EQ-5D-Derived Health State Utility Values in Hematologic Malignancies: A Catalog of 796 Utilities Based on a Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES: We performed a systematic review of health state utility values (HSUVs) obtained using the EQ-5D questionnaire for patients with hematologic malignancies. METHODS: The following databases were searched up to September 2018: MEDLINE, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, and the EQ-5D publications database on the EuroQol website. Additional references were extracted from reviewed articles. Only studies presenting EQ-Index results were incorporated. In view of the heterogeneity across the included publications, we limited ourselves to a narrative synthesis of original HSUVs found. RESULTS: Fifty-nine studies (described in 63 articles) met the inclusion criteria. Data from 21 635 respondents provided 796 HSUV estimates for hematologic malignancy patients. EQ-Index scores ranged from -0.025 to 0.980. The most represented area was multiple myeloma (4 studies, 11 112 patients, and 249 HSUVs). In clinical areas such as chronic myeloid leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma, we described over 50 health utilities in each. In contrast, we identified only 13 HSUVs (based on 4 studies and the data of 166 patients) for Hodgkin lymphoma. Areas without EQ-5D-based health utilities comprised: polycythemia vera, primary myelofibrosis, essential thrombocythemia, mastocytosis, myeloid sarcoma, chronic myelomonocytic, eosinophilic leukemia, and neutrophilic leukemia. CONCLUSIONS: There is a wide range of HSUVs available for hematologic cancer patients with different indications. The review provides a catalog of utility values for use in cost-effectiveness models for hematologic malignancies.

Triggering the Shrinking/Swelling Process in Thin Gel Layers on Conducting Surfaces by Applying an Appropriate Potential.

Negatively charged, pH-sensitive, very thin gel layers with accumulated hexaammineruthenium (II)/(III) were deposited on conducting surfaces. The gel was synthesized by applying an electrochemically induced free-radical polymerization method. This method allowed covering the electrode surface with an uniform and compact layer. The modified electrodes exhibited excellent current switch on/off behavior in response to changes in pH. However, the main goal of this study was to achieve the control of the layer thickness by changing the oxidation state of hexaammineruthenium. The layers could be reversibly swollen/shrinked by applying appropriate potentials.