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Other Risks (other + risk)
Terms modified by Other Risks Selected AbstractsAssessment of physical fitness for esophageal surgery, and targeting interventions to optimize outcomesDISEASES OF THE ESOPHAGUS, Issue 7 2010C. Feeney SUMMARY This review examines how higher levels of physiological reserve and fitness can help the patient endure the demands of esophageal surgery. Lung function, body composition, cardiac function, inflammatory mediators and exercise performance are all determinants of fitness. Physical fitness, both as an independent risk factor and through its effect on other risk factors, has been found to be significantly associated with the risk of developing postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) in patients following esophagectomy. Respiratory dysfunction preoperatively poses the dominant risk of developing complications, and PPCs are the most common causes of morbidity and mortality. The incidence of PPCs is between 15 and 40% with an associated 4.5-fold increase in operative mortality leading to approximately 45% of all deaths post-esophagectomy. Cardiac complications are the other principal postoperative complications, and pulmonary and cardiac complications are reported to account for up to 70% of postoperative deaths after esophagectomy. Risk reduction in patients planned for surgery is key in attaining optimal outcomes. The goal of this review was to discuss the risk factors associated with the development of postoperative pulmonary complications and how these may be modified prior to surgery with a specific focus on the pulmonary complications associated with esophageal resection. There are few studies that have examined the effect of modifying physical fitness pre-esophageal surgery. The data to date would indicate a need to develop targeted interventions preoperatively to increase physical function with the aim of decreasing postoperative complications. [source] When Can We Expect the Unexpected?JOURNAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES, Issue 1 2008Predicting Educational Attainment When it Differs from Previous Expectations Individuals' expectations are strong predictors of their behaviors; educational expectations predict enrollment in postsecondary education. Yet in many cases, a youth's previous educational expectations are not met or are exceeded. This study examines correlates of educational expectations and unexpected educational attainment using longitudinal data from Monitoring the Future, a U.S. national study. Demographic characteristics, educational experiences in high school, and other risk and protective factors were related to expectations for educational attainment during high school. Logistic regressions indicated that high school curriculum, average grades, educational aspirations, and parents' educational level were particularly strong indicators of youth not meeting their expectation to graduate from a 4-year college, or graduating from college despite expecting not to graduate by age 25/26. We discuss the implications of unexpected pathways in terms of discontinuity during transitions and consider the implications for improved educational and career counseling during high school. [source] Gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer: the evidenceBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 11 2009Seyed S. Dianat OBJECTIVE Prostate cancer is still the most frequent noncutaneous male malignancy and is the second most common cause of cancer death. Genetic factors have been extensively studied in different countries. In addition, numerous genome,wide association studies have been performed in developed countries. Genetic tests will be applied in the near future for diagnosis, therapeutic, and prognostic significance. Therefore, we reviewed the association of several important pathways and genes with critical functions in prostate cancer development or progression. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a PubMedŽ search using several key words such as prostate cancer, names of important genes with critical function, and polymorphisms. Then, we reviewed retrieved articles as well as relevant articles from 1997 to 2009. RESULTS There are conflicting results of studies on some gene polymorphisms in association with prostate cancer. Most of the inconsistent results have been reported in studies investigating the vitamin D receptor gene polymorphism in association with prostate cancer. Genes related to angiogenesis and cell adhesion genes are more promising. Following results of future studies, the use of antibodies blocking over-expressed genes or proteins may be supported in patients with prostate cancer. CONCLUSIONS The difference between the results of studies on gene polymorphisms in prostate cancer may be explained partly by ethnic differences, limited sample size, and other risk or protective factors modifying these effects. Genome-wide studies are currently performed in developed countries and extensive use of this type of analysis may merit consideration in other countries. Furthermore, future studies are needed to further investigate environmental and diet factors interactions with genetic factors. [source] Disease mechanisms leading to impaired blood flow in glaucomaACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009D GHERGHEL Purpose SIS lecture Methods Literature search Results Although primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), is associated more closely with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), other risk factors already implicated in the aetiology of this disease and especially in the aetiology of normal-tension glaucoma are: abnormal ocular circulation, ocular and systemic vascular dysregulation, as well as systemic blood pressure (BP) alterations. Oxidative stress, which occurs as a result of an imbalance between generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant defence mechanisms and is implicated in the pathogenesis of disorders ranging from atherosclerosis to neurodegenerative disorders, diabetes and aging, may also contribute to the general vascular disturbances observed in glaucoma. Moreover, increasing evidence shoes that oxidative stress plays a role in promoting endothelial dysfunction, which is a key factor in progression of vascular diseases. Indeed, glaucomatous optic nerve damage has been related to endothelial damage/dysfunction. This presentation explores the role of various ocular and systemic circulatory factors in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous neuropathy. [source] Real options for precautionary fisheries managementFISH AND FISHERIES, Issue 2 2008Eli P Fenichel Abstract The 1996 Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) ,Guidelines on the Precautionary Approach to Fisheries and Species Introduction' raise important issues for fisheries managers, but fail to prescribe an approach for risk management. The distinguishing characteristics of the ,precautionary approach' are the inclusion of uncertainty and ,an elaboration on the burden of proof'. The FAO precautionary approach emphasizes that managers should be risk-averse, but does not provide tools for determining the appropriate degree of risk aversion. Consequently, application of the precautionary approach often leads to decision-making based on ad hoc safety margins. These safety margins are seldom chosen with explicit consideration of trade-offs. If the emphasis was shifted to choosing between competing uncertainties, then managers could manage risk. By attempting to avoid risk, managers may gain exposure to other risks and perhaps miss valuable opportunities. We place fishery management problems within the rubric of ,real investment' problems, and compare and contrast the consideration of risk by alternative investment frameworks. We show that traditional investment frameworks are inappropriate for fishery management, and furthermore, that traditional precautionary approaches are arbitrary and without basis in decision theory. Quantitative decision-making techniques, such as formal decision analysis (FDA), enable integration of competing hypotheses that help alleviate burden-of-proof issues. These techniques help analysts consider sources of uncertainty. FDA, however, can still be subject to arbitrary safety margins because such analyses often focus on determining which strategies best achieve, or avoid, targets that have been established without complete consideration of trade-offs. A managerial finance approach, real options analysis (ROA), is an alternative and complementary decision-making technique that enables managers to compute precautionary adjustments that couple the size of the ,safety margin' with the amount of uncertainty, thereby optimizing risk exposure and avoiding the need for arbitrary safety margins. We illustrate the advantages of an approach that combines FDA and ROA, using a heuristic example about a decision to re-introduce Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) into Lake Ontario. Finally, we provide guidance on applying ROA to other fishery problems. The precautionary approach requires that managers consider risk, but considering risk is not the same as managing it. Here ROA is useful. [source] Agile requirements engineering practices and challenges: an empirical studyINFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 5 2010Balasubramaniam Ramesh Abstract This paper describes empirical research into agile requirements engineering (RE) practices. Based on an analysis of data collected in 16 US software development organizations, we identify six agile practices. We also identify seven challenges that are created by the use of these practices. We further analyse how this collection of practices helps mitigate some, while exacerbating other risks in RE. We provide a framework for evaluating the impact and appropriateness of agile RE practices by relating them to RE risks. Two risks that are intractable by agile RE practices emerge from the analysis. First, problems with customer inability and a lack of concurrence among customers significantly impact agile development. Second, risks associated with the neglecting non-functional requirements such as security and scalability are a serious concern. Developers should carefully evaluate the risk factors in their project environment to understand whether the benefits of agile RE practices outweigh the costs imposed by the challenges. [source] Judgmental Discounting and Environmental Risk Perception: Dimensional Similarities, Domain Differences, and Implications for SustainabilityJOURNAL OF SOCIAL ISSUES, Issue 1 2007Alexander Gattig Environmental risks constitute a special category of risks because they often involve consequences that are highly uncertain, strongly delayed, occurring at distant places, and,therefore,mostly borne by others. Economic, decision,theoretic, and psychological research about the way people deal with such consequences is reviewed. Two major findings are presented: first, there is evidence that discounting mechanisms are stable across different preference dimensions (uncertainty, temporal, spatial, and social distance). Second, discount rates tend to vary across different problem domains (e.g., environmental vs. health vs. financial risks). In particular, it appears that temporal discounting is less pronounced for environmental risks than in other domains. Several factors are identified that affect the nature of the risk evaluation process, and it is argued that environmental risks differ from other risks on such factors. These environmental-risk characteristics may have important implications for policy strategies to promote environmental sustainability. Contrary to other domains, appealing to the public's long-term preferences may be successful. Also in policy making, insights from standard economic decision theory to environmental decision making should be applied with caution. [source] Addictive Consumption under Conditions of RiskTHE ECONOMIC RECORD, Issue 234 2000HARRY CLARKE Addictive consumption involves health and other risks. This paper analyzes how such risks influence steady state consumption and equilibrium addiction. Mortality risks deter addictive consumption provided they are strongly addiction-dependent. If however risks are addiction-independent they may increase addictive consumption. Risks, which lead not to death but to large ongoing disutility, also deter addictive consumption provided they are strongly addiction-dependent. Non-steady state extensions of these results hold provided large enough disutility is associated with addiction-dependent risk. Increasing addiction-dependent risk and reducing addiction-independent risk promotes the social objective of reducing addictive consumption. [source] Opportunistic infections and other risks with newer multiple sclerosis therapies,ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2009Joseph R. Berger MD The introduction of newer therapies for the treatment of multiple sclerosis has generated considerable optimism. That optimism has been tempered by the potential risks of these therapies, such as the risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. A review of the possible causes of reactivation of JC virus in this population has illustrated the need to better understand the untoward effects of monoclonal antibody therapies and other immunomodulatory therapies currently being contemplated for use in multiple sclerosis. These drugs alter the immune response at different sites, and most, if not all, affect more than one aspect of host immunity. Drawing from existing experience with the use of these immunomodulatory therapies in other conditions and that available from the limited experience with multiple sclerosis, we review their potential untoward effects. The latter include a predisposition to opportunistic and community-acquired infections, an altered response to vaccination, the development of cancers, and the appearance of autoimmune diseases. The identification of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy as a risk of therapy is relatively straightforward in light of its rarity and high morbidity and mortality, but a relatively slight increased risk for more common and less disabling disorders may be overlooked. Determining the actual risk frequency for many of these complications will likely require careful postmarketing surveillance. Ann Neurol 2009;65:367,377 [source] | ||||||||||