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Incorrect Interpretation (incorrect + interpretation)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	50%

Selected Abstracts

Application of the 1988 International Headache Society Diagnostic Criteria in Nine Italian Headache Centers using a Computerized Structured Record

HEADACHE, Issue 10 2002
Virgilio Gallai MD
Background.,The actual application of the current International Headache Society (IHS) diagnostic criteria in clinical practice has not been investigated thoroughly. Objectives.,To develop a computerized, structured, medical record based exclusively on the IHS classification system. Design and Method.,We tested the computerized structured record by entering and analyzing data reported on the case sheets of 500 consecutive patients attending nine headache centers in Italy. All clinical diagnoses in the study were made according to current IHS criteria. The rate of concordance between the diagnosis provided by the computerized structured record and that reported by clinicians on the case sheets was calculated, and reasons for any discrepancies between the two diagnoses were analyzed. Results.,Concordance between the two diagnoses was found in 345 of 500 cases examined (69%). In the remaining 155 cases, diagnoses reached with the computerized structured record and case sheets were impossible or discordant with respect to the diagnoses made by the clinician. In 144 of these cases (28.8%), this was due to missing information or errors in the diagnosis recorded by the clinicians on the patient case sheet. In particular, the diagnosis could not be reached using the computerized structured record in 105 cases (20.6%) because of a lack of one or more data needed in formulating a correct diagnosis according to the IHS operational criteria for one of the primary headache disorders. In the remaining 41 cases some data were missing, but the data available were sufficient to reach a diagnosis according to the IHS criteria. Moreover, the diagnoses reached using the computerized structured record were not in agreement with those made by the clinicians in another 39 cases (7.9%) due to an incorrect interpretation by the clinicians of the data reported on the patients' case sheets. In only 2.2% of the cases (n = 11) misdiagnoses were due to errors of the program that were promptly corrected. Conclusions.,The present study suggests that incorrect application of IHS criteria for the diagnosis of primary headache may occur in as many as one third of patients attending headache centers and that use of a computerized structured record based exclusively on current IHS criteria may overcome this deficiency. [source]

Understanding heterogeneity in meta-analysis: the role of meta-regression

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 10 2009
W. L. Baker
Summary Background:, Meta-regression has grown in popularity in recent years, paralleling the increasing numbers of systematic reviews and meta-analysis published in the biomedical literature. However, many clinicians and decision-makers may be unfamiliar with the underlying principles and assumptions made within meta-regression leading to incorrect interpretation of their results. Aims:, This paper reviews the appropriate use and interpretation of meta-regression in the medical literature, including cautions and caveats to its use. Materials & Methods:, A literature search of MEDLINE (OVID) from 1966-February 2009 was conducted to identify literature relevant to the topic of heterogeneity and/or meta-regression in systematic reviews and meta-analysis. Results:, Meta-analysis, a statistical method of pooling data from studies included in a systematic review, is often compromised by heterogeneity of its results. This could include clinical, methodological or statistical heterogeneity. Meta-regression, said to be a merging of meta-analytic and linear regression principles, is a more sophisticated tool for exploring heterogeneity. It aims to discern whether a linear relationship exists between an outcome measure and on or more covariates. The associations found in a meta-regression should be considered hypothesis generating and not regarded as proof of causality. Conclusions:, The current review will enable clinicians and healthcare decision-makers to appropriately interpret the results of meta-regression when used within the constructs of a systematic review, and be able to extend it to their clinical practice. [source]

A critical review of methodologies used in determination of relative bio-availability ratio of RRR -,-tocopheryl acetate and all - rac -,-tocopheryl acetate

JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE, Issue 10 2010
Yueming Dersjant-Li
Abstract Bio-availability of different ,-tocopherol forms in livestock animals is measured by the increase in plasma or tissue concentrations of ,-tocopherol after oral administration. It is generally accepted that RRR -,-tocopheryl acetate (natural source vitamin E derived from vegetable oil) has a higher bio-availability compared to all - rac -,-tocopheryl acetate (synthetic vitamin E, i.e. ,-tocopherol produced by chemical synthesis). However, different bio-availability ratios have been reported in the literature. The major reason for conflicting results in literature studies was the inability to separate the proportion of ,-tocopherol originating from test materials, from the proportion of ,-tocopherol originating from basal dietary ingredients and pre-feeding. This causes significant variability. For bio-availability determination, a baseline or control treatment is essential. The estimation of bio-availability without correction for basal vitamin E status will lead to incorrect interpretation of the results. When using proper methodologies, it is possible to correct for the impact of ,-tocopherol intake from basal ingredients and ,-tocopherol originating from pre-feeding, therefore yielding results reflecting the true relative bio-availability of different ,-tocopherol substances. When reviewing literature data a critical evaluation of the method used in determination of relative bio-availability is recommended. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry [source]

Electron microscopy of helical filaments: rediscovering buried treasures in negative stain

BIOESSAYS, Issue 9 2009
Edward H. Egelman
Abstract Although negative stain electron microscopy is a wonderfully simple way of directly visualizing protein complexes and other biological macromolecules, the images are not really comparable to those of objects seen in everyday life. The failure to appreciate this has recently led to an incorrect interpretation of RecA-family filament structures. [source]