Reliable Measure (reliable + measure)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


A chemical dataset for evaluation of alternative approaches to skin-sensitization testing

CONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 5 2004
G. Frank Gerberick
Allergic contact dermatitis resulting from skin sensitization is a common occupational and environmental health problem. In recent years, the local lymph node assay (LLNA) has emerged as a practical option for assessing the skin-sensitization potential of chemicals. In addition to accurate identification of skin sensitizers, the LLNA can also provide a reliable measure of relative sensitization potency, information that is pivotal in successful management of human health risks. However, even with the significant animal welfare benefits provided by the LLNA, there is interest still in the development of non-animal test methods for skin sensitization. Here, we provide a dataset of chemicals that have been tested in the LLNA and the activity of which correspond with what is known of their potential to cause skin sensitization in humans. It is anticipated that this will be of value to other investigators in the evaluation and calibration of novel approaches to skin-sensitization testing. The materials that comprise this dataset encompass both the chemical and biological diversity of known chemical allergens and provide also examples of negative controls. It is hoped that this dataset will accelerate the development, evaluation and eventual validation of new approaches to skin-sensitization testing. [source]


MATERIAL DEPRIVATION, THE ,POVERTY RATE' AND HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE IN MODERN AMERICA1

ECONOMIC AFFAIRS, Issue 3 2007
Nicholas Eberstadt
The official US ,poverty rate' appears to be a problematic descriptor of poverty trends and levels. Reported results from the ,poverty rate' do not track well with other indicators that would ordinarily be expected to bear directly on living conditions. Over the past 30 years, the relationship between the official poverty rate and these other indicators has been perversely discordant. This article outlines the basis of the poverty rate and the problems it now encounters as a reliable measure of material deprivation. [source]


Interaction between halogenated aromatic compounds in the Ah receptor signal transduction pathway

ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY, Issue 5 2004
Guosheng Chen
Abstract Many toxic and biochemical responses to halogenated aromatic compounds (HACs) such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins (PCDDs) are mediated through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which is an intracellular cytosolic target for HACs. Environmental exposure to HACs almost always involves complex mixtures of congeners, some of which can antagonize the action of potent HACs such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD). In this work we studied TCDD and representative PCB congeners, alone and in mixture, for their effect on CYP1A gene transcription and protein levels in primary rat hepatocytes. Together with our previous work, our results suggest that formation of the Ah receptor-ligand-DRE (dioxin response element) complex is the principal point of divergence in the mechanism between an AhR agonist and an AhR antagonist. The coplanar PCBs 77 and 126 and the mono- ortho PCB 156 were full agonists toward CYP1A1 gene transcription and CYP1A protein levels, showing typical additive behavior with TCDD to the target molecule AhR. In contrast, the nonplanar PCB 153 antagonized the action of TCDD, even at concentrations that occupied a significant fraction of AhR molecules. Competitive inhibition explains the commonly reported decrease of ethoxyresorufin- O -deethylase (EROD) activity when PCBs are present in high concentrations and the antagonism of PCBs to the EROD activity of TCDD. The result is that Western blotting offers a much more reliable measure of CYP1A protein concentration than does the EROD assay, despite the greater convenience of the latter. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 19: 480,489, 2004. [source]


Use of advanced red blood cell and reticulocyte indices improves the accuracy in diagnosing iron deficiency in pregnant women at term

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
Mari Ervasti
Abstract Objectives:, Detection of iron deficiency during pregnancy with hemoglobin (Hb) and serum measurements is insignificant as the measurements may be affected by e.g. hemodilution or accelerated erythropoiesis. This study tests whether cell indices will give a more reliable measure of iron deficiency in pregnant women at term. Methods:, The population was 202 pregnant women. Using the ADVIA 120 hematology system, Hb, mean cell volume (MCV), percentage of hypochromic red blood cells (%HYPOm) and reticulocytes (%HYPOr), and cellular hemoglobin in reticulocytes (CHr) were tested. Additionally, transferrin saturation (TfSat), ferritin, and transferrin receptor (TfR) were analyzed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the ROC curves (AUC) were used as statistical methods. Results:, When TfSat (,11%) was used as the reference test for iron deficiency, %HYPOm and CHr had a sensitivity of 58.1% and 80.7%, while the specificities were 82.6% and 71.3%, respectively. Additionally, the AUC values were %HYPOr 0.80, CHr 0.79, ferritin 0.77, %HYPOm 0.75, TfR 0.67, MCV 0.63 and Hb 0.64. The results provided by the cell indices alone (%HYPOm or CHr) were in good agreement with the results based on the usage of a combination of three commonly used tests (Hb, MCV, ferritin). Conclusions:, This study suggests that the most practical way to diagnose iron deficiency in pregnant women at term is to use cell indices such as CHr and %HYPOm provided by the automated hematological analyzer. Further studies are needed to determine the usefulness of the cell indices in diagnosing iron deficiency longitudinally during the course of pregnancy. [source]


A neurological examination score for the assessment of spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3)

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 4 2008
C. Kieling
Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are characterized by a heterogeneous set of clinical manifestations. Our aims were to assess the neurological features of SCA3, and to describe and test the feasibility, reliability, and validity of a comprehensive Neurological Examination Score for Spinocerebellar Ataxia (NESSCA). The NESSCA was administered to molecularly diagnosed SCA3 patients at an outpatient neurogenetics clinic. The scale, based on the standardized neurological examination, consisted of 18 items that yielded a total score ranging from 0 to 40. The score's interrater reliability and internal consistency were investigated, and a principal components analysis and a correlation with external measures were performed. Ninety-nine individuals were evaluated. Interrater reliability ranged from 0.8 to 1 across individual items (P < 0.001); internal consistency, indicated by Cronbach's alpha, was 0.77. NESSCA scores were significantly correlated with measures of disease severity: disease stage (rho = 0.76, P < 0.001), duration (rho = 0.56, P < 0.001), and length of CAG repeat (rho = 0.30, P < 0.05). NESSCA was a reliable measure for the assessment of distinct neurological deficits in SCA3 patients. Global scores correlated with all external variables tested, showing NESSCA to be a comprehensive measure of disease severity that is both clinically useful and scientifically valid. [source]


Evaluation of a German version of the Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) in acute and chronic stroke patients

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 5 2000
M. R. Schindl
The English Rivermead Mobility Index (RMI) has been proposed as a simple, valid and reliable measure in stroke rehabilitation. A German version was established and validated in two centres. In centre A 46 acute (median: 3.0 days after onset) and in centre B 151 chronic (median: 88.0 days after onset) stroke patients participated. Interrater reliability of the German RMI was tested in 12 subjects in the acute stage of stroke and was found to be statistically significant (r = 0.98, P < 0.0001). In centre A, a statistically significant correlation was found between the German RMI and the 10-m walk time at baseline (r = 0.73, P < 0.0001) and after three weeks (r = 0.92, P < 0.0001). In centre B, the German RMI correlated significantly with the motor part of the Functional Independence Measure (motor-FIM) on admission (r = 0.78, P < 0.0001) and after three weeks (r = 0.79, P < 0.0001), respectively. The change of the RMI correlated significantly with the change in 10-m walk time in acute patients (r = 0.87, P < 0.0001) and with the change in motor-FIM in chronic patients (r = 0.54, P < 0.0001). A moderate ceiling-effect was detected in the chronic study population. The German RMI appears to be a reliable, valid and responsive measure for mobility disability in acute and chronic stroke patients. [source]


Can taxonomic distinctness assess anthropogenic impacts in inland waters?

FRESHWATER BIOLOGY, Issue 9 2006
A case study from a Mediterranean river basin
Summary 1. It is increasingly recognised that adequate measures of biodiversity should include information on the ,relatedness' of species within ecological assemblages, or the phylogenetic levels at which diversity is expressed. Taxonomic distinctness measures provide a series of indices to achieve this, which are independent of sample size. Taxonomic distinctness has been employed widely in marine systems, where it has been suggested that this index can provide a reliable measure of anthropogenic impact. 2. We tested the behaviour of three related taxonomic distinctiveness indices (Average Taxonomic Distinctness, ,+; Variation in Taxonomic Distinctness, ,+; and Total Taxonomic Distinctness, s,+) in relation to putative levels of anthropogenic impact in inland waters and their potential utility in environmental monitoring, using an extensive data set for aquatic beetles from the south-east of the Iberian Peninsula. 3. Taxonomic distinctness measures were not able to identify human disturbance effects and there were no clear relationships between these new biodiversity measures and the disturbance level recorded at individual localities. Furthermore, the taxonomic distinctness measures used were apparently less sensitive to the effects of anthropogenic impact than other diversity metrics, such as species richness and rarity. 4. We conclude that taxonomic distinctness indices may not always perform as well as other metrics in the assessment of environmental quality. In addition, taxonomic distinctness measure should be interpreted with caution, as their performance and ability to detect anthropogenic disturbance may depend on the phylogenetic structure of sampled taxa within a region, and their evolutionary and ecological history. [source]


Sex, diet and feeding method-related differences in body condition in the Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus

IBIS, Issue 1 2001
SARAH E.A.
Measurements were made of Oystercatcher corpses to find the most reliable measure of body condition in live birds. Total body weight was as accurate as muscle thickness in assessing the weight of the pectoral muscles, a major store of protein reserves. Total body weight was also a good indicator of fat reserves. Wing-length was the most reliable measure of body size. Body condition in live birds was measured as an individual's residual weight derived from a general linear model of (loge) body weight against age, month, (loge) wing-length and time since capture. On the Exe estuary in autumn, there was no significant difference in body condition between same-age Oystercatchers of different diets and feeding methods. In the winter months, however, body condition differed significantly between mussel feeders using different feeding methods, and between mussel feeders and birds that fed on worms and clams. Differences between diet/feeding methods were not the same for each age group. Birds with the highest mean body condition index in adults were mussel hammerers, in immatures mussel stabbers and in juveniles, worm/clam feeders. No significant difference in body condition was found between the sexes in any age group in autumn. In winter, when birds with the same diet/feeding method were considered, females were significantly heavier than males. However, when birds of all diets and feeding methods were combined, weight differences between the sexes were not apparent. We examine reasons why birds with certain diets and feeding methods may be heavier than others in winter, and why females are sometimes heavier than males. We conclude that, in most cases, it is due to differences between birds in their ability to achieve a common target weight. However, we conclude that adult females try to achieve a higher target weight than males, probably as a premigratory and prebreeding strategy. In the light of this, we consider the consequences for adult females, in terms of reproductive success and survival, of specializing in diets and feeding methods associated with lower body weights in winter. [source]


A comparison between BSA, PASI, PLASI and SAPASI as measures of disease severity and improvement by therapy in patients with psoriasis

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2008
Tilo Henseler PhD
Background, This study investigates four measures of disease severity in patients with psoriasis, both before and after therapy. Methods, Data records were analyzed from 33 patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis who were treated with efalizumab, 1 mg/kg/week subcutaneously, for 12 weeks. Four measures of disease severity were used: body surface area (BSA), psoriasis area and severity index (PASI), psoriasis log-based area and severity index (PLASI) and self-administered PASI (SAPASI). Results, At the end of the 12-week therapy, the mean percent improvement shown by each measure varied considerably, ranging from 48.6% (PASI) to 70.6% (SAPASI). PASI and PLASI were the most comparable (67.3% and 66.5%). These differences were smaller when a dermatologist's opinion about the improvement was taken into account, for example "very good improvement" ranged from mean percent improvement of 63.8% (BSA) to 83.8% (PASI). The correlation between all measures revealed a high level of significance (P, 10,5). Conclusions, Comparing the slopes and intercepts of the regression lines revealed PLASI as the most reliable measure for the severity and therapeutic improvement in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. PLASI proved to be a marginally more accurate than PASI, and much more accurate than SAPASI and BSA. The superiority of PLASI may be a result of the logarithmic scale of the affected skin surface. [source]


Improving Australian pharmacists' attitudes to internet use in community pharmacy practice

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 2 2005
Margaret Bearman Lecturer
Objective The internet now provides a significant part of consumers' healthcare information. While little is known about how community pharmacists regard the internet, there is some suggestion that issues of confidence and motivation may provide significant barriers to appropriate use. The objectives of this study were to measure any changes in pharmacists' attitudes towards the internet after completing a four-module educational course, ,Advanced web skills for pharmacists: finding quality on the internet'. Method We developed a 30-item instrument measuring pharmacists' attitudes toward the internet. Pharmacists completed the survey upon enrolment, then again on completion of the CD ROM course and for a third time three months after completing the course. Key findings The instrument was completed prior to the course by 147 participating pharmacists. The numbers of responses at the end of the course and 3,4 months post-course were 104 and 88 respectively. We established a reliable measure of pharmacists' attitudes to the internet with an appropriate degree of face validity. There was a significant improvement in attitude after course completion (P <0.005) and a further significant improvement in attitude three months after course completion (P <0.01). Conclusions A short distance education programme in internet skills can markedly improve community pharmacists' attitudes to the internet. [source]


The Valuation of Deferred Taxation: Evidence from the UK Partial Provision Approach

JOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 7-8 2001
David B. Citron
The UK provides a virtually unique environment in which to examine the information content of the partial provision approach to deferred tax accounting. In addition this issue is of particular interest to UK accounting standard setters in the light of trends towards international accounting standard harmonisation. Taking the total amount of deferred taxation to be equal to the partial balance sheet provision plus the potential portion appearing in the notes, this study tests the relationship between these various deferred tax components and market value. It also examines the economic rationale for the potential portion. The study is based on 1,512 company/years from the period 1989,1991. It finds that, while the full amount of deferred taxation is not valued by the market as a liability, there is evidence of the partial balance sheet provision being so valued. There is also evidence that the potential portion is positively related to market value, consistent with its proxying for information about future growth. This result is supported by the positive relation between the potential portion and measures of future capital spending, indicative of an underlying economic rationale for this deferred taxation component. From a regulatory perspective, the study concludes that the main benefit of the partial provision approach is that the balance sheet amount constitutes a reasonably reliable measure of the portion likely to crystallise as a liability, information that would be lost were only the full amount to be disclosed. [source]


The Self-Injury Questionnaire: evaluation of the psychometric properties in a clinical population

JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 2 2006
E. E. SANTA MINA rn ba baan msc phd
This paper presents the findings, from a clinical study, on the reliability and validity of a new measure for intentions in self-harm behaviour, the Self-Injury Questionnaire (SIQ). Eighty-three patients, who had presented to an emergency department with an episode of self-harm/suicidal behaviour, were given the SIQ as part of a battery of measures to evaluate differentiation in self-harm intentions based upon a history of childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. The internal consistency for the total scale was strong (, = 0.83). Construct validity demonstrated significant correlations with standardized measures. A principle component analysis of responses yielded a five-factor solution with ,affect regulation' items loading on the first factor. Cronbach's alphas were adequate for each subscale (, = 0.72,0.77). These preliminary findings indicate that the SIQ is a valid and reliable measure for research in an acute self-harming population. [source]


Is the Strength of Implicit Alcohol Associations Correlated with Alcohol-induced Heart-rate Acceleration?

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 8 2006
Esther Van Den Wildenberg
Background: Heart rate (HR) acceleration during the ascending limb of the blood alcohol curve has proven to be a reliable measure of the sensitivity to the activating effects of alcohol. In this study, we investigated the correlation between an ethanol-induced cardiac change and the strength of implicit alcohol-related arousal and approach associations and attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli in heavy drinkers. These 3 types of implicit alcohol-related cognitions have been proposed to reflect the strength of incentive sensitization that is experienced after repeated alcohol use. Methods: Forty-eight heavy drinking men performed a modified version of the Implicit Association Test (IAT) to measure their implicit alcohol arousal and approach,avoidance associations. A modified version of the emotional Stroop was used to measure attentional bias for alcohol-related stimuli (blocked and unblocked). Next, a high dose of alcohol (1.0 mL/kg body weight 95% USP alcohol) was administered in a short period of time. Resting baseline HR, blood alcohol concentrations, mood, and craving for alcohol were assessed before alcohol administration and for 2 hours post,alcohol consumption. Results: Contrary to our hypothesis, a negative association was found between implicit arousal associations and alcohol-induced HR change. This indicates that strong arousal associations were correlated with a decrease in alcohol-induced HR. Approach associations and attentional bias were not correlated with alcohol-induced HR change, but both were correlated positively with each other. Conclusions: Alcohol-arousal associations and other implicit cognitions (attentional bias, approach associations) are not positively related to individual differences in the sensitivity to alcohol's activating effects, at least not in the present sample consisting primarily of family history-negative heavy drinkers. [source]


SO YOU ALREADY HAVE A SURVEY DATABASE?,A SEVEN-STEP METHODOLOGY FOR THEORY BUILDING FROM SURVEY DATABASES: AN ILLUSTRATION FROM INCREMENTAL INNOVATION GENERATION IN BUYER,SELLER RELATIONSHIPS

JOURNAL OF SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT, Issue 4 2010
SUBROTO ROY
Across business disciplines, the importance of database research for theory testing continues to increase. The availability of data also has increased, though methods to analyze and interpret these data lag. This research proposes a method for extracting strong measures from survey databases by a progression from qualitative to quantitative techniques. To test the proposed method, this study uses the Industrial Marketing and Purchasing (IMP) survey database, which includes data from firms in several European countries. The proposed method consists of two phases and seven steps, as illustrated in the context of the firm's incremental innovation generation for buyer,seller relationships. This systematic progression moves from a broad but valid empirical case study to the development of a narrow and reliable measure of incremental innovation generation in the IMP database. The proposed method can use supply chain survey databases for theory development without requiring primary data collection, assuming certain conditions. [source]


Do Pain Patients at High Risk for Substance Misuse Experience More Pain?: A Longitudinal Outcomes Study

PAIN MEDICINE, Issue 6 2009
Robert N. Jamison PhD
ABSTRACT Objectives., The Screener and Opioid Assessment of Pain Patients (SOAPP v.1) has been shown to be a reliable measure of risk potential for substance misuse and to correlate with a history of substance abuse, legal problems, craving, smoking, and mood disorders among chronic pain patients. The aim of this study was to examine differences over time on a number of measures among chronic pain patients who were classified as high or low risk for opioid misuse based on scores on the SOAPP. Methods., From an initial sample of one hundred thirty-four participants (N = 134), one hundred and ten (N = 110) completed the SOAPP and were grouped as high or low risk for misuse of medication based on SOAPP scores of ,7. All subjects were asked to complete baseline measures and in-clinic monthly diaries of their pain, mood, activity interference, medication, and side effects over a 10-month study period. Results., The results showed that although those who were classified as high-risk for opioid misuse reported significantly higher levels of pain intensity, activity interference, pain catastrophizing, disability, and depressed mood at baseline (P < 0.05), only pain intensity ratings were found to differentiate groups over time (P < 0.01). These results were unrelated to perceived helpfulness of pain treatment. Conclusions., Differences in subjective pain intensity were found between those who are high risk for opioid misuse compared with those at low risk for medication misuse, implying that higher-risk patients may experience more subjective pain. Consequently, these patients may be more challenging to treat. [source]


The Danish version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale: Preliminary Validation in Cancer Pain Patients

PAIN PRACTICE, Issue 1 2009
Ramune Jacobsen MS
Abstract Objective: To examine the psychometric properties of the Danish version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale (DMARS-4) adapted to measure adherence to analgesic regimen among cancer patients. Methods: The validated English version of the Medication Adherence Report Scale was translated into Danish following the repeated back-translation procedure. Cancer patients for the study were recruited from specialized pain management facilities. Thirty-three patients responded to the DMARS-4, the Danish Barriers Questionnaire II, The Danish version of Patient Perceived Involvement in Care Scale measuring the quality of patient-physician pain communication, and the Danish Brief Pain Inventory pain severity scale. Results: A factor analysis of the DMARS-4 resulted in one factor. Mean (SD) score on the cumulative scale ranging from 4 to 20, with higher scores indicating better medication adherence, was 17.8 (0.42). The DMARS-4 scores were related to the measures of patients' concerns about pain management and patients' pain communication. The internal consistency of the DMARS-4 was 0.70. Conclusions: The DMARS-4 seems to be a valid and reliable measure of self-reported adherence to analgesic regimen in the context of cancer pain. [source]


The Stepparent Relationship Index: Development, validation, and associations with stepchildren's perceptions of stepparent communication competence and closeness

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS, Issue 2 2006
PAUL SCHRODT
There is a growing consensus among family researchers that many of the challenges facing members of stepfamilies revolve around the role of the stepparent. Using schema theory, this study extends recent research on the stepparent role by developing an empirically reliable measure for the primary dimensions that stepchildren identify as part of their stepparent relationship schemas. Participants included 522 young adult stepchildren from 4 different states who completed an inventory assessing key dimensions of the stepparent-stepchild relationship, as well as stepchildren's perceptions of stepparents' communication competence and closeness. The results produced a new multidimensional measure, the Stepparent Relationship Index, as three dimensions of the stepparent-stepchild relationship emerged from factor analytic techniques: positive regard, (step)parental authority, and affective certainty. Each subscale produced acceptable reliability estimates, and initial evidence of concurrent validity was obtained. [source]


Reliability and validity of the sexual pressure scale,

RESEARCH IN NURSING & HEALTH, Issue 4 2006
Rachel Jones
Abstract The purpose of this study was to develop the Sexual Pressure Scale (SPS) as a valid and reliable measure of gender stereotypical expectations to engage in sexual behavior. Data were collected using audio computer-assisted self-interview in 306 urban women, aged 18 to 29. Exploratory principal components analysis with varimax rotation yielded 19 items consisting of five factors: Condom Fear, Sexual Coercion, Women's Sex Role, Men Expect Sex, and Show Trust, accounting for 62% of the variance. Divergent and convergent validity were supported, respectively, by negative relationships of SPS factors with dyadic trust and positive relationships with sexual victimization and sexual risk behavior. Alpha reliability was .81; factor reliabilities ranged from .63 to .82. A valid assessment of sexual pressure can suggest the extent to which stereotypical gender expectations structure women's freedom to explore partner and condom use choices. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 29: 281,293, 2006. [source]


Early vocabulary development in deaf native signers: a British Sign Language adaptation of the communicative development inventories

THE JOURNAL OF CHILD PSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHIATRY AND ALLIED DISCIPLINES, Issue 3 2010
Tyron Woolfe
Background:, There is a dearth of assessments of sign language development in young deaf children. This study gathered age-related scores from a sample of deaf native signing children using an adapted version of the MacArthur-Bates CDI (Fenson et al., 1994). Method:, Parental reports on children's receptive and expressive signing were collected longitudinally on 29 deaf native British Sign Language (BSL) users, aged 8,36 months, yielding 146 datasets. Results:, A smooth upward growth curve was obtained for early vocabulary development and percentile scores were derived. In the main, receptive scores were in advance of expressive scores. No gender bias was observed. Correlational analysis identified factors associated with vocabulary development, including parental education and mothers' training in BSL. Individual children's profiles showed a range of development and some evidence of a growth spurt. Clinical and research issues relating to the measure are discussed. Conclusions:, The study has developed a valid, reliable measure of vocabulary development in BSL. Further research is needed to investigate the relationship between vocabulary acquisition in native and non-native signers. [source]


Development and validation of the psychosomatic scale for atopic dermatitis in adults

THE JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 7 2006
Tetsuya ANDO
ABSTRACT Psychosocial factors play an important role in the course of adult atopic dermatitis (AD). Nevertheless, AD patients are rarely treated for their psychosomatic concerns. The purpose of the present study was to develop and validate a brief self-rating scale for adult AD in order to aid dermatologists in evaluating psychosocial factors during the course of AD. A preliminary scale assessing stress-induced exacerbation, the secondary psychosocial burden, and attitude toward treatment was developed and administered to 187 AD patients (82 male, 105 female, aged 28.4 ± 7.8, 13,61). Severity of skin lesions and improvement with standard dermatological treatment were assessed by both the dermatologist and the participant. Measures of anxiety and depression were also determined. In addition, psychosomatic evaluations were made according to the Psychosomatic Diagnostic Criteria for AD. Factor analysis resulted in the development of a 12-item scale (The Psychosomatic Scale for Atopic Dermatitis; PSS-AD) consisting of three factors: (i) exacerbation triggered by stress; (ii) disturbances due to AD; and (iii) ineffective control. Internal consistency indicated by Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.86 for the entire measure, 0.82 for (i), 0.81 for (ii), and 0.77 for (iii), verifying the acceptable reliability of PSS-AD. Patients with psychosomatic problems had higher PSS-AD scores than those without. PSS-AD scores were positively associated with the severity of the skin lesions, anxiety and depression. The scores were negatively associated with improvement during dermatological treatments. In conclusion, PSS-AD is a simple and reliable measure of the psychosomatic pathology of adult AD patients. It may be useful in dermatological practice for screening patients who would benefit from psychological or psychiatric interventions. [source]


MOSHER AWARD HONORABLE MENTION,

THE LARYNGOSCOPE, Issue 4 2000
Natural History of Acoustic Neuromas
Abstract Objectives/Hypothesis 1) Develop a computerized technique to accurately compare acoustic neuroma size on routine computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans; 2) use this technique to determine the growth pattern in a large series of patients with acoustic neuroma who were conservatively managed; 3) describe the natural history of patients with acoustic neuromas who did not receive surgical intervention and those who underwent subtotal resection; 4) correlate the size and growth rate of acoustic neuromas to clinical presentation and auditory and vestibular testing; and 5) recommend guidelines for the management of patients with acoustic neuromas. Study Design A retrospective study from 1974 to 1999 of patients with unilateral acoustic neuromas who had conservative treatment by serial imaging studies (80 patients) or subtotal resection (49 patients). Methods All patient charts were evaluated for presenting symptoms, reasons for the type of management given, and clinical outcome. Charts were also reviewed with respect to serial audiological assessment, electronystagmography, and brainstem auditory evoked response. Imaging studies were analyzed using a computer technique so that serial studies could be compared to determine growth rates. Results Rigorous computer analysis of tumor size and growth rate was statistically the same as the radiologist's description of the tumor size and growth rate. Of 70 patients who were older than 65 years of age old at the time their tumor was discovered, 4 (5.7%) required intervention and 18 (26%) were dead of unrelated causes. These patients had a mean follow-up of 4.8 years (range, 0.01,17.2 y). Overall, growth rate for nonsurgical patients was 0.91 mm per year. Nonsurgical tumors did not grow or regressed in 42.3%. Overall postoperative growth rate for surgical subtotal resection patients was 0.35 mm per year. Surgical tumors did not grow or regressed after subtotal resection of acoustic neuroma in 68.5% of patients. Three patients (6.1%) required revision surgery because of tumor growth or the development of symptoms. Neither auditory nor vestibular testing was a reliable measure for determining tumor growth. Conclusion Measurement of the maximal tumor diameter on MRI scans is a reliable method for following acoustic neuroma growth. There is no need to perform a rigorous analysis of tumor size to determine whether the tumor is growing significantly. The vast majority of patients older than 65 years with acoustic neuromas do not require intervention. The indications for intervention should be based on a combination of rapid tumor growth with the development of symptoms. [source]


Is the human population a large-scale indicator of the species richness of ground beetles?

ANIMAL CONSERVATION, Issue 5 2010
A. M. Barbosa
Abstract Empirical evidence has often shown a large-scale positive co-occurrence of biodiversity-rich and densely populated regions. This biogeographical pattern has important implications for conservation biology. Previous studies have supported two of the potential mechanisms behind this pattern: the distributions of biodiversity and of human beings tend to match climatic patterns, and human beings have settled in regions of higher habitat heterogeneity or they may have increased it. There has been little testing and evidence for an artefactual explanation: more populated regions may show more species only because of a more thorough sampling. Using a new country-wide dataset, we tested whether the human population density correlates with the species richness of ground beetles in Italy's regions, provinces and 10 × 10 km (UTM) grid cells. As expected, the observed and estimated (Chao index) number of species increases significantly with increasing human population density for regions, while there is no significant variation for provinces. But this is not the case when controlling for sampling effort. Variations in observed and estimated species richness are primarily associated with the available number of records, which is in turn well correlated with human population size. These results were confirmed for endemic and widespread species richness. At the UTM level, when controlling for sampling effort and area, there was a significant positive correlation between the total/widespread species richness and variation in the human population size, while the correlation was negative for endemic species. We found no significant role of habitat heterogeneity in the above relationships. The available distributional data of Carabidae in Italy suggest (1) that the species richness of bio-indicators may not be a reliable measure for regional biological assessment; (2) that some broad-scale human population,biodiversity correlations can be artefactual. [source]


Heart Rate Variability by Triangular Index in Infants Exposed Prenatally to Cocaine

ANNALS OF NONINVASIVE ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, Issue 4 2002
M.B.A., Sudhir Ken Mehta M.D.
Background: In adults, heart rate variability triangular index (HRVi) is a highly reproducible measure of heart rate variability (HRV), which makes it more suitable for use in longitudinal studies. Although normative data have been published for newborns, studies in infants with pathological conditions are lacking. Methods: From 1997 to 2000, within the first 4 days of life, we prospectively evaluated HRVi in cocaine-exposed asymptomatic newborns (N = 97) by Holter monitoring. Their data were compared with infants from two control groups (one with no in utero drug exposure, N = 102; the other with exposure to alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana but no cocaine, N = 111). Results: In assessing concordance between and within operators for HRVi, the intraclass correlations were 0.983 (95% Cl: 0.958, 0.994) and 0.997 (95% Cl: 0.984, 0.999), respectively. Infants with in utero cocaine exposure had significantly (P < 0.0001) lower HRVi than those exposed to other drugs and to no drugs in utero. If abnormal HRVi is defined as < fifth percentile for the no drug exposed group (HRVi < 8), 10% of the cocaine-exposed newborns, in contrast to 2% in each of the control groups (P = 0.003) had abnormal values. Conclusion: HRVi is a reliable measure to study heart rate variability in newborns. Asymptomatic infants with in utero cocaine exposure have lower HRVi. Our study supports the clinical use of an abnormal HRVi as a value < 8 for newborn infants. A.N.E. 2002;7(4):374,378 [source]


Biogeographic analysis of endemic cacti of the Sierra Madre Oriental, Mexico

BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY, Issue 2 2009
HAMLET SANTA ANNA DEL CONDE JUÁREZ
The distribution of cacti species that inhabit the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) was analysed. Grid-cells were analysed using parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE) and endemism indices. Areas characterized by their diagnostic species were determined, aiming to propose areas for the conservation of threatened cacti. Distributional data were obtained from 1936 herbarium specimens, electronic information, and from field collections. Eight areas of endemism and three main clades were obtained from the grid-cell analysis. Areas obtained from the endemism indices are very similar to those obtained with the PAE, but differ in the association of grid-cells. PAE showed endemism patterns indicating that southern and central sections of the SMO province are the areas richest in geographically-restricted species. The results obtained with different endemism indices detected more or less the same areas, although the importance level is different. The corrected weighted endemism index can be considered as a reliable measure of endemism because it is unrelated to species richness. A regionalization of the SMO in three subprovinces is suggested, supported by characteristic cacti taxa and the existence of natural barriers. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 97, 373,389. [source]


Determination of the baculovirus transducing titer in mammalian cells

BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 3 2006
Zun-Ren Chan
Abstract Baculovirus has emerged as a promising vector for in vivo or ex vivo gene therapy. To date, the infectious titer and multiplicity of infection (MOI) based on the ability of baculovirus to infect insect cells are commonly adopted to indicate the virus dosage. However, the infectious titer and MOI do not reliably represent the baculovirus transducing ability, making the comparison of baculovirus-mediated gene transfer difficult. To determine the baculovirus transducing ability more rapidly and reliably, we developed a protocol to evaluate the transducing titers of baculovirus stocks. The virus was diluted twofold serially and used to transduce HeLa cells. The resultant transduction efficiencies were measured by flow cytometry for the calculation of transducing titers. Compared to the infectious titer, the determination of transducing titer is more reproducible as the standard deviations among measurements are smaller. Also, the transducing titers can be obtained in 24 h, which is significantly faster as opposed to 4,7 days to obtain the infectious titer. More importantly, we demonstrated that baculoviruses with higher transducing titers could transduce cells at higher efficiency and yield stronger and longer transgene expression, confirming that the transducing titer was representative of the baculovirus transducing ability. This finding is particularly significant for ex vivo gene delivery whereby unconcentrated viruses are used for transduction and long-term transgene expression is desired. In this regard, our titration protocol provides a simple, fast, and reliable measure to evaluate the quality of virus stocks during virus production and purification, and is helpful to predict the performance of vector supernatants and ensure reproducible gene delivery experiments. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source]


Reliability of self-reported willingness-to-pay and annual income in patients treated for toenail onychomycosis

BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2007
P.M.H. Cham
Summary Background, Willingness-to-pay (WTP) is a health economics measure that has recently been used for skin diseases to evaluate patients' quality of life. However, the reliability of this measure has not been investigated in the dermatology literature and is essential in validating its use in health services research. Objectives, This study evaluated the test-retest reliability of self-reported annual income and WTP, a health economics measure of disease impact, in patients with toenail onychomycosis. Methods, Forty-six patients enrolled in a randomized clinical trial comparing two different dosing regimens of terbinafine completed a self-administered questionnaire at baseline and 1 month later. The questionnaire asked: (i) how much patients would be willing to pay for a theoretical treatment with a cure rate of 85% for their current onychomycosis (10 categories: $0,50, $51,100, to > $800); and (ii) annual income (10 categories: $0,10 000 to > $200 000). Results, Forty-four patients reported WTP at both visits, and 55% reported the same WTP. The quadratic-weighted (Fleiss,Cohen) , statistic indicated moderate agreement (, = 0·50, 95% confidence interval, CI 0·24,0·75, P < 0·01) as did the Spearman rank-order correlation coefficient (rs = 0·57, P < 0·01; median difference = 0, P = 0·50). Strong agreement was shown among the 42 patients who reported income at both visits; 71% reported the same annual income category (, = 0·72, 95% CI 0·47,0·96, P < 0·01; rs = 0·68, P < 0·01; median difference = 0, P = 0·77). Age, disease severity and duration, previous therapy, self-reported annual income, and medication side-effects were not statistically associated with the reliability of WTP. Conclusions, WTP and annual income demonstrated moderate and strong test-retest reliability, respectively. Self-reported WTP can serve as a reliable measure for future health economics research on onychomycosis. [source]


Motor impairment in liver cirrhosis without and with minimal hepatic encephalopathy

ACTA NEUROLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 1 2010
M. Butz
Butz M, Timmermann L, Braun M, Groiss SJ, Wojtecki L, Ostrowski S, Krause H, Pollok B, Gross J, Südmeyer M, Kircheis G, Häussinger D, Schnitzler A. Motor impairment in liver cirrhosis without and with minimal hepatic encephalopathy. Acta Neurol Scand: 2010: 122: 27,35. © 2009 The Authors Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Munksgaard. Aim,,, Manifest hepatic encephalopathy (HE) goes along with motor symptoms such as ataxia, mini-asterixis, and asterixis. The relevance of motor impairments in cirrhotics without and with minimal HE (mHE) is still a matter of debate. Patients and methods,,, We tested three different groups of patients with liver cirrhosis: no signs of HE (HE 0), mHE, and manifest HE grade 1 according to the West Haven criteria (HE 1). All patients (n = 24) and 11 healthy control subjects were neuropsychometrically tested including critical flicker frequency (CFF), a reliable measure for HE. Motor abilities were assessed using Fahn Tremor Scale and International Ataxia Rating Scale. Fastest alternating index finger movements were analyzed for frequency and amplitude. Results,,, Statistical analyses showed an effect of HE grade on tremor and ataxia (P < 0.01). Additionally, both ratings yielded strong negative correlation with CFF (P < 0.01, R = ,0.5). Analysis of finger movements revealed an effect of HE grade on movement frequency (P < 0.03). Moreover, decreasing movement frequency and increasing movement amplitude parallel decreasing CFF (P < 0.01, R = 0.6). Conclusion,,, Our results indicate that ataxia, tremor, and slowing of finger movements are early markers for cerebral dysfunction in HE patients even prior to neuropsychometric alterations becoming detectable. [source]


Urinary F2 -isoprostane metabolite analysis: a step closer to obtaining a reliable measure of oxidative stress?

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2001
Frank J. Kelly
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Prevalence of 25(OH) vitamin D (calcidiol) deficiency at time of renal transplantation: a prospective study

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 6 2007
D.M. Sadlier
Abstract:, 25(OH) Vitamin D (calcidiol) is the major circulating form of vitamin D and is considered the most reliable measure of vitamin D status. Adequate vitamin D status is important for bone health but there is increasing evidence that low serum concentrations of calcidiol (<30 ng/mL) are associated with many adverse health outcomes in the general population. Little is known about calcidiol status at the time of renal transplantation, a period when bone loss is greatest and immunosuppression is highest. We prospectively measured serum calcidiol and parathyroid hormone immediately after transplant from March 2005 onwards. Of 112 patients studied, 29% had calcidiol deficiency (<10 ng/mL), 59% had calcidiol insufficiency (10,29 ng/mL) and only 12% of patients had a normal calcidiol concentration (>30 ng/mL). The prevalence of calcidiol deficiency in black recipients was extremely high at 41%. Serum calcidiol tended to be lower in winter than other seasons. In conclusion, the prevalence of 25(OH) vitamin D (calcidiol) deficiency/insufficiency at the time of renal transplant is very high. The clinical effects of this deficiency/insufficiency deserve further study. [source]


Assessment of gestational age and neuromaturation

DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES RESEARCH REVIEW, Issue 1 2005
Marilee C. Allen
Abstract Neuromaturation is the functional development of the central nervous system (CNS). It is by its very nature a dynamic process, a continuous interaction between the genome and first the intrauterine environment, then the extrauterine environment. Understanding neuromaturation and being able to measure it is fundamental to infant neurodevelopmental assessment. Fetal and preterm neuromaturation has become easier to observe with the advent of prenatal ultrasonography and neonatal intensive care units. A number of measures of degree of fetal maturation have been developed and used to estimate gestational age (GA) at birth. The most reliable measures of GA are prenatal measures, especially from the first trimester. Postnatal GA measurements tend to be least accurate at the extremes of gestation, that is, in extremely preterm and post-term infants. Observations of measures of neuromaturation in infants born to mothers with pregnancy complications, including intrauterine growth restriction, multiple gestation, and chronic hypertension, have led to the discovery that stressed pregnancies may accelerate fetal pulmonary and CNS maturation. This acceleration of neuromaturation does not occur before 30 weeks' gestation and has a cost with respect to cognitive limitations manifested in childhood. The ability to measure fetal and preterm neuromaturation provides an assessment of neurodevelopmental progress that can be used to reassure parents or identify at risk infants who would benefit from limited comprehensive follow-up and early intervention services. In addition, measures of neuromaturation have the potential to provide insight into mechanisms of CNS injury and recovery, much-needed early feedback in intervention or treatment trials and a measure of early CNS function for research into the relationships between CNS structure and function. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MRDD Research Reviews 2005;11:21,33. [source]