There is, I think, something ethereal about i —the square root of minus one. I remember first hearing about it at school. It seemed an odd beast at that time—an intruder hovering on the edge of reality.

Usually familiarity dulls this sense of the bizarre, but in the case of i it was the reverse: over the years the sense of its surreal nature intensified. It seemed that it was impossible to write mathematics that described the real world in …

I and i

Offering a unifying theoretical perspective not readily available in any other text, this innovative guide to econometrics uses simple geometrical arguments to develop students' intuitive understanding of basic and advanced topics, emphasizing throughout the practical applications of modern theory and nonlinear techniques of estimation. One theme of the text is the use of artificial regressions for estimation, reference, and specification testing of nonlinear models, including diagnostic tests for parameter constancy, serial correlation, heteroscedasticity, and other types of mis-specification. Explaining how estimates can be obtained and tests can be carried out, the authors go beyond a mere algebraic description to one that can be easily translated into the commands of a standard econometric software package. Covering an unprecedented range of problems with a consistent emphasis on those that arise in applied work, this accessible and coherent guide to the most vital topics in econometrics today is indispensable for advanced students of econometrics and students of statistics interested in regression and related topics. It will also suit practising econometricians who want to update their skills. Flexibly designed to accommodate a variety of course levels, it offers both complete coverage of the basic material and separate chapters on areas of specialized interest.

Estimation and Inference in Econometrics

We describe the landscape of somatic genomic alterations based on multidimensional and comprehensive characterization of more than 500 glioblastoma tumors (GBMs). We identify several novel mutated genes as well as complex rearrangements of signature receptors, including EGFR and PDGFRA. TERT promoter mutations are shown to correlate with elevated mRNA expression, supporting a role in telomerase reactivation. Correlative analyses confirm that the survival advantage of the proneural subtype is conferred by the G-CIMP phenotype, and MGMT DNA methylation may be a predictive biomarker for treatment response only in classical subtype GBM. Integrative analysis of genomic and proteomic profiles challenges the notion of therapeutic inhibition of a pathway as an alternative to inhibition of the target itself. These data will facilitate the discovery of therapeutic and diagnostic target candidates, the validation of research and clinical observations and the generation of unanticipated hypotheses that can advance our molecular understanding of this lethal cancer.

The somatic genomic landscape of glioblastoma

It is important that the medical profession plays a significant role in critically evaluating the use of diagnostic procedures and therapies as they are introduced and tested in the detection, management, or prevention of disease states. Rigorous and expert analysis of the available data documenting absolute and relative benefits and risks of those procedures and therapies can produce helpful guidelines that improve the effectiveness of care, optimize patient outcomes, and favorably affect the overall cost of care by focusing resources on the most effective strategies.

The American College of Cardiology Foundation (ACCF) and the American Heart Association (AHA) have jointly engaged in the production of such guidelines in the area of cardiovascular disease since 1980. The ACC/AHA Task Force on Practice Guidelines, whose charge is to develop, update, or revise practice guidelines for important cardiovascular diseases and procedures, directs this effort. The Task Force is pleased to have this guideline developed in conjunction with the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Writing committees are charged with the task of performing an assessment of the evidence and acting as an independent group of authors to develop or update written recommendations for clinical practice.

Experts in the subject under consideration have been selected from all 3 organizations to examine subject-specific data and write guidelines. The process includes additional representatives from other medical practitioner and specialty groups when appropriate. Writing committees are specifically charged to perform a formal literature review, weigh the strength of evidence for or against a particular treatment or procedure, and include estimates of expected health outcomes where data exist. Patient-specific modifiers, comorbidities, and issues of patient preference that might influence the choice of particular tests or therapies are considered as well as frequency of follow-up and cost effectiveness. When available, information from studies on cost will be considered; however, review …

/pdf/acc-aha-esc-2006-guidelines-for-management-of-patients-with-5a3f1emfzy.pdf

ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death

NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines

The IMPACT of Molecular Grading of Gliomas on Contemporary Clinical Practice.

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), given in a single or few fractions (2–5), is the recommended treatment for patients with a limited number of brain metastases. Both single-fraction and multi-fraction SRS are effective treatment options for patients with brain metastases, with a relative risk of neurological complications. The end points typically used for assessing radiation-induced complications in the brain are the development of brain radiation necrosis, which is associated with the presence of different degrees of neurological deficits, and neurocognitive deterioration. In general, normal tissue toxicity during SRS appears to be a function of radiation dose, volume, and proximity to eloquent sensitive brain structures. For single-fraction SRS, a clear correlation has been demonstrated between the target volume and the risk of brain necrosis, with most of these data reported by the “Quantitative Analysis of Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic” or QUANTEC papers published in 2010 by a joint American Association of Physics in Medicine (AAPM) and American Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) committee. For large lesions or those in close proximity to critical structures, multi-fraction SRS is usually utilized when high-dose single-fraction SRS would result in unacceptable risks of severe neurological toxicity; however, there is little systematic reporting on normal tissue dose constraints and risk of long-term toxicity. Future prospective studies would provide robust data on normal brain constraints, including dose-volume information for different SRS schedules, evaluation of neurocognitive status through formal testing, and toxicity of combined SRS and systemic treatments. This chapter summarizes the dose tolerance limits of normal tissues for patients receiving SRS treatments to the brain.

Dose Tolerances in Brain Metastasis Management

15-year-old boy with ocular palsy and headache

Correction to: Repeated amino acid PET imaging for longitudinal monitoring of brain tumors

AIMS The aim of this study was to follow up two groups of patients with active acromegaly, who underwent to external irradiation and radio-surgery and to value the efficacy of irradiation in the control of the growth of the adenoma, hypersecretion and incidence of adverse events. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 2 groups of patients, (A) of 47 subjects treated with conventional irradiation at a dose of 45 Gy, (B) of 6 subjects irradiated with stereo taxis radiotherapy at a dose of 15-20 Gy, were evaluated GH, IGF1 levels and pituitary function at 2, 5, 10 and 15 years after treatment. A cerebral MRI scan with detailed study of the sellar region was performed every year. RESULTS Group (A): decrease of GH levels in 9% of patients after 2 years from therapy, 29% after 5 years, 52% after 10 years, 77% after 15 years; normalization of IGF1 levels in 8% of cases after 2 years, 23%, 42% and 61% respectively after 5, 10 and 15 years; hypopituitarism in 57, 78, 85% of patients, respectively after 5, 10 and 15 years. Group (B):normalization of IGF1 levels in 4 of 6 patients after 5 years and in all subjects after 10 and 15 years; progressive decrease of GH levels in all patients and GH normalization in 2 of 6 cases after 10 years; hypopituitarism in 1 patient after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS We confirm the long term efficacy of external Radiotherapy in active acromegaly. Stereo taxis annuls the risks of neurological and neurovascular complications of conventional RT. Although comparison between the two techniques is not statistical significant in our cases we can affirm a faster normalization of IGF1 levels after stereotactic treatment.

Efficacia della Radioterapia Convenzionale nel controllo a breve e a lungo termine della malattia acromegalica: confronto con la metodica stereotassica

Giuseppe Minniti

Papers

The IMPACT of Molecular Grading of Gliomas on Contemporary Clinical Practice.

Dose Tolerances in Brain Metastasis Management

15-year-old boy with ocular palsy and headache

Correction to: Repeated amino acid PET imaging for longitudinal monitoring of brain tumors

Efficacia della Radioterapia Convenzionale nel controllo a breve e a lungo termine della malattia acromegalica: confronto con la metodica stereotassica