incomplete functional recovery at commonly used sequencing depths was consistently observed. CONCLUSIONS: Together, these findings and our depth-to-function mapping framework provide practical guidelines for the design and interpretation of WMS studies. Coordinating sequencing depth planning with annotation strategy, experimental design, and rigorous batch control is thus essential for robust detection of microbial functions and for ensuring reproducible microbiome insights. Video Abstract.

Humans↗
PubMed2002

Are we making progress? Not in haematology!

It will be shown, through the presentation of recent research findings, that haematology is a neglected area in terms of sensitive care of the dying. The Australian evidence indicates that scant progress has been made in relation to even the most basic palliative care practices such as sensitive, honest information giving or appropriate referral to the palliative system. Rather, the data show that during terminal trajectory, patients from these diagnostic groups and their families remain trapped in processes within the high-tech, curative system that are not responsive to the needs of the dying.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

Usefulness of hepatic artery injection of iodized oil and 131I-labeled iodized oil before the therapeutic decision in hepatocellular carcinoma.

This study assesses the usefulness of intra-arterial injection of iodized oil (Lipiodol) as a tool for evaluating the therapeutic choice in a series of 72 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In 52 of these patients a scintigraphic study of the biodistribution of iodized oil was done, using 131I-iodized oil injection. A single tumor was detected in only 17 cases; 18 patients had a tumor involving only 1 lobe; in 7 cases CT scan disclosed a minute nodule in the opposite lobe of the main tumor. Eighteen patients had a portal thrombosis; in 12 of these cases CT scan showed iodized oil in the tumor emboli. The degree of intratumoral retention of iodized oil depended on the size of tumors and on the presence of arterioportal shunts. Our study demonstrates that only a few patients (4%) with HCC might benefit from curative surgery. The therapeutic benefit of methods using iodized oil injection might be estimated by means of its biodistribution variables (CT and/or scintigraphic data).

Adult↗
PubMed1993

A curriculum based on systems theory.

This paper describes an entry-level curriculum based on systems theory that was designed to promote integrated thinking and a shared image of practice among all of the members of an educational community that included students, faculty, and clinicians. Initiated in 1983, the program integrates occupational therapy theory, critical thinking, and knowledge about person-environmental transactions with traditional medical, biological, psychological, and sociological course work to create a unique educational experience. The curriculum model is based on a spiral learning process that encourages integrated thinking. Furthermore, all concepts are systematically tied to the occupation core, the central theme of the program. Fieldwork is used to reinforce ideas presented in the classroom and features discrete learning experiences where students demonstrate their integration of knowledge and skills. In an evaluation of the program, responses from 78 clinician, 51 alumni, and 132 student questionnaires; feedback from 132 fieldwork supervisors; and longitudinal data from 33 alumni confirmed that graduates are critical thinkers who appreciate the diverse needs of clients while demonstrating an appreciation for the curative effect of meaningful, goal-directed activities.

Curriculum↗