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Excellent Reliability (excellent + reliability)
Selected AbstractsIn vivo muscle architecture and size of the rectus femoris and vastus lateralis in children and adolescents with cerebral palsyDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 10 2009NOELLE G MOREAU PHD PT Aim, Our aim was to investigate muscle architecture and size of the rectus femoris (RF) and vastus lateralis (VL) in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP) compared with age-matched typically developing participants. Method, Muscle architecture and size were measured with ultrasound imaging in 18 participants with spastic CP (9 females, 9 males; age range 7.5,19y; mean age 12y [SD 3y 2mo]) within Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I (n=4), II (n=2), III (n=9), and IV (n=3) and 12 typically developing participants (10 females, 2 males; age range 7,20y; mean age 12y 4mo [SD 3y 11mo]). Exclusion criteria were orthopedic surgery or neurosurgery within 6 months before testing or botulinum toxin injections to the quadriceps within 3 months before testing. Results, RF cross-sectional area was significantly lower (48%), RF and VL muscle thickness 30% lower, RF fascicle length 27% lower, and VL fascicle angle 3° less in participants with CP compared to the typically developing participants (p<0.05). Intraclass correlation coefficients were ,0.93 (CP) and , 0.88 (typical development), indicating excellent reliability. Interpretation, These results provide the first evidence of altered muscle architecture and size of the RF and VL in CP, similar to patterns observed with disuse and aging. These alterations may play a significant role in the decreased capacity for force generation as well as decreased shortening velocity and range of motion over which the quadriceps can act. [source] Reliability and construct validity of the compatible MRI scoring system for evaluation of elbows in haemophilic childrenHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 2 2008A. S. DORIA Summary., We assessed the reliability and construct validity of the Compatible MRI scale for evaluation of elbows, and compared the diagnostic performance of MRI and radiographs for assessment of these joints. Twenty-nine MR examinations of elbows from 27 boys with haemophilia A and B [age range, 5,17 years (mean, 11.5)] were independently read by four blinded radiologists on two occasions. Three centres participated in the study: (Toronto, n = 24 examinations; Atlanta, n = 3; Cuiaba, n = 2). The number of previous joint bleeds and severity of haemophilia were reference standard measures. The inter-reader reliability of MRI scores was substantial (ICC = 0.73) for the additive (A)-scale and excellent (ICC = 0.83) for the progressive (P)-scale. The intrareader reliability was excellent for both P-scores (ICC = 0.91) and A-scores (ICC = 0.93). The total P- and A-scores correlated poorly (r = 0.36) or moderately (r = 0.54), but positively, with clinical-laboratory measurements. The total MRI scores demonstrated high accuracy for discrimination of presence or absence of arthropathy [P-scale, area-under-the-curve (AUC) = 0.94 ± 0.05; A-scale, AUC = 0.89 ± 0.06], as did the soft tissue scores of both scales (P-scale, AUC = 0.90 ± 0.06; A-scale, AUC = 0.86 ± 0.06). Areas-under-the-curve used to discriminate severe disease demonstrated high accuracy for both P-MRI scores (AUC = 0.83 ± 0.09) and A-MRI scores (AUC = 0.87 ± 0.09), but non-diagnostic ability to discriminate mild disease. Similar results were noted for radiographic scales. In conclusion, both MRI scales demonstrated substantial to excellent reliability and accuracy for discrimination of presence/absence of arthropathy, and severe/non-severe disease, but poor to moderate convergent validity for total scores and non-diagnostic discriminant validity for mild/non-mild disease. Compared with radiographic scores, MRI scales did not perform better for discrimination of severity of arthropathy. [source] A Structured Clinical Interview for Kleptomania (SCI-K): preliminary validity and reliability testingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF METHODS IN PSYCHIATRIC RESEARCH, Issue 2 2006Jon E. Grant Abstract Kleptomania presents difficulties in diagnosis for clinicians. This study aimed to develop and test a DSM-IV-based diagnostic instrument for kleptomania. To assess for current kleptomania the Structured Clinical Interview for Kleptomania (SCI-K) was administered to 112 consecutive subjects requesting psychiatric outpatient treatment for a variety of disorders. Reliability and validity were determined. Classification accuracy was examined using the longitudinal course of illness. The SCI-K demonstrated excellent test-retest (Phi coefficient = 0.956 (95% CI = 0.937, 0.970)) and inter-rater reliability (phi coefficient = 0.718 (95% CI = 0.506, 0.848)) in the diagnosis of kleptomania. Concurrent validity was observed with a self-report measure using DSM-IV kleptomania criteria (phi coefficient = 0.769 (95% CI = 0.653, 0.850)). Discriminant validity was observed with a measure of depression (point biserial coefficient = ,0.020 (95% CI = ,0.205, 0.166)). The SCI-K demonstrated both high sensitivity and specificity based on longitudinal assessment. The SCI-K demonstrated excellent reliability and validity in diagnosing kleptomania in subjects presenting with various psychiatric problems. These findings require replication in larger groups, including non-psychiatric populations, to examine their generalizability. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Age Estimation of Korean Adults by Occlusal Tooth WearJOURNAL OF FORENSIC SCIENCES, Issue 3 2007Jong-Il Yun M.S.D. ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the validity of the modified Kim's scoring system as a practical method of recording occlusal tooth wear and estimating age. For this purpose, 1092 pairs of maxillary and mandibular full-arch casts were randomly selected, scored, and analyzed. The results showed that the modified Kim's scoring system had excellent reliability, and that occlusal tooth wear had a positive correlation with age. Tooth wear scores of all teeth except the two lower central incisors were higher in males than in females. Calculating tables for age estimation were designed by multiple linear regression analysis. Estimated ages were within ±5 years of actual ages in 63.5% of male subjects, and 64.0% of female subjects. The accuracy of age estimation was increased when the subjects were divided into two age groups and data were re-analyzed. Collectively, it was shown that the modified Kim's scoring system is a reliable and accurate method for age estimation, and that the data from these 1092 individuals can be used as a standard for age estimation of Korean adults. [source] Pediatric Health-Related Quality of Life: Feasibility, Reliability and Validity of the PedsQLÔ Transplant ModuleAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 7 2010J. Weissberg-Benchell The measurement properties of the newly developed Pediatric Quality of Life InventoryÔ (PedsQLÔ) 3.0 Transplant Module in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients were evaluated. Participants included pediatric recipients of liver, kidney, heart and small bowel transplantation who were cared for at seven medical centers across the United States and their parents. Three hundred and thirty-eight parents of children ages 2,18 and 274 children ages 5,18 completed both the PedsQLÔ 4.0 Generic Core Scales and the Transplant Module. Findings suggest that child self-report and parent proxy-report scales on the Transplant Module demonstrated excellent reliability (total scale score for child self-report ,= 0.93; total scale score for parent proxy-report ,= 0.94). Transplant-specific symptoms or problems were significantly correlated with lower generic HRQOL, supporting construct validity. Children with solid organ transplants and their parents reported statistically significant lower generic HRQOL than healthy children. Parent and child reports showed moderate to good agreement across the scales. In conclusion, the PedsQLÔ Transplant Module demonstrated excellent initial feasibility, reliability and construct validity in pediatric patients with solid organ transplants. [source] Reliability and validity of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study Neurocognitive QuestionnaireCANCER, Issue 8 2008Kevin R. Krull PhD Abstract BACKGROUND. Up to 40% of childhood cancer survivors may experience neurocognitive impairment in 1 or more specific domains. As such, regular monitoring has been recommended for patients exposed to cranial irradiation and/or antimetabolite chemotherapy. This study reports the results of a questionnaire developed to identify those survivors who may be experiencing neurocognitive problems. METHODS. Participants for this study were 7121 members of the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study cohort (6739 survivors and 382 siblings). These participants completed a new neurocognitive questionnaire designed to assess functions commonly affected by cancer therapy, as well as a standard measure of emotional functioning. A measure of cognitive and emotional functioning was also completed on a subset of the patients roughly 7 years before the current questionnaire. Responses to the questionnaires among subgroups of survivors were then analyzed to examine the reliability and validity of the new neurocognitive questionnaire. RESULTS. Four reliable factors were identified that assessed task efficiency, emotional regulation, organization, and memory skills. These neurocognitive factors accurately discriminated survivors who were at "high risk" for neurocognitive dysfunction, because of neurologic abnormalities or a history of intensive focal cranial irradiation, from healthy "low-risk" survivors and siblings. CONCLUSIONS. The questionnaire demonstrated excellent reliability, as well as construct and discriminative validity. It appears to be a practical and efficient tool for monitoring neurocognitive outcomes in adult survivors of pediatric cancer. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society. [source] Learning effect of isokinetic measurements in healthy subjects, and reliability and comparability of Biodex and Lido dynamometersCLINICAL PHYSIOLOGY AND FUNCTIONAL IMAGING, Issue 2 2005H. Lund Summary The aim of this study was to examine the learning effect during a set of isokinetic measurements, to evaluate the reliability of the Biodex System 3 PRO dynamometer, and to compare the Biodex System 3 PRO and the Lido Active dynamometers on both extension and flexion over the elbow and the knee at 60° s,1. Thirteen (nine women, four men) healthy participants were measured five times using the Biodex and once using the Lido dynamometer. The intervals between the first four tests were 20 min, and 1 week between tests 4 and 5. Between Biodex and Lido measurements there was a 20 min time interval. When comparing the first five measurements (Biodex), no systematic effect over time and an excellent reliability were found with respect to elbow and knee flexion and extension. No difference in muscle strength (Nm) between the Biodex and Lido was observed for knee flexion (P = 0·59), knee extension (P = 0·18) and elbow extension (P = 0·63). However, elbow flexion showed a 14·8% (95% CI: 11·2,18·4%; P = 0·0001) higher peak torque on Biodex. In conclusion, no learning effect was observed and the Biodex proved to be a highly reliable isokinetic dynamometer. A difference was observed when comparing Biodex and Lido on elbow flexion, but the difference did not outrange the expected variation found with a typical isokinetic measurement, which is why both sets of equipment seem applicable in clinical practice. [source] |