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Stochastic frontiers are a very popular tool used to compare production units in terms of efficiency. The parameters of this class of models are usually estimated through the use of the classic maximum likelihood method even, in the last years, some authors suggested to conceive and estimate the productive frontier within the quantile regression framework. The main advantages of the quantile approach lie in the weaker assumptions about data distribution and in the greater robustness to the presence of outliers respect to the maximum likelihood approach. However, empirical evidence and theoretical contributions have highlighted that the quantile regression applied to the tails of the conditional distribution, namely the frontiers, suffers from instability in estimates and needs specific tools and approaches. To avoid this limitation, we propose to model the parameters of the stochastic frontier as a function of the quantile in order to smooth its trend and, consequently, reduce its instability. The approach has been illustrated using real data and simulated experiments confirming the good robustness and efficiency properties of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: It was the aim of our study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly topotecan in patients with advanced or recurrent cervical disease. Methods: Topotecan was administered intravenously as a weekly infusion at a dose of 3.5 mg/m2 on days 1, 8 and 15 of a 28-day cycle. After the second cycle, the dose was increased to 4 mg/m2 if no grade >2 toxicity occurred. Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Results: Twenty-one patients were enrolled, but only 18 were evaluable for response and toxicity. Ten patients (56%) had received primary surgery + chemoradiation, 6 patients (33%) had previously received surgery + chemotherapy and 2 patients (11%) exclusive chemoradiation. Patients received a mean of 3.5 courses (range 1-6). No complete or partial responses were reported. Two patients (11%) presented disease stabilization as maximum response. Median progression-free survival was 11 weeks (95% CI 15-25), and median overall survival was 28 weeks (95% CI 24-72). The treatment was generally well tolerated. Conclusions: This trial did not report any activity of weekly bolus topotecan in the treatment of advanced or recurrent cervical cancer. Actually, there is no evidence to recommend this therapy in this patient population. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crisis psychotherapy is addressed to patients with feelings of impotence: a precise psychological correlate characteristic of the crisis situation. Associated with this picture are anxious‐depressive and personality disorders. Prevention focuses on recovering previous level of functioning in order to forestall the evolution of maladaptive behaviors that may in turn lead to chronic pathology or suicide. The aim of this study was to preliminarily assess symptom outcome in 42 cases treated with the model adopted in Padua, Italy. Assessment was based on various instruments to explore depression (Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], Hamilton Depression Rating Scale [HRSD]), anxiety (State‐Trait Anxiety Expression Inventory [STAI]), anger (State‐Trait Anger Expression Inventory [STAXI]), global functioning (Global Assessment Scale [GAS]), social adjustment (Social Adaption Self Evaluation Scale [SASS]), stressful events, and personality (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV [SCID II]). Depression and anxiety levels displayed a significant decrease at the end of treatment. There was also a significant reduction in levels of trait anxiety and anger, probably indicating a “return to baseline” after a destabilizing experience. These effects mark a “traumatic” impasse resulting from stressful life events that may be either real external events or subjectively traumatic psychological events. Other positive effects of the therapy were improvement in global functioning and renewed interest in social relations. Some degree of comorbidity with personality disorders emerged, especially from DSM‐IV clusters C and B. Further controlled studies are warranted to assess the effect of spontaneous remission on this intervention technique. [Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention 3:37–46 (2003)] [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Evaluates the performance of a celiac disease case-finding study by using the antiendomysium antibody (EMA) test in children who satisfied entry criteria. Number of family pediatricians and registered children who participated in the study; Selection criteria used for children who will undergo the EMA test; Prevalence of celiac disease among the registered population.