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Reliable Indicator (reliable + indicator)
Selected AbstractsNew reference for the age at childhood onset of growth and secular trend in the timing of puberty in SwedishACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 6 2000YX Liu The objectives of the present work were to present a new reference for the age at childhood onset of growth and to investigate the secular trend in the timing of puberty in a community-based normal population in Sweden. A total of 2432 children with longitudinal length/height data from birth to adulthood were used to determine the two measures by visual inspection of the measured attained length/height and the change in growth velocity displayed on a computer-generated infancy-childhood-puberty (ICP) based growth chart. The series represents a sample of normal full-term children born around 1974 in Göteborg, Sweden. We found about 10% of children were delayed (>12 mo of age) in the childhood onset of growth based on the previous reported normal range, i.e. 14% in boys and 8% in girls. Distribution of the age at childhood onset of growth was skewed. The medians were 10 and 9 mo for boys and girls, respectively. After natural logarithmic transformation, the mean and standard deviation (SD) were 2.29 (anti-log 9.9 mo) and 0.226 for boys, 2.23 (anti-log 9.3 mo) and 0.220 for girls, respectively. The 95% normal ranges were 6.3-15.4 and 6.0-14.3 for boys and girls, respectively. The distribution of the timing of PHV was close to the normal distribution. The mean values were 13.5 y for boys and 11.6 y for girls with 1 y SD for both sexes. Conclusion: A downward secular trend in the onset of puberty was clearly shown in the population. The age at childhood onset of growth did not correlate with the timing of puberty (r=,0.01 and 0.05, p > 0.7 and 0.1 in boys and girls, respectively). Normal ranges of the age at childhood onset of growth are in need of revise, as this study indicates. The new reference presented here could be a reliable indicator in further studies. [source] Anal cytology: Is there a role for reflex HPV DNA testing?DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2005A.E. Walts M.D. Abstract There is an increased incidence of anal squamous carcinoma and its precursor lesions (anal intraepithelial neoplasia [AIN]) among persons who engage in anal-receptive sex. Analogous to cervical cancer screening, anal Papanicplaou (Pap) smears currently are used to screen these high-risk populations. Human papilloma virus (HPV) has been implicated in anal carcinoma pathogenesis and this study was performed to assess the potential role of HPV DNA testing as an adjunct to anal cytology. We correlated cytological diagnoses and HPV DNA (Digene Hybrid Capture [HC II] assay) in anal specimens collected in SurePath liquid medium from 118 patients; 54.8% of cases diagnosed as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) and 87.8% diagnosed as low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) or above tested positive for high- risk HPV DNA (B+). High-grade SIL (HSIL) was present in 31 of the 51 patients with follow-up. Although a cytological diagnosis of ASC-US or above was a reliable indicator for AIN, cytology frequently did not accurately predict the grade of SIL in subsequent biopsy. Our findings suggest that reflex HPV DNA testing would be helpful in triaging patients diagnosed with ASC-US. However, patients diagnosed with LSIL or above should go directly to ansocopic biopsy. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2005;33:152,156. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Cytology of primary central nervous system neoplasms in cerebrospinal fluid specimensDIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2002David C. Chhieng M.D. Abstract Although two-thirds of tumors occurring in the central nervous system (CNS) are primary neoplasms, only 10% of positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens are from primary CNS tumors. In this study, we reviewed the cytologic findings of 21 positive CSF specimens from primary CNS tumors. A computer search identified 21 cases of positive CSF specimens from patients with primary CNS tumors from the archives. Follow-up included review of medical charts and histologic correlation. The specimens were from 20 patients (9 females and 11 males). Their ages ranged from 6,83 yr, old with a mean of 30 yr. The cases included 9 medulloblastomas, 7 gliomas (3 glioblastoma multiformes, 2 anaplastic astrocytomas, and 2 ependymomas), 2 germinomas, 2 non-Hodgkin's large B-cell lymphomas, and 1 ganglioneurocytoma. Two cases were classified as suspicious and the remaining as positive for malignancy. Immunocytochemistry was employed in 3 cases to support the cytologic diagnosis. These cases included one large-cell lymphoma (leukocyte-common antigen-positive), one germinoma (placental alkaline phosphatase-positive), and the ganglioneurocytoma (neuron-specific enolase- and synaptophysin-positive). There were no false-positive cases. Our results suggest that positive CSF cytology in patients with a primary CNS tumor is a reliable indicator of malignancy and reflects leptomeningeal involvement. The use of immunocytochemistry is helpful in confirming the cytologic impression in some cases. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2002;26:209,212. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Complete elimination of carbonates: A critical step in the accurate measurement of organic and black carbon in sedimentsENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 9 2005Marta T. Lukasewycz Abstract Accurate measurement of organic carbon (OC) and black carbon (BC) in sediments requires the complete removal of coexisting inorganic carbonates from the sample before instrumental analysis. The removal of carbonates from sediments is achieved with acidification, which causes the dissolution and decomposition of carbonates with accompanying effervescence. This effervescence, or the lack of it, is commonly used as an indicator for the presence or absence of carbonates. We have found that the lack of effervescence endpoint used with the direct acidification method (adding aliquots of acid to samples) is not a reliable indicator for complete removal of carbonates from sediment samples. The ineffectiveness of the lack of effervescence endpoint, we believe, is caused by the presence of carbonates with dissolution rates much slower than those of calcite, resulting in much slower rates of visible effervescence. We propose and demonstrate a method for determining the amount of acid required for complete elimination of all carbonates using Lake Michigan (USA) sediment samples. Based on our experiences with the lack of effervescence endpoint, we recommend that in any scheme for analysis of OC and/or BC, a minimum of two samples be treated with three different levels of acidification, with the lowest level being the same as that planned for all the OC and/or BC analyses. There can be no significant differences among the OC and BC contents measured using the three different levels of acidification. [source] What Females Tell Males About Their Reproductive Status: Are Morphological and Behavioural Cues Reliable Signals of Ovulation in Bonobos (Pan paniscus)?ETHOLOGY, Issue 7 2002Karin E. Reichert In many Old World primate species, female attractivity increases during the tumescent phase of the sexual swelling for a period that lasts considerably longer than oestrus-related attractivity in other mammals. We examined the reliability of the swelling as an indicator of ovulation in captive bonobos, a species with a long and variable phase of maximum tumescence. Using a combined approach of (1) observations of sexual behaviour, (2) visual scoring of the sexual swelling and (3) analysis of faecal progestin to assess the timing of ovulation during 23 ovulatory cycles of eight adult females, we found that in 30% of these cycles the presumed day of ovulation did not fall within the period of maximum tumescence. When ovulation did occur during maximum swelling, it was more closely related to the end rather than the onset of the maximum swelling period. However, the pattern of sexual swelling was not a reliable indicator of ovulation. In addition, sexual behaviour of both sexes increased in frequency with the degree of the swelling but not around the time of ovulation. We conclude that swellings in bonobos provide honest information on the probability of ovulation, but not its exact timing, and that therefore the `obvious ovulation'-hypothesis cannot explain the function of sexual swellings in bonobos. [source] Dynamics and function of intron sequences of the wingless gene during the evolution of the Drosophila genusEVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2004J. Costas Summary To understand the function and evolution of genes with complex patterns of expression, such as the Drosophila wingless gene, it is essential to know how their transcription is regulated. However, extracting the relevant regulatory information from a genome is still a complex task. We used a combination of comparative genomics and functional approaches to identify putative regulatory sequences in two introns (1 and 3) of the wingless gene and to infer their evolution. Comparison of the sequences obtained from several Drosophila species revealed colinear and well-conserved sequence blocks in both introns. Drosophila willistoni showed a rate of evolution, in both introns, faster than expected from its phylogenetic position. Intron 3 appeared to be composed of two separate modules, one of them lost in the willistoni group. We tested whether sequence conservation in noncoding regions is a reliable indicator of regulatory function and, if this function is conserved, by analyzing D. melanogaster transgenic reporter lines harboring intron 3 sequences from D. melanogaster (Sophophora subgenus) and the species from the Drosophila subgenus presenting the most divergent sequence, D. americana. The analysis indicated that intron 3 contains pupal enhancers conserved during the evolution of the genus, despite the fact that only 30% of the D. melanogaster intron 3 sequences lie in conserved blocks. Additional analysis of D. melanogaster transgenic reporter lines harboring intron 3 sequences from D. willistoni revealed the absence of an abdomen-specific expression pattern, probably due to the above-mentioned loss of a regulatory module in this species. [source] Assessment of salmon stocks and the use of management targets; a case study of the River Tamar, EnglandFISHERIES MANAGEMENT & ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2007K. HENDRY Abstract, Over recent years the rod and net catch of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., on the River Tamar in south-west England has decreased markedly, resulting in a consistent failure to meet the minimum egg deposition target (conservation limit). Compliance with the target is by annual assessment using rod catch as the major input variable. Further analysis suggested a disproportionate deterioration in the rod fishery performance of the Tamar compared with rivers locally, regionally and nationally. A concomitant decrease in rod licence sales and fishing effort, above both national and regional trends was also evident. However, examination of juvenile electric fishing and adult fish counter data revealed a different trend for the past 10 years, indicating a stable fish population, albeit at a lower level of abundance than previously. The analyses suggested that without consideration of changes in effort and rod exploitation rate, rod catch alone is not a reliable indicator of stock abundance and hence should not be used as such in stock assessment. [source] Reduced genetic variation in Norwegian Peregrine Falcons Falco peregrinus indicated by minisatellite DNA fingerprintingIBIS, Issue 1 2002Jan T. Lifjeld The Scandinavian Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus population went through a severe population bottleneck during the second half of the twentieth century, and was almost extinct during the 1970s. This event may have reduced the amount of genetic variation in the population. With this background, a comparative study, using multilocus, minisatellite DNA fingerprinting, was carried out on broods of the Peregrine Falcon, the Merlin Falco columbarius and the Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo from south-east Norway. Band-sharing analysis of DNA fingerprints was used to test whether broods of Peregrine Falcons showed a greater between-nest similarity in their fingerprint profiles than did broods of the two congeneric species breeding in the same region, which have not undergone any recent population bottlenecks. The results show that broods of Peregrine Falcons were significantly more similar to each other genetically than were broods of either Merlins or Eurasian Hobbies. Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between the similarity in minisatellite DNA and the similarity in a set of 11 microsatellite loci analysed for a subset of the Peregrine Falcon samples. The correlation supports the assumption that minisatellite fingerprints provide a reliable indicator of overall genetic similarity, i.e. relatedness, between breeding pairs in the population. Hence we can conclude that broods of Peregrine Falcons were genetically more related to each other than were broods of the other two species. The high similarity in minisatellite DNA between broods indicates a loss of genetic variation in the Peregrine Falcon population caused by the bottleneck, but this explanation can only be verified through a comparative genetic study of individuals sampled before and after the bottleneck event. [source] Biological indicators of prognosis in Ewing's sarcoma: An emerging role for lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP)INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 1 2010Diana Zambelli Abstract Starting from an experimental model that accounts for the 2 most important adverse processes to successful therapy of Ewing's sarcoma (EWS), chemoresistance and the presence of metastasis at the time of diagnosis, we defined a molecular signature of potential prognostic value. Functional annotation of differentially regulated genes revealed 3 major networks related to cell cycle, cell-to-cell interactions and cellular development. The prognostic impact of 8 genes, representative of these 3 networks, was validated in 56 EWS patients. High mRNA expression levels of HINT1, IFITM2, LGALS3BP, STOML2 and c-MYC were associated with reduced risk to death and lower risk to develop metastasis. At multivariate analysis, LGALS3BP, a matricellular protein with a role in tumor progression and metastasis, was the most important predictor of event-free survival and overall survival. The association between LGALS3BP and prognosis was confirmed at protein level, when expression of the molecule was determined in tumor tissues but not in serum, indicating a role for the protein at local tumor microenvironment. Engineered enhancement of LGALS3BP expression in EWS cells resulted in inhibition of anchorage independent cell growth and reduction of cell migration and metastasis. Silencing of LGALS3BP expression reverted cell behavior with respect to in vitro parameters, thus providing further functional validation of genetic data obtained in clinical samples. Thus, we propose LGALS3BP as a novel reliable indicator of prognosis, and we offer genetic signatures to the scientific communities for cross-validation and meta-analysis, which are indispensable tools for a rare tumor such as EWS. [source] Strong relationship between NT-proXNP levels and cardiac output following cardiac surgery in neonates and infantsACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2010T. BREUER Background: NT-proXNP, a new natriuretic peptide analyte, incorporates information about the concentrations of both N-terminal pro-atrial and pro-brain natriuretic peptides (NT-proANP, NT-proBNP). We aimed to investigate whether NT-proXNP is a reliable indicator of the cardiac index (CI) and the hemodynamic state in neonates and infants undergoing an open heart surgery. Methods: We enrolled 26 children under the age of 1 year into this prospective study. All patients underwent an elective cardiac operation with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to achieve complete biventricular repair. Peri-operative hemodynamic parameters were assessed by transpulmonary thermodilution and natriuretic peptide levels were recorded. Results: The NT-proXNP level correlated significantly with the simultaneously measured NT-proANP level (r=0.60, P<0.001), but more strongly with the NT-proBNP level (r=0.89, P<0.001) and the arithmetic sum of both (r=0.88, P<0.001). NT-proXNP had a strong correlation with CI (r=,0.85, P<0.001), the stroke volume index (r=,0.80, P<0.001) and the global ejection fraction (r=,0.67, P<0.009) throughout the post-operative period. Conventionally measured parameters such as heart rate, mean arterial pressure and pulse-pressure product exhibited weaker correlations with CI than NT-proXNP. Among laboratory values, creatinine levels correlated significantly with CI (r=,0.77, P<0.001) and NT-proXNP (r=0.76, P<0.001) during the post-operative period. A post-operative NT-proXNP level of 3079 pmol/l was diagnostic for CI <3 l/min/m2 with 89% sensitivity and 90% specificity (area under the curve: 0.91 ± 0.05). Conclusion: NT-proXNP is a good marker of cardiac output following pediatric cardiac surgery and might be a useful tool in the recognition of a low output state. [source] It Ain't Broke: The Past, Present, and Future of Venture CapitalJOURNAL OF APPLIED CORPORATE FINANCE, Issue 2 2010Steven N. Kaplan This article presents a selective history of the U.S. venture capital (VC) industry, a discussion of the current state of the market, and some predictions about where the market is going. There is no doubt that the U.S. venture capital industry has been very successful. The VC model has provided an efficient solution to a difficult problem,that of enabling people with promising ideas but often limited track records to raise capital from outside investors. A large fraction of IPOs, including many of the most successful, have been funded by venture capitalists, and the U.S. VC model has been copied around the world. Armed with this historical perspective, the authors view with skepticism the recent claims that the VC model is broken. In the past, VC investments in companies have represented a remarkably constant 0.15% of the total value of the stock market; and commitments to VC funds, while more variable, have been consistently in the 0.10% to 0.20% range. Both of these percentages have continued to hold in recent years. And despite the relatively low number of IPOs, the returns to VC funds this decade have largely maintained their historical relationship to the overall stock market. To be sure, VC investment and returns continue to be subject to boom-and-bust cycles. But if the recent period has most of the features of a bust, the authors view today's historically low level of commitments to U.S. VC funds as a fairly reliable indicator of relatively high expected returns for the 2009 and (probably) 2010 vintage years. Perhaps the most promising future role for venture capital, as the authors suggest in closing, is to increase the productivity of the corporate research and development function through various kinds of partnerships and outsourcing arrangements. [source] Evaluation of the alkaline wash/lysis procedure for the molecular diagnosis of a positive bacterial blood culture in clinical routine practiceJOURNAL OF CLINICAL LABORATORY ANALYSIS, Issue 3 2010Sheng-Chuan Hsi Abstract Blood culture is commonly used to detect microorganisms in patients with a suspected blood infection. This study evaluated the alkaline wash/lysis procedure to extract DNA of microorganisms in a clinical blood culture. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S rDNA (ribosomal DNA) gene and the fungal ITS (internal transcribed spacer) gene was used as a reliable indicator for the presence of microorganism DNA in the extracts. A total of 535BacT/ALERT positive blood culture bottles were evaluated. Multiplex PCR showed positive results in 530 DNA extracts, but 5 DNA extracts gave negative results. We conclude that the alkaline wash/lysis procedure in combination with the multiplex PCR is a simple and sensitive method, which can be used in a standard diagnostic laboratory to detect microorganisms in blood culture material. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 24:139,144, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Measuring Brain Atrophy in Multiple SclerosisJOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING, Issue 2007Nicola De Stefano MD ABSTRACT The last decade has seen the development of methods that use conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide sensitive and reproducible assessments of brain volumes. This has increased the interest in brain atrophy measurement as a reliable indicator of disease progression in many neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis (MS). After a brief introduction in which we discuss the most commonly used methods for assessing brain atrophy, we will review the most relevant MS studies that have used MRI-based quantitative measures of brain atrophy, the clinical importance of these results, and the potential for future application of these measures to understand MS pathology and progression. Despite the number of issues that still need to be solved, the measurement of brain atrophy by MRI is sufficiently precise and accurate. It represents one of most promising in vivo measures of neuroaxonal degeneration in MS, and it should be used extensively in the future to assess and monitor pathological evolution and treatment efficacy in this disease. [source] Assessing postprandial glucose using 1,5-anhydroglucitol: An integrative literature reviewJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF NURSE PRACTITIONERS, Issue 10 2009Brian Lee Christensen MS, CDE CDE-certified Diabetes Educator, FNP-BC Abstract Purpose: Recent studies have determined postprandial blood glucose is an independent risk factor for macrovascular complications. This risk exists, despite having HbA1C results within acceptable ranges for diabetes. 1,5-Anhydroglucitol (1,5AG) has been proposed as an appropriate indicator to detect and screen for postprandial hyperglycemia (PPHG). This review discusses the efficacy of 1,5AG to predict PPHG in order to reveal those who may be at risk for macrovascular complications. Data Sources: An electronic search was conducted from 2003 to 2008 in the following databases: Medline, CINAHL, Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, and Pre-CINAHL. Any articles relating to 1,5AG as a marker for PPHG were used. The search was limited to any human research articles published in English. All articles were reviewed for additional relevant studies. Conclusions: 1,5AG was found to be a reliable indicator of PPHG, even when HbA1C levels were within target ranges. 1,5AG may be a simple and effective tool for primary care providers to identify those at risk for macrovascular complications, who would otherwise go unnoticed if assessed by HbA1C alone. [source] Citation rates and perceptions of scientific contributionJOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 2 2006Dag W. Aksnes In this study scientists were asked about their own publication history and their citation counts. The study shows that the citation counts of the publications correspond reasonably well with the authors' own assessments of scientific contribution. Generally, citations proved to have the highest accuracy in identifying either major or minor contributions. Nevertheless, according to these judgments, citations are not a reliable indicator of scientific contribution at the level of the individual article. In the construction of relative citation indicators, the average citation rate of the subfield appears to be slightly more appropriate as a reference standard than the journal citation rate. The study confirms that review articles are cited more frequently than other publication types. Compared to the significance authors attach to these articles they appear to be considerably "overcited." However, there were only marginal differences in the citation rates between empirical, methods, and theoretical contributions. [source] Prognostic analysis in chronic hepatitis B patients: a retrospective study of 216 cases about Scheuer scores, in situ expression of viral antigens and tissue hepatitis B virus DNA levelsLIVER INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2006Rong Zhu Abstract: Background: Most of the previous studies of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection concentrated on serum samples. Liver biopsy specimens for HBV have not been systematically analyzed. This study was performed to analyze some histopathological indicators (Scheuer scores, the expression of HBV antigens in situ, HBV DNA quantification) in the biopsy samples and showed the relationship among them and the prognosis of chronic hepatitis. Methods: A total of 216 consecutive chronic HBV-infected patients were followed up by clinical and laboratory data and classified into two groups at first: carcinogenesis and non-carcinogenesis. The non-carcinogenesis also included two groups: cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis. The non-cirrhosis was still divided into fluctuation and normalization at last. Histological activity index was described by Scheuer scores. Two-step immunohistochemical staining showed the expression of viral antigens in situ. Tissue HBV DNA levels were determined by fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR. Results: Regression analysis revealed significant positive correlations between the expression of hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and grading, as well as between hepatitis Bx (HBx) protein and grading or staging of Scheuer scores. Positive correlations between grading or staging and prognosis were statistically significant. The expressions of HBeAg and HBx protein were higher in patients with cirrhosis than those without cirrhosis. Scheuer score was the most important indicator of prognosis. Conclusions: HBeAg and HBx protein can be used as indicators of hepatitis activity and their positive expressions increase the risk for cirrhosis remarkably. In addition to be a marker of liver damage, Scheuer score is the most reliable indicator of the prognosis. [source] Estimation of the differential pressure at renal artery stenoses,MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 5 2004Peter J. Yim Abstract Atherosclerotic disease of the renal artery can lead to reduction in arterial caliber and ultimately to conditions including renovascular hypertension. Renal artery stenosis is conventionally assessed, using angiography, according to the severity of the stenosis. However, the severity of a stenosis is not a reliable indicator of functional significance, or associated differential pressure, of a stenosis. A methodology is proposed for estimation of the renal artery differential pressure (RADP) from MR imaging. Realistic computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models are constructed from MR angiography (MRA) and phase-contrast (PC) MR. The CFD model is constructed in a semiautomated manner from the MR images using the Isosurface Deformable Model (IDM) for surface reconstruction and a Marching Front algorithm for construction of the volumetric CFD mesh. Validation of RADP estimation was performed in a realistic physical flow-through model. Under steady flow, the CFD estimate of the differential pressure across a stenosis in the physical flow-through model differed by an average of 5.5 mmHg from transducer measurements of the pressure differential, for differential pressures less than 60 mmHg. These results demonstrate that accurate estimates of differential pressure at stenoses may be possible based only on structural and flow images. Magn Reson Med 51:969,977, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Plasma protein profiles in early asthmatic responses to inhalation allergen challengeALLERGY, Issue 1 2009T. Rhim Although mediators, such as lipids, cytokines, and chemokines, are related to the appearance of an IPR, there has been no reliable indicator to predict conditions for the appearance of an IPR. In this study, we adopted a proteomic approach to investigate the pathogenesis at the level of the plasma proteins and to develop plasma markers to predict the appearance of an IPR following an inhalation challenge with Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (D.p.). Sixteen mild asthmatics were recruited. Plasma was obtained before challenge and when a decline in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) values greater than 20% from the phosphate-buffered saline value was achieved during D.p. allergen challenge (positive responders), or at 60 min after the highest concentration of D.p. allergen was inhaled (negative responders). After comparing normalized volumes of the spots in the two groups, differentially expressed spots were identified using intra-gel digestion and mass spectrometric analysis. Before D.p. antigen challenge, four spots of gamma fibrinogen and its isoforms were significantly decreased and two spots of complement C3 fragments were significantly increased in the positive responders compared to the negative responders. After D.p. antigen challenge, complement C3 fragment was persistently higher, while gamma fibrinogen was lower in the positive responders than in the negative responders. A validation study using Western blotting showed that gamma fibrinogen expression in the IPR-positive asthmatics was significantly decreased compared to the average of the IPR-negative asthmatic control group. These results indicate that alterations in the complement cascade and fibrinogen may predispose patients to the appearance of an immediate response to D.p. allergen challenge and may provide plasma markers to predict the appearance of an IPR. [source] The impact of mergers on relaxed X-ray clusters , I. Dynamical evolution and emergent transient structuresMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 3 2006Gregory B. Poole ABSTRACT We report on the analysis of a suite of smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations (incorporating cooling and star formation) of mergers involving idealized X-ray clusters whose initial conditions resemble relaxed clusters with cool compact cores observed by Chandra and XMM. The simulations sample the most-interesting, theoretically plausible, range of impact parameters and progenitor mass ratios. We find that all mergers evolve via a common progression. We illustrate this progression in the projected gas density, X-ray surface brightness, Sunyaev,Zel'dovich, temperature, and gas-entropy maps. Several different classes of transient ,cold front' like features can arise over the course of a merger. Each class is distinguished by a distinct morphological signature and physical cause. We find that all these classes are present in Chandra and XMM observations of merging systems and propose a naming scheme for these features: ,comet-like' tails, bridges, plumes, streams and edges. In none of the cases considered do the initial cool compact cores of the primary and the secondary get destroyed during the course of the mergers. Instead, the two remnant cores eventually combine to form a new core that, depending on the final mass of the remnant, can have a greater cooling efficiency than either of its progenitors. We quantify the evolving morphology of our mergers using centroid variance, power ratios and offset between the X-ray and the projected mass maps. We find that the centroid variance best captures the dynamical state of the cluster. It also provides an excellent indicator of how far the system is from virial and hydrostatic equilibrium. Placing the system at z= 0.1, we find that all easily identified observable traces of the secondary disappear from a simulated 50-ks Chandra image following the second pericentric passage. The system, however, takes an additional ,2 Gyr to relax and virialize. Observationally, the only reliable indicator of a system in this state is the smoothness of its X-ray surface brightness isophotes, not temperature fluctuations. Temperature fluctuations at the level of ,T/T, 20 per cent, can persist in the final systems well past the point of virialization, suggesting that the existence of temperature fluctuations, in and of themselves, does not necessarily indicate a disturbed or unrelaxed system. [source] Expression of E-cadherin and catenins in meningioma: Ubiquitous expression and its irrelevance to malignancyPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2005Shio Shimada The expression of cell adhesion molecules in 107 meningiomas was analyzed with immunohistochemical methods using antibodies to epithelial (E)-cadherin and catenins (,, , and ,). According to the provided World Health Organization (WHO) grading, 84, 18 and five cases were classified as grade I, II and III, respectively. In addition, hemangioblastoma (15 cases) and hemangiopericytoma (four cases) were also evaluated. In most meningiomas, E-cadherin, ,- and ,-catenins were expressed along the cell membrane or inside the cytoplasm. The tumor cells constituting whorls and glandular structures of secretory type showed a strong immunoreactivity. ,-Catenin expression tended to be weak and infrequent in fibrous meningiomas, while other types exhibited diffuse stainings. Even in meningiomas of more than grade II, the expressions of cell adhesion molecules were detected in all cases. Hemangiopericytoma was positive for ,- and ,-catenins, and hemangioblastomas were positive for ,-catenin alone, which was distinct from the expression pattern in meningiomas. Quantitatively, there were no correlations between the histological variants, Ki-67 indexes, or grades of meningiomas and the immunoreactive scores except for ,-catenin scores of fibrous meningiomas. The present study demonstrates that cell adhesion molecules are ubiquitously expressed in all variants of meningioma and may be involved in the tumor morphogenesis. This result suggests that the expression of cell adhesion molecules is not a reliable indicator of malignancy in meningiomas. The present study also suggests that these markers may be useful for the differential diagnosis of meningioma. [source] More than smile sheets: Rasch analysis of training reactions in a medical centerPERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT QUARTERLY, Issue 3 2009Daniel McLinden EdD Reaction questionnaires administered at the conclusion of a training program are a common method of evaluation. Because such questionnaires are often constructed and analyzed in an ad hoc manner, their usefulness is often difficult to gauge. However, if properly constructed and analyzed, such instruments can help to make clear the strengths and weaknesses of programs. This article presents a framework for questionnaire development and analysis to ensure that such questionnaires are psychometrically sound and useful for decision making. The data used for this research were from over 5,000 questionnaires completed by individuals at the conclusion of educational programs. The Rasch model was used to evaluate the data. Results suggest that the posttraining questionnaire is a valid and reliable indicator of program quality. In addition, the Rasch analysis provided empirically based methods for diagnosing needed improvements to assessment instruments. [source] Stay green trait in grain sorghum: relationship between visual rating and leaf chlorophyll concentrationPLANT BREEDING, Issue 4 2000W. Xu Abstract Post-flowering drought tolerance is referred to as the stay green trait in sorghum. Plants with stay green resist drought-induced premature plant senescence. In breeding programmes, stay green is evaluated under limited irrigation, post-flowering moisture-stress field conditions and visually scored at or soon after physiological grain maturity. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between the stay green rating and total leaf chlorophyll content. The parents B35 and Tx7000, and their 98 F, recombinant inbred lines were evaluated in replicated field trials under limited (post-flowering stress) and full-irrigation (non-stress) conditions. After scoring the stay green trait of stressed plants, total leaf chlorophyll contents were measured with a chlorophyll meter (SPAD values) and a spectrophotometer method. The SPAD value had a significant linear relationship with total leaf chlorophyll (R2= 0.91) and with visual stay green rating (with R2= 0.82). Relative water content in top leaves of the stay green lines was about 81%, much higher than non-stay green lines (38%), indicating that the stay green lines kept the stalk transporting system functioning under severe drought conditions, The results indicate that visual stay green ratings were a reliable indicator of leaf senescence an should be useful to sorghum breeders in evaluating progeny when breeding for drought tolerance. [source] Influence of nitrogen source and concentration on nitrogen isotopic discrimination in two barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare L.)PLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 9 2003K. J. KOLB ABSTRACT The occurrence of nitrogen isotope discrimination with absorption and assimilation of nitrate (NO3,) and ammonium (NH4+) was investigated using two genotypes of barley, Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Steptoe and Az12 : Az70, the latter of which lacks the characterized nitrate reductase isozymes. Plants were grown under two situations: a closed system with limited nitrogen or an open system with unlimited nitrogen, to elucidate the conditions and processes that influence discrimination. There was no discrimination observed for Az12 : Az70 when supplied with limited nitrogen. Discrimination was observed for Steptoe seedlings at high external NO3, concentrations, but not with low NO3, when assimilation is probably rapid and complete. The same pattern was observed for Steptoe when NH4+ was supplied; indicating that for both nitrogen forms discrimination is dependent upon the presence of the assimilatory enzyme and the external concentration. The implications of this study are that both internal (assimilatory enzyme distribution) and external (source concentration) factors may have a larger impact on tissue , 15N than the form of nitrogen utilized. This suggests that tissue , 15N may not always be a reliable indicator of a plant's integrated nitrogen nutrition. [source] The sonographic diagnosis of chorionicityPRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 9 2005A. Shetty Abstract The differentiation between mono- and dichorionic placentation in twin pregnancies is of clinical importance because of the significant difference in perinatal morbidity and mortality between the two, and the increased surveillance indicated in monochorionic gestations. Application of ultrasonography has enabled very precise prenatal determination of chorionicity. While this is best performed in the first trimester when accuracy approaches 100%, even in the third trimester, using a composite cascade of available sonographic features, accuracy has been reported to approach 97%. While two clearly separate placentae or discordant fetal gender conform to dichorionicity, in most twin pregnancies other features need to be assessed to determine chorionicity. The presence of the ,lambda' or the ,T' sign in the presence of a single placenta, best determined in the first trimester, is the most reliable indicator of chorionicity, with measurements of the inter-twin membrane thickness and counting of the membrane layers being less reliable. In this article, we review the sonographic features that help in the accurate depiction of chorionicity. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Quantitative Analysis of Tympanic Membrane Disease Using Video-Otoscopy ,THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 10 2000Vikram J. Jaisinghani MD Abstract Objective To perform quantitative analysis of pathological changes in the tympanic membrane using video-otoscopic images. Study Design Prospective case-control study. Methods Forty-two ears of children with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) and 15 ears of normal children were included in this study. Tympanic membrane images were captured and digitized using a Welch-Allyn (Skaneatales Falls, NY) VDX-300 Illumination and Imaging system with S-VHS input to a MIRO DC 30 (Pinnacle Systems, Mountain View, CA) visual board in a Power PC,based computer. These images were visualized and recorded during static and pneumatic pressure changes. Quantitative analysis of tympanic membrane disease was performed using Image Pro Plus Imaging software (Media Cybernetics, Del Mar, CA). The measurements included area of the tympanic membrane and its quadrants, area of tympanic membrane involved by disease, angle formed at the umbo, and length of the malleus versus vertical length of the tympanic membrane. Results Tympanosclerosis was present in 57% of ears and occurred most frequently in the anteroinferior quadrant, but the ma-imum area of involvement was in the posteroinferior quadrant. The ratio of the angles formed at the umbo was significantly greater (P = .01) for the OME group compared with the control group. The ratio of the length of the umbo and the vertical length of the tympanic membrane was almost identical for the OME and the control groups (P = .4). Conclusions Video-otoscopic images can be used for quantitative analysis of tympanic membrane disease. The ratio of the posterior angle to the anterior angle formed at the umbo seems to be a more reliable indicator of post otitis media than is a reduced length of the long process of malleus. [source] SOLVING THE PROBLEM OF EASY KNOWLEDGETHE PHILOSOPHICAL QUARTERLY, Issue 233 2008Tim Black Stewart Cohen argues that several epistemological theories fall victim to the problem of easy knowledge: they allow us to know far too easily that certain sceptical hypotheses are false and that how things seem is a reliable indicator of how they are. This problem is a result of the theories' interaction with an epistemic closure principle. Cohen suggests that the theories should be modified. I argue that attempts to solve the problem should focus on closure instead; a new and plausible epistemic closure principle can solve the problem of easy knowledge. My solution offers a uniform and more successful response to different versions of the problem of easy knowledge. [source] Assessment of cognitive function in systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis by computerized neuropsychological testsARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2010John G. Hanly Objective Computerized neuropsychological testing may facilitate screening for cognitive impairment in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study was undertaken to compare patients with SLE, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with healthy controls using the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM). Methods Patients with SLE (n = 68), RA (n = 33), and MS (n = 20) were compared with healthy controls (n = 29). Efficiency of cognitive performance on 8 ANAM subtests was examined using throughput (TP), inverse efficiency (IE), and adjusted IE scores. The latter is more sensitive to higher cognitive functions because it adjusts for the impact of simple reaction time on performance. The results were analyzed using O'Brien's generalized least squares test. Results Control subjects were the most efficient in cognitive performance. MS patients were least efficient overall (as assessed by TP and IE scores) and were less efficient than both SLE patients (P = 0.01) and RA patients (P < 0.01), who did not differ. Adjusted IE scores were similar between SLE patients, RA patients, and controls, reflecting the impact of simple reaction time on cognitive performance. Thus, 50% of SLE patients, 61% of RA patients, and 75% of MS patients had impaired performance on ,1 ANAM subtest. Only 9% of RA patients and 11% of SLE patients had impaired performance on ,4 subtests, whereas this was true for 20% of MS patients. Conclusion ANAM is sensitive to cognitive impairment. While such computerized testing may be a valuable screening tool, our results emphasize the lack of specificity of slowed performance as a reliable indicator of impairment of higher cognitive function in SLE patients. [source] Factors associated with low vitamin D status of Australian alpacasAUSTRALIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 12 2008GJ Judson Objective To investigate factors associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas at pasture in southern Australia. Design A 2-year survey of alpacas from two farms in South Australia and three in Victoria. Blood samples were collected from 20 to 30 alpacas on each farm on five occasions each year. Breed, gender, age and fleece colour of animals were recorded. Method Blood samples were assayed for plasma 2.5-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH D3) and plasma inorganic phosphorus (Pi). Data sets from 802 animal samples were analysed by multiple regression to determine variables associated with low vitamin D status of alpacas. The relationship between plasma 25-OH D3 and plasma Pi was also investigated. Results Vitamin D status was significantly affected by month of sampling, with low values in late winter and high values in summer. Plasma vitamin D concentrations increased with age, were higher in alpacas with light fleeces than in those with dark fleeces and were also higher in the Suri than in the Huacaya breed. Plasma Pi concentrations were generally lower in alpacas with plasma 25-OH D3 values < 25 nmol/L. Conclusions Young alpacas with dark fleeces are most at risk from vitamin D insufficiency in late winter in southern Australia. The present study indicates that plasma Pi values are not a reliable indicator of vitamin D status of alpacas as assessed by plasma 25-OH D3 concentrations. [source] 3136: Donor and recipient endothelial cell populations in transplanted corneas: new insights from endothelial imagingACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010N LAGALI Purpose To elucidate the pattern of donor and recipient endothelial cell population in transplanted human corneas and investigate factors impacting this mosaic. Methods 36 corneal grafts were collected from recipients of opposite sex to the donor, at the time of re-transplantation. An endothelial sheet was harvested from each graft, and labeled by fluorescent in situ hybridization of the sex chromosomes, to identify cells as donor or recipient-derived. Images of the graft endothelium were assembled to depict the pattern of cell population of the graft, and the proportion of donor cells present was estimated. Results Endothelial cells of donor origin were found in 26 of 36 grafts, persisting up to 26 years after transplantation. The proportion of donor endothelial cells in the graft was not significantly correlated with postoperative time (P = 0.19). Endothelial images indicated a highly variable pattern of recipient cell repopulation of the graft. A tendency towards donor cell retention in transparent, successful grafts was noted; however, this feature alone was not a reliable indicator of long-term graft transparency. Recent in-vivo optical coherence tomography studies of transplanted corneas indicate a possible mechanism impacting the donor and recipient cell patterns observed on the endothelial surface. Conclusion Two-dimensional imaging of the corneal graft endothelium revealed a variable pattern and extent of donor and recipient cell population, indicating the highly dynamic nature of the corneal endothelium after transplantation. [source] Validation of actigraphy for determining sleep and wake in preterm infantsACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 1 2009Melissa Sung Abstract Background: Actigraphy has been widely used in adults and children for the determination of sleep and wake. However, there have been limited studies in infants and to date there have been no studies to validate the reliability of actigraphy in preterm infants. Aim: To evaluate the usefulness of actigraphy in preterm infants in a neonatal unit setting for determining sleep,wake by comparing results with those recorded from behavioural observations. Methods: Thirty-eight studies were carried out in 10 preterm infants (8M/2F) born at 29,34 weeks gestational age. Sleep,wake patterns were assessed over 24 h with behavioural observations and compared to actigraphy (Actiwatch AW64, Mini Mitter Company Inc., Sunriver, OR, USA). The studies were grouped into gestational ages 30,33 weeks (n = 8), 34,36 weeks (n = 20) and 37,40 weeks (n = 10). Results: Overall, on the low-activity threshold we found agreement rates of 84.5,88.9% between actigraphy and behavioural scoring with the predictive value for determining sleep (PVS) being between 91.3% and 95.6% and sensitivity between 88.2% and 96.8%. However, the actiwatch was not reliable for determining wakefulness with low values for predictive value of wake (PVW,31.1,53.7%) and specificity (31.5,33.6%). Conclusion: Actigraphy can be used as a reliable indicator of sleep patterns in preterm infants in the neonatal unit setting. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||