Estimating Treatment Effects of Longitudinal Designs using Regression Models on Propensity Scores

Summary We derive regression estimators that can compare longitudinal treatments using only the longitudinal propensity scores as regressors. These estimators, which assume knowledge of the variables used in the treatment assignment, are important for reducing the large dimension of covariates for two reasons. First, if the regression models on the longitudinal propensity scores are correct, then our estimators share advantages of correctly specified model‐based estimators, a benefit not shared by estimators based on weights alone. Second, if the models are incorrect, the misspecification can be more easily limited through model checking than with models based on the full covariates. Thus, our estimators can also be better when used in place of the regression on the full covariates. We use our methods to compare longitudinal treatments for type II diabetes mellitus.     

Evolution of the prevalence and incidence of consumption of antidepressants in a Spanish region (2002-2007)

Background The treatment of depressive disorders involves the administration of drugs of proven efficacy at the correct doses and for specific periods of time, in conjunction with psychotherapeutic support.Aim To assess the evolution of the consumption of antidepressants in the Health Region of Lleida (Spain).Method A retrospective cohort study of the antidepressant medication prescribed via the Spanish National Health System in the Health Region of Lleida between 2002 and 2007. The variables recorded in the study were age, sex, number of patients in antidepressant treatment in the Health Region of Lleida, length of treatment and type of drug. The prevalence of the population of the health region who were receiving antidepressant drugs and the incidence for each particular year was calculated.Results The mean prevalence of patients in treatment with antidepressant drugs was 8.5% (5% in men and 12.1% in women). The highest prevalence was observed in the higher age groups. By therapeutic groups, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) were the most frequently prescribed, five times more than the next group, tricyclics/heterocyclics. The follow-up assessment of the medication prescribed showed that one out of every four patients did not continue treatment after the first month, and 38.4% did not continue after three months. Very few were treated for more than six months.Conclusion This study stresses the high rate of antidepressant treatment in the older women's group. One of every four treatments initiated did not last more than one month. Over the six-year period, 16 506 patients dropped out of treatment.     

Multicommutated flow-through optosensors implemented with photochemically induced fluorescence: determination of flufenamic acid

This article describes a multicommutated flow injection-solid phase spectroscopy system implemented with photochemically induced fluorescence for the determination of flufenamic acid (FFA). A strongly fluorescent photoproduct is generated when FFA is irradiated online under UV light in a strong sulfuric medium. The photoproduct generated is retained on C(18) silica gel (which fills the detection area of the flow cell) and directly monitored on the active solid support at 258/442 nm (lambda(ex)/lambda(em)). After maximum signal recording, the sensing zone is regenerated by eluting the retained photoproduct with an appropriate H(2)SO(4)/MeOH solution. The sensor, completely automated, is based on the use of three-way solenoid valves conveniently operated by a homemade multicommutation software written in Java language. The system is calibrated at 10 and 60s for sampling time, showing detection limits of 1.28 x 10(-9) and 5.33 x 10(-10) molL(-1) and sampling rates of 38 and 28 h(-1), respectively, with relative standard deviations of 0.9 and 1.2%. The applicability of the method is demonstrated for the determination of FFA in human serum, human urine, and a pharmaceutical preparation without any pre-treatment. Good recovery levels were achieved between 90.5 and 103.7%.     

Separation and quantification of the cellular thiol pool of pea plants treated with heat, salt and atrazine

A novel procedure for the separation of the cellular thiol pool according to the molecular weight and localization of compounds with sulphydryl groups is presented. This simple and rapid method allows the differentiation of thiols into three major fractions-low molecular weight (LMT, primarily glutathione and free cysteine), protein-bound (TPT) and pellet-bound (PBT, associated with cell walls and broken organelles). Moreover, determination of the ratio between surface (readily reactive) thiols (ATG) and those that are more or less buried in the protein structure (BTG) can be achieved. In intact pea leaves, the amounts of the total thiols (LMT+PBT+TPT) varies from 2.5 to 4.8 micromol/g of fresh material. The data for LMT, PBT and TPT were related to each other in the approximate ratio 1:2:7. Treatments of pea plants with high temperature, salinity and low amounts of atrazine affect these sulphydryl types differently. For a greater understanding of the applicability of this method to physiological research, the main mechanisms leading to alterations in the cellular thiol pool are discussed. Furthermore, it is suggested that the proportion of available to buried thiols (ATG/BTG) in proteins could be used as a convenient marker for stress impacts.     

矿区不同复垦措施对土壤碳矿化和酶活性的影响

矿区废弃地生态退化形势严峻,生态修复已成为矿区可持续发展的主要措施,目前关于矿区复垦后土壤碳矿化和酶活性变化的研究较少。以山西省孝义市露天矿区复垦区为研究对象,植被恢复类型包括了百脉根、苜蓿、油松和柳树-圆柏混交林,并对其分别进行不施肥(对照)、无机肥、复合肥和有机肥处理,从而研究植被类型与施肥方式对矿区土壤碳矿化和酶活性的影响。结果表明,乔本比草本恢复类型的土壤有机碳矿化潜势大,不同施肥条件的土壤有机碳矿化潜势和累积量趋势基本为:对照无机肥复合肥有机肥;4种土壤酶活性因植被恢复类型和施肥处理的不同而差异显著,不同土壤酶与降解特性不同的有机碳间相关性有所不同。土壤碳矿化累积量和酶活性均受植被恢复类型、施肥处理及两者交互作用的显著影响,因此对复垦措施敏感的土壤有机碳矿化和酶活性可作为评价复垦措施的指标。     

4个花苜蓿居群叶片解剖结构特征及其可塑性对不同水分处理的响应

对经过3种水分处理的4个花苜蓿居群（内蒙古科右中旗、克什克腾旗、陕西南泥湾和甘肃兴隆山）叶片解剖结构特征及它们的可塑性进行了研究。结果表明：除上下表皮细胞厚度外,土壤水分处理对花苜蓿的叶片解剖结构有着显著影响。随着水分减少,大部分花苜蓿居群栅栏组织厚度增加,海绵组织厚度相应减小,叶片厚度增大,叶片组织结构紧密度增加,疏松度减少,叶脉突起度增加。10个解剖指标中,栅栏组织海绵组织厚度比的可塑性指数最大,上表皮细胞厚度次之,叶片厚度最小。4个花苜蓿居群可塑性指数平均值大小排序为：科右中旗〉克什克腾旗〉南泥湾〉兴隆山。综合方差分析和Ducan多重比较,可推测：花苜蓿的抗旱性与其分布的地域有关,分布于典型草原地带的科右中旗和克什克腾旗2个居群的花苜蓿的叶片结构可塑性要较分布于森林草原地带的南泥湾居群和兴隆山居群大。。上述结果有助于了解花苜蓿的生态适应特点,同时也为筛选适应北方干旱、半干旱地区的优良豆科牧草资源提供依据。     

Control of Root Rot and Wilt caused by Pythium myriotylum in Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos)

Control of root rot and wilt on Kangaroo Paw (Anigozanthos) caused by Pythium myriotylum was tested, using artificial inoculations, in greenhouse experiments. Disease incidence in the inoculated but non‐treated plots was 74% in Expt A (1999) and 46% in Expt B (2000). Disease incidence was significantly reduced by treatments with fenamidon (26 and 70%) and Terraclor SuperX (65 and 41%) in Expts A and B, respectively, in comparison with the non‐treated plots. Disease incidence was reduced with Ridomil Gold by 7 and 48% in Expts A and B, respectively; with Dynone by 22 and 41% in Expts A and B, respectively; with Tachigaren by 20% in both experiments; and with Trichoderma harzianum treatment, disease incidence was reduced by 9% only in Expt B. Yields (recorded only in Expt B) obtained in plots inoculated with P. myriotylum were significantly lower than in the non‐inoculated control plots. The most efficient treatment was fenamidon, with 324% more flowers than in the non‐treated control. The number of flowers in terraclor SuperX, Ridomil Gold, Dynone and T. harzianum treatments was higher by 285, 249, 234 and 235% than in the non‐treated control. In vitro tests demonstrated that the most effective doses, causing 50% inhibition of mycelial growth (ED₅₀), were 0.09, 0.4, 0.4 and 4 μg/ml for the fungicides fenamidon, Ridomil Gold (mefenoxam), Terraclor SuperX (etridiazole + quintozene) and Dynone (prothiocarb), respectively.     

Economic evaluation of weight loss interventions in overweight and obese women

Objective: To conduct a clinical and economic evaluation of outpatient weight loss strategies in overweight and obese adult U.S. women. Research Methods and Procedures: This study was a lifetime cost‐use analysis from a societal perspective, using a first‐order Monte Carlo simulation. Strategies included routine primary care and varying combinations of diet, exercise, behavior modification, and/or pharmacotherapy. Primary data were collected to assess program costs and obesity‐related quality of life. Other data were obtained from clinical trials, population‐based surveys, and other published literature. This was a simulated cohort of healthy 35‐year‐old overweight and obese women in the United States. Results: For overweight and obese women, a three‐component intervention of diet, exercise, and behavior modification cost $12,600 per quality‐adjusted life year gained compared with routine care. All other strategies were either less effective and more costly or less effective and less cost‐effective compared with the next best alternative. Results were most influenced by obesity‐related effects on quality of life and the probabilities of weight loss maintenance. Discussion: A multidisciplinary weight loss program consisting of diet, exercise, and behavior modification provides good value for money, but more research is required to confirm the impacts of such programs on quality of life and the likelihood of long‐term weight loss maintenance.