The frequency selectivity of the auditory system was measured by masking a sinusoidal signal (0.5, 2.0, or 4.0 kHz) or a filtered-speech signal with a wideband noise having a notch, or stopband, centered on the signal. As the notch was widened performance improved for both types of signal but the rate of improvement decreased as the age of the 16 listeners increased from 23 to 75 years, indicating a loss in frequency selectivity with age. Auditory filter shapes derived from the tone-in-noise data show (a) that the passband of the filter broadens progressively with age, and (b) that the dynamic range of the filter ages like the audiogram. That is, the range changes little with age before 55, but beyond this point there is an accelerating rate of loss. The speech experiment shows comparable but smaller effects. The filter-width measurements show that the critical ratio is a poor estimator of frequency selectivity because it confounds the tuning of the system with the efficiency of the signal-detection and speech-processing mechanisms that follow the filter. An alternative, one-point measure of frequency selectivity, which is both sensitive and reliable, is developed via the filter-shape model of masking.

Two experiments on oral reading of single words compared naming performance in pure blocks of nonwords or exception words with performance in blocks of randomly mixed nonwords and exception words. Ss named exception words faster and made fewer regularization errors when they were not also prepared for nonwords. These data suggest Ss inhibit or ignore the computation of assembled phonology when only exception words are expected. Ss named nonwords faster, but no more accurately, when low-frequency exception words were not also anticipated. Thus, Ss' readiness to execute assembled phonology appears to be adjusted in relation to the likely time course of retrieval of learned pronunciations, when the latter must be attended to. This evidence for strategic dissociation between sublexical and lexical translation is discussed in relation to current models.

The relationship between the magnitude of systemic inflammatory response and the nutritional/functional parameters in patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer were studied. The extent of weight loss, albumin, C-reactive protein, performance status and quality of life was measured in 106 patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (stages III and IV). Survival analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model. The majority of patients were male and almost 80% had elevated circulating C-reactive protein concentrations (410 mg l 71 ). On multivariate analysis, age (P=0.012), tumour type (0.002), weight loss (P=0.056), C-reactive protein (P=0.047), Karnofsky performance status (P=0.002) and fatigue (P=0.046) were independent predictors of survival. The patients were grouped according to the magnitude of the C-reactive protein concentrations (410, 11 -100 and 4100 mg l 71 ). An increase in the magnitude of the systemic inflammatory response was associated with increased weight loss (P=0.004), reduced albumin concentrations (P=0.001), reduced performance status (P=0.060), increased fatigue (P=0.011) and reduced survival (HR 1.936 95%CI 1.414 -2.650, P50.001). These results indicate that the majority of patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer have evidence of a systemic inflammatory response. Furthermore, an increase in the magnitude of the systemic inflammatory response resulted in greater weight loss, poorer performance status, more fatigue and poorer survival.

This trial has failed to observe a survival benefit with adjuvant chemotherapy following complete resection of stage I-III NSCLC. However, the hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals are consistent with the previously reported meta-analysis and two large recently reported trials, which suggest a small survival benefit with cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND Functional disability is reported frequently in fatigued cancer patients, but little is known about the correlation between fatigue and objective physical function. In addition, from previous work, the systemic inflammatory response and psychological distress appear to be related to fatigue. METHODS Thirty‐eight patients with metastatic or locally advanced lung carcinoma and 15 age‐matched and gender‐matched, healthy controls completed the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐Fatigue scale, a visual analogue weakness score, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) scale. Hemoglobin concentrations, C‐reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, creatine kinase concentrations, white blood cell count, body composition, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), grip strength, and chair‐rise time also were measured in both groups. The cancer patients were then grouped into tertiles on the basis of fatigue scores. RESULTS The cancer patients had greater fatigue compared with the control group (P < 0.001). They also weighed less, had lower hemoglobin and creatine kinase levels and higher CRP levels, and had lower KPS, poorer grip strength, longer chair‐rise times, and increased HAD scale scores (all P < 0.01). KPS and chair‐rise time were correlated strongly (r2 = 0.565; P < 0.001). With increasing fatigue, KPS was lower, and chair‐rise time and HAD scale scores were greater (P < 0.01). On multiple regression analysis, only KPS, weakness, and HAD scale scores were correlated independently with fatigue (r2 = 0.570; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Objective physical function (as measured by chair‐rise time) in patients with advanced lung cancer was poorer with increasing fatigue. Results of the current study suggest that fatigue is not a result primarily of weight loss or anemia but is related to KPS and psychological distress. [See editorial on pages 213–5, this issue.] Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.