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AbstractRodent pests pose significant impacts to agricultural systems and public health globally. Effective strategies for sustainable management while minimizing environmental impacts are crucial. To address the multifaceted nature of rodent impacts, well-coordinated initiatives are necessary to support control strategies, raise awareness among authorities, and inform the public. There is increasing global evidence of Working Groups delivering successful management of a range of natural resource management issues. We outline three case study working groups to tackle rodent pests: (1) National Mouse Group in Australia to manage mouse plague impacts, (2) Working Group Common Vole Management in Germany to manage common vole impacts, and (3) FREDON network for vole management in France. Each working group evolved independently, but all have remarkably similar structures, including monitoring, modelling/forecasting, regular stakeholder meetings (including producers, researchers, government agency staff and others), developing advice for management and identifying research priorities. The success of these working groups was related to: (1) broad stakeholder engagement (particularly farmers/producers), (2) dedicated funding to conduct direct research to inform control strategies, (3) maintained momentum through all phases of rodent population cycles, and (4) benefit for all stakeholders. As rodenticides are increasingly restricted, such working groups will become more important in the future, because stakeholder engagement is necessary to develop rodent management “toolboxes”. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the numerical solution of the nonlinear integro-differential equation for the probability of a divergent neutron chain in a stationary system (i.e., the probability of initiation (POI)). We follow the development described in Bell's classic paper on the stochastic theory of neutron transport. As noted by Bell, the linearized form of this equation resembles the linear adjoint neutron transport equation. A matrix formalism for the discretized steady state (or forward) neutron equation in slab geometry is first developed, and is then used to derive the discrete adjoint equation. A main advantage of this discrete development is that the resulting discrete adjoint equation does not depend upon how the multigroup cross sections for the forward problem are obtained. That is, we derive the discrete adjoint directly from the discrete forward equations rather than discretizing directly the adjoint equation. This also guarantees that the discrete adjoint operator is consistent with the inner product used to define the adjoint operator. We discuss three approaches for the numerical solution of the POI equations, and present numerical results on several test problems. The three solution methods are a simple fixed point iteration, a second approach that is akin to a nonlinear Power iteration, and a third approach which uses a Newton-Krylov nonlinear solver. We also give sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence and uniqueness of nontrivial solutions to our discrete POI equations when the discrete system is supercritical, and that only the trivial solution exists when the discrete system is subcritical. Our approach is modeled after the analysis presented for the continuous POI equations by Mokhtar-Kharroubi and Jarmouni-Idrissi, and by Pazy and Rabinowitz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the theme of American exceptionalism, this essay explores the interplay between center and margin in punk rock produced in California in the late 1970s and early 1980s. After brief accounts of both punk and exceptionalism, the article surveys instances of exceptionalist rhetoric in lyrics by punk bands from Los Angeles and San Francisco and argues that, although some punks uncritically reproduced the pernicious ideology of exceptionalism, others drew on it as a means of criticizing the nation's failings. The study concludes by considering the different ways of understanding the relationships between margin and center in California punk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the discussion on Sam Stern, a scholar holding the keys to the treasure house of medieval Islam representing among the collection of translated texts as being Byzantium and Iran.

In patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is standard treatment. Here, we aim to identify factors associated with survival in patients undergoing ASCT. A total of 369 patients with relapsed DLBCL undergoing ASCT from 2000 to 2012 were identified in the Danish National Lymphoma Registry. Information on clinical and socioeconomic factors was obtained from medical records and national registries. Factors associated with survival were assessed using a Cox’s proportional hazards model. Median overall survival was 6.8 years, median progression-free survival was 2.6 years, and treatment-related mortality at Day 100 was 6%. Factors associated with a significant adverse impact on survival were age, primary refractory disease, prolonged hospitalization during salvage treatment, and performance status >0 prior to conditioning therapy. Reconsideration of ASCT for those patients may be required in order to select the right patients for this toxic procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The history of anthropological contributions to the study of malaria is reviewed in terms of three additive phases: (1) cultural-historical analyses; (2) applied work aimed at the improvement of malaria control programs; and (3) introduction of critical medical anthropological themes about malaria control. The critical approaches include themes of the cultural construction of reality—the definition of “malaria”; political-economic structures in health inequalities; and an emphasis on social factors as exemplified in the present special issue. The contemporary culture of malaria researchers and programs—called MalariaWorld—is described in terms of economy, social organization, and belief system. Five common features of articles in this special issue are described as unique anthropological features that are key for understanding MalariaWorld. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the Longquan celadon industry, located in Zhejiang province in China, which flourished mainly between the Southern Song and early Ming dynasties. The products of this industry are found on archaeological sites across China and the Indian Ocean. This paper attempts a quantified analysis of the development of the industry based on archaeological data, focussing on four aspects: production, domestic consumption, overseas consumption and, to a lesser degree, workshop organisation. Although much of the data is still problematic, and many of the conclusions drawn are necessarily, therefore, tentative, these are the only data available. They allow us at least to demonstrate the value and timeliness of the approach by charting the development of this industry and by arguing that the close integration of the four aspects examined indicates that the Longquan celadon industry was an industry of considerable economic significance across much of the Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to Asian and Latin American populations, sinonasal NK- or T-cell lymphoma is rare in Europe. All patients with sinonasal NK- or T-cell lymphoma in Denmark from 1980 to 2017 were validated histologically, and the disease behavior and demographics were extracted from medical records and national registries. Prognostic factors associated with mortality were determined using survival statistics. We included 56 patients: 40 extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (nasal type) (ENKTCL) and 16 peripheral T-cell lymphoma (not otherwise specified) (PTCL). The median age was 66, and most patients were male (72%). The ENKTCL and PTCL 5-year overall survival was 48% and 50%, respectively; progression-free survival was 38% for both. With ENKTCL, stage and performance status increased mortality significantly (HR = 8.6; p < 0.001 and HR = 4.23; p = 0.04). In conclusion, disseminated disease had a dismal outcome and the onset of ENKTCL in this ethnically homogeneous European cohort was about a decade later than reported in Asian populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(R)-CHOP-14 has substantially improved outcome in DLBCL, but may have increased morbidity and reduced quality of life (QoL). Our aim was to evaluate QoL during (R)-CHOP-14-based chemotherapy. Twenty-six patients participated (small single-center study). EORTC QLQ-C30 was completed pre-treatment, mid-treatment, 14 days post-treatment, and 3 months post-treatment. Scores were compared to a reference population, and analyzed separately. Pre-treatment, global health status ( p == 0.004), physical functioning ( p == 0.036), role functioning ( p == 0.017), and emotional functioning ( p == 0.040) were reduced, and fatigue ( p == 0.009) and appetite loss ( p == 0.007) increased compared to the reference population. During treatment, physical functioning and role functioning decreased significantly, whereas emotional functioning, fatigue, and diarrhea increased. Three months post-treatment, scores were generally equivalent to those of the reference population, and lower for nausea/vomiting ( p < 0.001) and constipation ( p < 0.001). Disease-related symptoms were frequent in high-risk DLBCL. Treatment-related symptoms were normalized 3 months post-treatment. In conclusion, QoL is only temporarily affected during (R)-CHOP-14-based chemotherapy, and the treatment regimen is therefore feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We observed that the smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) population in Nebish Lake, Wisconsin spawned twice-once during the traditional spring period and then again in summer, well beyond the typical spawning season for north-temperate lakes. We documented this anomalous spawning behavior and compared the characteristics of smallmouth bass nests built during the two distinct spawning seasons. Smallmouth bass built 463 nests (110.2 nests/km shoreline) as water temperature was rising toward 20°C. During the summer spawning period, 24 nests (5.7 nests/km shoreline) were constructed between 11 August and 29 August as water temperature was falling. Nests built in summer were significantly farther from shore, in deeper water, farther from cover, larger in diameter, and built by larger males than in the spring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To explore the lived experience of older adults participating regularly in a social support network group in the community. Method: Hermeneutic phenomenology was employed for this preliminary study as little was known about the lived experience of older adults engaged with peers. Six older adults, four females and two males, volunteered to participate in a focus group interview for the purpose of testing interview techniques and questions and to examine alternative lines of enquiry for subsequent interviews. The group interview was transcribed verbatim and analysed to gain meaning of the phenomena under study. Findings: Being a member of a group, where peer support was experienced, was extremely important and this support assisted in the maintenance of physical and psychological well-being of individual group members. Conclusion: As a result of this study a greater understanding of what is meaningful to older adults in terms of social support, and the importance of network systems and peer contact was made clearer. By appreciating the need for older adults to engage regularly in a support group with their peers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals can promote the health of older adults for whom they provide care. Interview techniques were perceived to be appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving participation rates in specialist mathematics after the subject ceases to be compulsory at age 16 is part of government policy in England. This article provides independent and recent support for earlier findings concerning reasons for non-participation, based on free response and closed items in a questionnaire with a sample of over 1500 students in 17 schools, close to the moment of choice. The analysis supports findings that perceived difficulty and lack of confidence are important reasons for students not continuing with mathematics, and that perceived dislike and boredom, and lack of relevance, are also factors. There is a close relationship between reasons for non-participation and predicted grade, and a weaker relation to gender. An analysis of the effects of schools, demonstrates that enjoyment is the main factor differentiating schools with high and low participation indices. Building on discussion of these findings, ways of improving participation are briefly suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the pagan idol of Ste-Marie d'Oloron cathedral, located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in France. Reconstruction of the meaning of the Mars sculpture at the moment of the decision to reuse it in a deliberate and unusual manner is the goal of this study, and a variety of kinds of evidence aid this investigation, including other examples of reuse in the Middle Ages, medieval attitudes toward pagan images, and apparent pictorial and epigraphic responses to the concealed idol in the visible decoration of Ste-Marie's portal itself.

The contribution of leisure to individual health and well-being is well documented. It is also clear that patterns of leisure activity are differentiated by gender and regional differences, as well as those of age, class and ethnicity. This paper explores the leisure and well-being of mid aged rural women in a small Australian country town in the late 1990s, focusing on issues which have been identified in the Canadian literature as being significant for women in isolated areas. These issues, which constrain the choices women make about their lives, include poor job opportunities, a lack of public transport and other facilities, family transience, community designs that isolate women in their homes, and the politics of being 'different' in a small community. Commonalities in the lives of rural women in North America, New Zealand and Australia indicate that these issues may more broadly characterise the lives of women in isolated towns in western post-industrial societies. Data are drawn from focus group interviews, augmented with observation, and the study is contextualized in findings from the Women's Health Australia longitudinal study (WHA). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence suggests that women who are mothers of young children have lower levels of physical activity than women of similar age who do not have children (Brown, Lee, Mishra, & Bauman, 2000). The purposes of this study were to explore the factors that constrain mothers of young children from being more physically active, and the relationship between physical activity and levels of social support available to the women. The empirical basis for this examination was provided through a study of activity levels and barriers to physical activity experienced by a sample of 543 mothers of young children from differing socioeconomic backgrounds. The data indicate that: (a) more than two-thirds of the mothers were inadequately active in their leisure time for health benefit; (b) while the vast majority of mothers expressed a desire to be more active, they were inhibited in their ability to act out their leisure preferences by a combination of structural (e.g., lack of time, money, energy) and ideological influences (e.g., sense of commitment to others); (c) access to social support (from partners, family, and friends) was seen to place some women in a better position than others to negotiate constraints that inhibit leisure participation; and (d) within groups of varying socioeconomic status (SES) there was wide variation in the amount of time spent each week in active leisure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the function of interleukin-6 for tumor growth enhancement in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Association between proliferation rate and cytostatic chemotherapy; Determination of cell proportion on S-phase through bromodeoxyuridine labeling index.

Studies the effects of granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) on the number of granulocytes in peripheral blood and myeloid cells in the bone marrow of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Increase of blood neutrophil count after discontinuation of treatment; Percent increase in the yield of myeloid cells.

The article presents examination by researchers whether Australian and American children experience similar levels of loneliness and whether the relationship between sociometric and behavioral indices of social functioning and loneliness is similar for Australian and American children. Peer related lonliness in middle childhood has been the object of several major studies in North America. Consequently the cross-national generality of these findings remains unclear. In the present study, researchers examined whether Australian and American children experience similar levels of loneliness, whether the relationship between sociometric and behavioral indices of social functioning and loneliness is similar for Australian and American children, and whether these findings are consistent across sex and grade. An average play rating received from same sex peers was calculated and transformed to a standardized score within classes. The friendship score was the sum total of same-sex nominations that each child received. In addition, every teacher completed an eight-item social behavior rating scale for each child studied, providing information on social withdrawal versus engagement and aggressive versus prosocial behavior. Ratings for each item were standardized to account for individual differences in teachers' use of the scale and were summed to form separate scores for withdrawal and aggression.

The addition of the antibody rituximab to CHOP (R-CHOP) has improved the outcome of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and is the current standard of care [[1]]. On the contrary, preliminary results from a trial randomizing stage II-IV DLBCL patients to R-CHOP14 and R-CHOP14 plus additional rituximab on day 8 during the first four treatment cycles did not confirm a benefit of intensified rituximab in male patients [[12]]. Consistent with this study, a more recent Swedish study including >7000 DLBCL patients reported comparable improvements in life expectancy for male and female patients during the rituximab introduction period, although no direct comparison between male and female patients was performed [[15]]. As the survival in the general population is gender-specific (5-year OS, 94% for a female and 90% for a male Danish person aged 65 in 2010), crude OS differences between male and female patients may be sensitive to excess deaths in male patients unrelated to DLBCL. [Extracted from the article]

In this study, we analyzed the evolution of the prognosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) patients as they reach selected progression-free survival (PFS) milestones after high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based therapy. In total, 258 and 146 patients were included from Denmark and British Columbia, respectively. All patients were diagnosed during 2000–2017. The 5-year PFS was 27% (95% CI 23; 32); however, for patients reaching 5 years of PFS, this increased to 71% (95% CI 57; 86). Within the first 5 years after diagnosis, patients lost 2.0 years (95% CI 1.8; 2.2) when compared to a similar background population. This reduced to 0.5 years (95% CI 0.2; 0.9) for patients reaching 5 years of PFS. Treatment with rituximab was associated with improved outcomes. The prognosis of patients with PCNSL treated with HD-MTX-based regimens in this cohort is poor, although it improves as patients survive without progression/relapse. However, survival does not conclusively normalize to that of a similar background population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with advanced CD20 + indolent lymphoma, requiring therapy, were randomized to rituximab (four weekly infusions of 375 mg/m2) or to rituximab combined with 5 weeks of interferon-α2a (IFN-α2a) (3–4.5 MIU daily) as priming. Responding patients were eligible for a second cycle with the same allocated treatment. In total, 156 patients were randomized to rituximab and 157 to rituximab + IFN-α2a. In the intention-to treat (ITT) population, 244 patients (78%) responded to cycle 1. After a second cycle the complete remission/complete remission unconfirmed (CR/CRu) rate was 41% with the combination versus 24% with monotherapy (p= 0.005). The median time to treatment failure (primary endpoint) in ITT patients was 28 vs. 21.5 months, respectively (p= 0.302). After a long median follow-up (61 months), 33% (42% of patients responding to cycle 1) were still failure-free with an overall survival rate of 88% and with no difference between the treatment groups. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01609010. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Non-native smallmouth bass became established in 1951 in Little Moose Lake, an oligotrophic Adirondack lake. Salmonids dominated the littoral zone at the time. Snorkel surveys, from late June through early August 1997, were used to determine the distribution and abundance offish in the littoral zone. Transects were established on four habitat types: sand, wood (submerged trees), rock covered by silt (particles < 2 mm), and clean cobble (particles >64 mm). Non-native smallmouthbass were the most common fish species observed over the transects. Counts of adult smaUmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) were greater than pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and salmonids. Average lengths of bass were different between habitat types indicating size class segregation among the habitats in the littoral zone. Adult bass (>50 mm) were only observed on wood and cobble habitats. Nearly all bass >300 mmwere observed on wood habitats. Young-of-year bass (<50 mm) were only observed on sand and silted rock. Only two brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) and three rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were observed; however, water temperature (range 21 deg.C to 24 deg.C) may have limited their presence. We conclude that non-native smallmouth bass dominate the littoral zone of this Adirondack lake during the summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future studies in this area are anticipated and will hopefully determine whether rare CD34 SP + sp stem cell clones with lymphoma mutations exists in patients with lymphoma, and whether they have an impact on clinical course and treatment response. Patients were included if they had a diagnosis of lymphoma, were intended to undergo ASCT, had a sufficient stem cell harvest and had at least one additional vial of their stem cell product available for research purposes. However, another possibility is that the methods used in this report (detection limit of VAF >2%, hence able to identify mutations in four out of a 100 CD34 SP + sp cells) are not sensitive enough to detect possible B-cell lymphoma CD34 SP + sp stem cells. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on the project Understanding and Improving Ceramic Armour Materials (UNICAM) in Great Britain. The advantages and disadvantages of engineering ceramics used in personnel and vehicle armour are cited. The dynamic response of a variety of ceramics is used in determining the failure mechanisms and material properties relevant to the development of ceramic material model. The development of a multi-scale constitutive model for ceramics is also discussed.

The capacity of private landholders to manage natural resources is constrained and enabled by diverse, interconnected, and changing factors, which vary substantially across time and space. This context dependence of capacity makes it both a useful construct and a difficult one to evaluate, which makes targeting investment in capacity building across scales difficult. We detail results of a transferrable, place-based process for evaluating capacity of private land managers to manage natural resources across scales in New South Wales, Australia. A livelihoods approach was used to enable land managers to define, describe, and evaluate locally relevant indicators of NRM capacity. Constraints to capacity were perceived as externally imposed or related to poor vertical linkages between land managers and government agencies. Conversely, local characteristics of regional organizations, communities and individuals were often described as enabling capacity. There was substantial consistency across workshops and there were widespread indications of declining capacity to contribute to effective NRM. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

High-dose prednisolone is used in first-line treatment for lymphoma, but the potential adverse impact on bone health is unclear. Danish patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or follicular lymphoma diagnosed between 2000 and 2012 were matched to the background population. Osteoporotic events (osteoporosis treatment or low-energy fracture) were identified using the Danish National Patient Registry and Prescription Registry. In total, 2589 patients and 12,945 controls were included. Lymphoma patients had increased risk of osteoporotic events compared to the matched population (hazard ratio 1.61 [95% confidence interval 1.40;1.84]). The 5- and 10-year cumulative risks of osteoporotic events for lymphoma patients were 10.0% [8.6;11.4] and 16.3% [13.8;18.7], whereas corresponding risks in the background population were 6.8% [6.3;7.3] and 13.5% [12.4;14.6]. Patients without osteoporotic event in the first two years after treatment were not at higher risk of osteoporotic events in subsequent years. Risk factors for osteoporotic events were female sex and age >70 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2015, an interdisciplinary group of psychosocial experts developed The Standards of Psychosocial Care for Children with Cancer and Their Families. This paper presents data from a national survey of pediatric oncology social workers and their experiences in delivering psychosocial care to children and families. In total, 107 social workers from 81 cancer institutions participated in a 25-item online survey that mirrored the 15 Standards for Psychosocial Care. Both closed and open-ended questions were included.Social work participants reported that psychosocial support is being provided at most cancer centers surveyed, primarily by social workers and child life specialists, addressing adaptation to the cancer diagnosis, treatment, and transitions into survivorship or end-of-life care and bereavement. While social workers reported offering comprehensive services throughout the cancer trajectory, many of the 2015 Standards are not being systematically implemented. Areas for improvement include funding for psychosocial support staff and programs, incorporation of standardized assessment measures, assessment for financial burden throughout treatment and beyond, consistent access to psychology and psychiatry, integrated care for parents and siblings, and more inclusion of palliative care services from time of diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Elastomeric pumps are widely used to facilitate ambulatory chemotherapy, and studies have shown that they are safe and well received by patients. Despite these advantages, their end of infusion time can fluctuate significantly. The aim of this research was to observe the performance of these pumps in real practice and to evaluate patients' satisfaction.Methods: This was a two-phase study conducted at three cancer units over 6 months. Phase-1 was an observational study recording the status of pumps at the scheduled disconnection time and noting remaining volume of infusion. Phase-2 was a survey of patients and their perception/satisfaction. Ethical approval was granted.Results: A total of 92 cases were observed covering 50 cases disconnected at hospital and 42 disconnected at home. The infusion in 40% of hospital disconnection cases was slow, with patients arriving at hospital with unfinished pumps; 58% of these had an estimated remaining volume which exceeded 10 mL with 35% exceeded 20 mL. In 73% of these cases, and regardless of the remaining volume, the patient was disconnected and the pump was discarded.Conclusions: The performance of pumps varied, which affected nurse workload and patients' waiting-times. A smart system is an option to monitor the performance of pumps and to predict their accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we investigate the outcome of 109 Danish and 123 Swedish patients with nodal PTCL in first complete remission (CR), and examine the impact of imaging-based follow-up (FU) strategies. The patients were selected by the following criteria: (a) newly diagnosed nodal PTCL from 2007 to 2012, (b) age ≥18 years, and (c) CR after CHOP or CHOEP therapy. FU guidelines in Sweden included symptom assessment, clinical examinations and blood tests at 3–4-month intervals for 2 years. FU strategies in Denmark was similar but included routine imaging, usually every 6 months for 2 years. Patients had fully comparable characteristics. Overall survival (OS) estimates for patients in CR were similar for all patients (p=.6) and in PTCL subtypes. In multivariate analysis, country of follow-up had no impact on OS. However, despite continuous CR for ≥2 years, the OS of PTCL remained inferior to a matched general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study for the implication for a neural transcription factor, SOX 11 in Burkitt's lymphoma disease which is derived from mature B-cells. It discusses the role of SOX11 in mantle lymphoma and SOX11 expression which is evaluated in 45 adult patients. It also presents result and conclusion of this study by analyzing gene expression which mentions growth regulatory role of SOX11 in Burkitt lymphoma.

Hypogammaglobulinemia is the most common immune deficiency in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). However, the prognostic significance in terms of morbidity and mortality remains controversial. We here evaluate the significance of hypogammaglobulinemia in terms of infections, treatment-free survival (TFS), and overall survival (OS). A total of 159 consecutive, newly diagnosed patients were included for analysis. Twenty-five patients (16%) had a moderate or severe infection within one year of diagnosis, but no associations were found between low immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and infections. In multivariate analysis, we found age (>65), high Binet stage, high β2-microglobulin, and Ig deficiency to be associated with shorter OS. Decreased levels of IgM, deletion of chromosome 17p and unmutated IGHV status had independent negative impact on TFS. Thus, patients with hypogammaglobulinemia did not suffer more from infections early in the disease course, and decreased Ig had independent negative prognostic impact in CLL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of rituximab and generally improved health among elderly patients have increased the survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The International Prognostic Index (IPI) from 1992 is based on pre-rituximab data from clinical trials including several lymphoma subtypes. We applied IPI factors to a population-based rituximab-treated cohort of 1990 patients diagnosed 2000–2010 and explored new factors and the optimal prognostic age cut-off for DLBCL. Multivariate-analyses (MVA) confirmed the prognostic value of all IPI factors except the presence of > 1 extranodal lesion. The optimal age cut-off was 70 years. In a MVA of albumin, lymphocyte count, sex, immunoglobulin G, bulky disease, hemoglobin and B-symptoms, only albumin was prognostic. We propose: (1) a modified DLBCL prognostic index (DLBCL-PI) including: age (70 years), performance status (PS), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), stage and albumin level, and (2) a separate age-adjusted DLBCL-PI for patients ≤ 70 years including PS, LDH, albumin level and > 1 extranodal lesion, however excluding stage. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Addition of etoposide to the R-CHOP chemotherapy regimen with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone and rituximab (R-CHOEP) has resulted in improved survival in young patients with high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). It is not known whether biological factors can predict this effect. In this study, 245 patients representing all young patients with high-risk DLBCL treated with R-CHOP or R-CHOEP in 2004-2012 in Denmark were extracted from the Danish lymphoma database. Patients were stratified according to cell of origin (COO) into germinal-center B-cell-like (GCB) or non-GCB by Hans' algorithm. Only in patients with the GCB phenotype was treatment with R-CHOEP associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) compared with R-CHOP. Patients with GCB phenotype treated with R-CHOEP also had superior OS compared with patients with non-GCB phenotype treated with R-CHOEP. This was not seen in R-CHOP treated patients. This could suggest that R-CHOEP should be restricted to patients with GCB phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most people with psychosis and schizophrenia experience auditory hallucinations, particularly the hearing of voices. A common cause of frustration and alienation for consumers is the lack of understanding by therapists, family members and caregivers, who find it difficult to relate to the consumers’ experiences. The purpose of this study is to examine and evaluate whether students’ participation in a simulated auditory hallucination will increase their understanding and knowledge about psychosis and auditory hallucinations. The design method consisted of a lecture on psychosis and schizophrenia disorders, followed by a simulation of auditory hallucinations using iPods. Students’ knowledge and perceptions of psychosis and hallucinations was assessed using quasi-experimental pre-post matched-design questionnaires. The questionnaire was divided into two parts, the first comprised closed questions to assess students’ knowledge, and the second part consisted of open-ended questions to collect information about students’ perceptions of auditory hallucinations. The results confirmed that students’ knowledge of psychosis and hallucination increased following the teaching session and simulation is a useful tool to prepare students for clinical placements in mental health practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/ computed tomography (PET/CT) is a highly accurate staging method in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). We retrospectively compared the staging results obtained in two large cohorts of patients with cHL diagnosed before ( n = 324) and after ( n = 406) the introduction of PET/CT staging in a retrospective study. In PET/CT staged patients, stage I disease was less frequent (16% vs. 27%, p < 0.001) while stage IV disease was more frequent (17% vs. 10%, p = 0.02). Imaging-detected skeletal involvement was recognized more often in PET/CT staged patients (17% vs. 2%, p < 0.001), and the presence of focal skeletal PET/CT lesions was associated with higher risk of progression (hazard ratio [HR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-3.36). The German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) risk classification (early, intermediate, advanced disease) predicted outcome in PET/CT staged patients. In conclusion, PET/CT led to higher disease stages, and the more frequently diagnosed skeletal lesions may be an adverse prognostic factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of clinician interpretation of positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) reports at mid-therapy, interim PET (I-PET) and after the end of first-line therapy (E-PET) in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Four hundred and thirty patients were enrolled in this study comprising a total of 617 PET reports. Each report was evaluated by three expert hematologists randomly selected from a panel of nine. Reports were labeled positive or negative if all three interpreters agreed. All others were considered indeterminate. Indeterminate reports accounted for 59% of I-PET and 49% of E-PET reports. Two-year overall survival (OS) for patients with a positive, indeterminate and negative I-PET was 58%, 87% and 89% ( p < 0.001), respectively. Two-year OS for patients with E-PET was 41%, 89% and 97% ( p < 0.001) for positive, indeterminate and negative interpretation of PET/CT reports. Progression-free survival and OS did not differ significantly in patients with a negative and an indeterminate I-PET report. The use of well-defined reporting criteria, e.g. the Deauville five-point scale, is likely to reduce the number of scans perceived as indeterminate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common treatment for follicular lymphoma is rituximab monotherapy. To identify patients for whom this regimen is adequate as first-line therapy, we applied the World Health Organization (WHO) classification for grading follicular lymphoma in a prospective central pathology review of the biopsies of previously untreated patients in two randomized trials of rituximab without chemotherapy. In the first trial ( n1 = 53), higher WHO grades correlated with longer time to next treatment, independently of clinical prognostic factors ( p = 0.030); the finding was replicated in the second trial ( n2 = 221; p = 0.019). Higher grades were associated with better treatment responses ( p = 0.018). Furthermore, also grades externally confirmed by independent local pathologists correlated with time to next treatment ( p = 0.048). Flow cytometry in a separate patient series showed that the intensity of CD20 increased with the malignant cell size ( p < 0.00005). In conclusion, WHO grade 1 follicular lymphoma correlates with inferior outcome after rituximab monotherapy. WHO grading might provide a clinically useful tool for personalized therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the process of designing and administering a sufficiently valid and reliable assessment instrument to measure the progress in attainment of adult learners studying numeracy, and discusses some of the inherent difficulties that were involved. The fieldwork took place during 2003-2005 and involved a sample of 34 teachers and 412 learners aged post-16. The paper details how the lack of a range of suitable instruments, the heterogeneous nature of adult numeracy teaching, the remit and requirements of the research project and other practical factors, made it difficult to produce an instrument capable of measuring learners' progress accurately, and hence to produce robust and reliable conclusions, generalisable across the whole sector. Having said this, and despite all the problems faced, the researchers still believe that the test has a sufficient degree of validity for the purposes of the study. The paper ends with some recommendations that may benefit other researchers when it comes to designing future numeracy assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]