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Introduction: There has been a surge in robotic surgery research publications over the past 20 years. However, to date, there has been no characterization of urology's contribution to the robotic field, and there is a lack of bibliometric literature to guide future investigation. We conducted this bibliometric analysis to characterize the distributions and characteristics of robotic surgery research in the urologic field, with subanalysis of the top 100 articles. Materials and Methods: The Web of Science Core Collection of the ISI Web of Science was searched and analyzed to determine distributions and characteristics of robotic urologic surgery research. The top 100 articles were categorized by urologic subfield and organ of pathology, with a level of evidence rating system applied (adapted from the Centre of Evidence-Based Medicine). Results: The total number of articles retrieved was 1294 from 1999 to 2018. The number of articles published in the last decade has increased by 845.75%, with 153 articles published in the preceding decade. The United States leads countries in publication with 699 (54.02%) articles across the field, and 71 within the top 100 articles. The Journal of Endourology published most articles (n = 292, 22.57%) within the field, while European Urology published most (n = 36) within the top 100 articles. Top 100 articles where generally associated with cancer (n = 76), with prostate cancer dominating literature (n = 38). The most common level of evidence for top 100 articles was that of a level 3 study (n = 31). Conclusions: This analysis of research activity has the potential to guide future robotic surgery research trends in the field of urology. There has been an explosion in robotic surgery urologic research activity over the last decade, with level 3 evidence dominating the top 100 articles of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses procedural devices and remedies that are available to taxpayers involved in federal tax controversies in the U.S. It is stated that these measures can increase the likelihood of success or decrease the cost of the litigation. It is stated that, a qualifying taxpayer may also be entitled to recover attorney's fees and other reasonable administrative or litigation costs under section 7430 if the taxpayer substantially prevails with respect to the amount in controversy or with respect to the most significant issue or set of issues and certain other statutory requirements are met. However, one has to fulfill the applicable net worth limitations for which the taxpayer must meet the requirements set forth in 28 U.S.C. section 2412(d)(2)(B).

The early U.S. economic achievement of former Soviet citizens entering the United States during the period 1979 through 1985 is analyzed. Using the Soviet Interview Project (SIP) data, components of human capital acquired in the former Soviet Union (FSU) are identified and related to labor force participation and income outcomes in the United States. FSU education, experience and industry variables have important, variable and differing impacts upon both participation and income, and such outcomes differ for males and females. FSU immigrants' income is below U.S. income. Differing rates of return to characteristics, not the endowments themselves, are responsible for observed differentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recommends several measures to improve the quality and decency of television programming in the United States. Organization of parents via the Internet; Role of advertisers; Boycott of shows.

Profiles theologian Jonathan Edwards in Enfield, Connecticut. Founder of the evangelical religion Great Awakening; Family history; Contributions to the society.

Presents the findings of a survey of the experience and practice of purchasing at a number of companies in the United States. Problems of dealing with foreign suppliers; Organizational aspects of purchasing; System of procurement management courses employed by two companies; Role of the headquarters staff in the development of competent personnel in the field.

PURPOSE An international phase II study of laromustine (VNP40101M), a sulfonylhydrazine alkylating agent, was conducted in patients age 60 years or older with previously untreated poor-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS Laromustine 600 mg/m(2) was administered as a single 60-minute intravenous infusion. Patients were age 70 years or older or 60 years or older with at least one additional risk factor-unfavorable AML karyotype, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 2, and/or cardiac, pulmonary, or hepatic comorbidities. Results Eighty-five patients (median age, 72 years; range, 60 to 87 years) were treated. Poor-risk features included age 70 years or older, 78%; adverse karyotype, 47%; PS of 2, 41%; pulmonary disease, 77%; cardiac disease, 73%; and hepatic disease, 3%. Ninety-six percent of patients had at least two risk factors, and 39% had at least four risk factors. The overall response rate (ORR) was 32%, with 20 patients (23%) achieving complete response (CR) and seven (8%) achieving CR with incomplete platelet recovery (CRp). ORR was 20% in patients with adverse cytogenetics; 32% in those age 70 years or older; 32% in those with PS of 2; 32% in patients with baseline pulmonary dysfunction; 34% in patients with baseline cardiac dysfunction; and 27% in 33 patients with at least four risk factors. Twelve (14%) patients died within 30 days of receiving laromustine therapy. Median overall survival was 3.2 months, with a 1-year survival of 21%; the median duration of survival for those who achieved CR/CRp was 12.4 months, with a 1-year survival of 52%. CONCLUSION Laromustine has significant single-agent activity in elderly patients with poor-risk AML. Adverse events are predominantly myelosuppressive or respiratory. Response rates are consistent across a spectrum of poor-risk features.

Peptic ulcer bleeding (PUB) is a serious and sometimes fatal condition. The outcome of PUB strongly depends on the risk of rebleeding. A recent multinational placebo-controlled clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00251979) showed that high-dose intravenous (IV) esomeprazole, when administered after successful endoscopic haemostasis in patients with PUB, is effective in preventing rebleeding. From a policy perspective it is important to assess the cost efficacy of this benefit so as to enable clinicians and payers to make an informed decision regarding the management of PUB. Using a decision-tree model, we compared the cost efficacy of high-dose IV esomeprazole versus an approach of no-IV proton pump inhibitor for prevention of rebleeding in patients with PUB. The model adopted a 30-day time horizon and the perspective of third-party payers in the USA and Europe. The main efficacy variable was the number of averted rebleedings. Healthcare resource utilization costs (physician fees, hospitalizations, surgeries, pharmacotherapies) relevant for the management of PUB were also determined. Data for unit costs (prices) were primarily taken from official governmental sources, and data for other model assumptions were retrieved from the original clinical trial and the literature. After successful endoscopic haemostasis, patients received either high-dose IV esomeprazole (80 mg infusion over 30 min, then 8 mg/hour for 71.5 hours) or no-IV esomeprazole treatment, with both groups receiving oral esomeprazole 40 mg once daily from days 4 to 30. Rebleed rates at 30 days were 7.7% and 13.6%, respectively, for the high-dose IV esomeprazole and no-IV esomeprazole treatment groups (equating to a number needed to treat of 17 in order to prevent one additional patient from rebleeding). In the US setting, the average cost per patient for the high-dose IV esomeprazole strategy was $US14 290 compared with $US14 239 for the no-IV esomeprazole strategy (year 2007 values). For the European setting, Sweden and Spain were used as examples. In the Swedish setting the corresponding respective figures were Swedish kronor (SEK)67 862 ($US9220 at average 2006 interbank exchange rates) and SEK67 807 ($US9212) [year 2006 values]. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were $US866 and SEK938 ($US127), respectively, per averted rebleed when using IV esomeprazole. For the Spanish setting, the high-dose IV esomeprazole strategy was dominant (more effective and less costly than the no-IV esomeprazole strategy) [year 2008 values]. All results appeared robust to univariate/threshold sensitivity analysis, with high-dose IV esomeprazole becoming dominant with small variations in assumptions in the US and Swedish settings, while remaining a dominant approach in the Spanish scenario across a broad range of values. Sensitivity variables with prespecified ranges included lengths of stay and per diem assumptions, rebleeding rates and, in some cases, professional fees. In patients with PUB, high-dose IV esomeprazole after successful endoscopic haemostasis appears to improve outcomes at a modest increase in costs relative to a no-IV esomeprazole strategy from the US and Swedish third-party payer perspective. Whereas, in the Spanish setting, the high-dose IV esomeprazole strategy appeared dominant, being more effective and less costly.