The validity of studies utilizing codes in structured EHR fields and claims-based data is limited, at best, for inferring bone metastasis or studying its incidence, costs, morbidity, or mortality.
Such data are limited at present, although a small case-control study showed elevated levels of ALDH+ cells in epithelium and stroma of patients who later developed cancer [ 13], and an investigation of African women revealed a higher frequency of ALDH+ cells in breast cancer tissue compared to benign breast tissue [ 14].
To minimize potential confounding from patients with multiple blood cultures, data were limited to cultures performed at least 7 days apart (i.e., repeat cultures within 7 days were excluded); cultures obtained from the same patient ≥ 7 days apart were treated as unique patient encounters.
For reliable parameter estimation the data were limited to 79 children with at least 6 data points.
Finally, the clinical assessment data were limited to two time points at each facility, and don't provide details of the monthly progress in clinical practice.
Data were limited to participants with drinking records at age 23, 33, 42, and 50 (N = 7,086) and complete cases on all variables (N = 6,707) as presented in Figure 1.
Data were limited to children <5 years of age at diagnosis.
This was true regardless of whether data were limited to patients who were bisphosphonate naive at study entry, and the strength of the correlation is particularly striking in view of the fact that all patients received bisphosphonate therapy after entry to the study.
Demographic data were limited to size measurements.
Although data for Malaysia were limited at the time of our survey, the prevalence of ErbB2 positivity reported in a recent article is consistent with the prevalence we obtained.
