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Problem. The failure of evidence to be translated in practice is sometimes referred to as the research-practice gap and can result in the inefficient use of limited health care resources. Methodology. The thesis investigated the role of evidence in determining clinical recommendations and practice in lung cancer care. This was accomplished by simultaneously comparing the results of a systematic review of evidence, cumulative meta-analysis, recommendations, key milestones, and physician prescription database. Results. There was limited evidence found in the literature for two novel chemotherapeutic agents (NCA) in combination with platinum chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Despite this, clinical recommendations for the use of these NCA were made within relatively short periods of time. There was rapid adoption of both NCA relative to recommendations by Ontario oncologists. Conclusion. Evidence-practice gaps in the treatment of advanced NSCLC are short and may even be premature or inappropriate.

The aim of the thesis was to study the molecular genetic and function offing, a novel gene having important role in central nervous system (CNS) and respiratory (tracheal) system development during Drosophila embryogenesis. We established by sequencing the gene that jing has three C2H2 zinc finger motifs, and several putative transcriptional regulatory sequences. jing plays an essential role in controlling CNS midline and tracheal cell differentiation. Mutation results in the appearance of a premature stop codon in the middle of the second zinc finger decreases survival ratio in those cells. This effect appears to be a result of the functional relationship between jing and the Egfr (Epidermal growth factor receptor) pathway in the developing CNS midline and trachea. jing is also a target of Trachealess:: Tango (Trh::Tgo) heterodimers, two members of the bHLH-PAS transcription factors, which play essential role in the development of CNS and trachea. However, jing expression is under multiple control mechanisms including auto-inhibition, inhibition by the POU domain transcription factor Drifter and the ETS transcription factor Aop. On the other hand, jing is required for the balance between repression and activation that regulates Trh- and Tgo-mediated btl transcription and subsequent growth factor levels to control signaling during the primary and secondary branching processes in the respiratory system. In conclusion, jing is a downstream target of Trh::Tgo complex and its function is required for CNS midline and tracheal cell development during Drosophila embryogenesis.

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