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Measurement Value (measurement + value)
Selected AbstractsA double blind, randomized, placebo controlled study to evaluate the efficacy of erythromycin in patients with knee effusion due to osteoarthritisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES, Issue 1 2009Shahram SADREDDINI Abstract Objective:, The efficacy of erythromycin in treatment of knee effusion due to osteoarthritis was evaluated. Method:, We assessed efficacy and safety of erythromycin during 16 weeks in patients enrolled in a randomized double-blind study. One hundred and eight patients with knee effusion due to osteoarthritis (OA) received 12-week courses of erythromycin or placebo allocated randomly, and were followed for 4 months. Acetaminophen 650 mg/day was used in both groups, while they received no other anti-inflammatory drugs (such as corticosteroid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) during the course of the study. Our patients were divided in two groups, erythromycin in doses of 200 mg four times per day was given to the first group (51 patients) over the first 3 months of the study and in the second group we used placebo with the same dosage and schedule (53 patients). Outcomes improvement for the erythromycin-treated group was assessed by a significantly higher mean score from baseline to the end of the trial, compared with placebo group. Patients were examined monthly during the treatment period. Measurement values included recording of Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire subscales (pain, stiffness and function), range of motion and knee circumference. Results:, Erythromycin produced a higher response rate than placebo in treatment of knee effusion due to OA. Significant reduction in knee circumference (P < 0.0005) and pain (P < 0.001) with functional improvement (P < 0.0005) were seen. At the first month after treatment, 11.8% (6 patients) in erythromycin and 9.4% (5 patients) in placebo groups had 50% pain reduction, which was not significant (P = 0.75). At the fourth month, 50% reduction of pain was seen in 45.1% (23 patients) of the erythromycin and 11.3% (6 patients) of the placebo group. This was statistically significant (P < 0.0005). Erythromycin treatment was well tolerated and mild adverse events caused no discontinuation during the study. Conclusion:, This is a placebo-controlled study of macrolid efficacy on knee effusion due to OA in a short period. Results of this research showed the better efficacy of erythromycin in controlling effusion and pain with functional improvement in patients with knee effusion due to OA. [source] Psychometric attributes of the SCOPA-COG Brazilian versionMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 1 2008Francisco Javier Carod-Artal MD Abstract Cross-cultural adaptation and independent psychometric assessment of the Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson's disease-Cognition (SCOPA-COG), Brazilian version was performed. Parkinson's disease (PD) patients were evaluated by means of the SCOPA-Motor scale, Hoehn and Yahr staging (HY), Clinical Impression of Severity Index-PD (CISI-PD), Parkinson Psychosis Rating Scale, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Cognition was evaluated using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire (SPMSQ), and SCOPA-COG. The following attributes were explored: acceptability, scaling assumptions, reliability, precision, and construct validity. One hundred fifty-two patients were assessed (mean age, 63.2 years; disease duration, 7.8 years; median HY stage, 3). Mean SCOPA-COG and MMSE were 18.2 and 25.7, respectively. The internal consistency of the SCOPA-COG (Cronbach's alpha = 0.81; item-total correlation, 0.38,0.62) was satisfactory. While the intraclass correlation coefficient value was 0.80, weighted kappa ranged from 0.30 (dice task) to 0.72 (animal fluency task). The standard error of measurement value for the SCOPA-COG was 3.2, whereas the smallest real difference was 8.9. SCOPA-COG total scores significantly decreased as the HY stage increased (Kruskal-Wallis, P < 0.0001). Age, years of education, and PD duration (all, P < 0.001) were observed to have an independent, significant effect on the SCOPA-COG. The SCOPA-COG is a short, reliable, valid instrument that is sensitive to cognitive deficits specific to PD. © 2007 Movement Disorder Society [source] Reliability of cranial base measurements on lateral skull radiographsORTHODONTICS & CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008H Arponen Structured Abstract Authors,,, Arponen H, Elf H, Evälahti M, Waltimo-Sirén J Objective,,, To explore the reliability of identification of anatomic landmarks on lateral skull radiographs of young unaffected individuals that has conventionally been used to diagnose pathologic relationships in the craniovertebral junction. Material and Methods,,, From the Helsinki longitudinal growth study, 20 randomly selected lateral radiographs were analyzed and re-analyzed by two examiners. Both located seven cephalometric landmarks based on which five measurements were calculated. The differences of results were compared. With similar method three radiographs were analysed by 11 examiners and results were compared. Results,,, Some anatomic landmarks were easier to locate than others on lateral skull radiographs leading to differences in measurements based on them. We found the magnitude of the difference to be dependent on the landmark serving as reference. Inter- and intra-examiner errors were of similar magnitude, although intra-examiner error declined in the repeated landmark identification. Variation in a single landmark location had in general little effect on the measurement value. Conclusion,,, Variations in landmark location lead to differences in numeric evaluation of the anatomic relationships in the skull base area. These differences were, however, shown to have little clinical significance. Hence, the documented methods are applicable for screening of basilar pathology. [source] Longitudinal validity and responsiveness of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire , Parent Form in children 0,12 years following positive and negative food challengesCLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2010A. DunnGalvin Summary Background There are no published studies of longitudinal health-related quality of life (HRQL) assessments of food-allergic children using a disease-specific measure. Objective This study assessed the longitudinal measurement properties of the Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire , Parent Form (FAQLQ-PF) in a sample of children undergoing food challenge. Methods Parents of children 0,12 years completed the FAQLQ-PF and the Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) pre-challenge and at 2 and 6 months post food challenge. In order to evaluate longitudinal validity, differences between Group A (positive challenge) and Group B (negative challenge) were expected over time. We computed correlation coefficients between change scores in the FAQLQ-PF and change scores in the FAIM. To determine the minimally important difference (MID), we used distributional criterion and effect size approaches. A logistic regression model profiled those children falling below this point. Results Eighty-two children underwent a challenge (42 positive; 40 negative). Domains and total score improved significantly at pos-challenge time-points for both groups (all P<0.05). Sensitivity was demonstrated by significant differences between positive and negative groups at 6 months [F(2, 59)=6.221, P<0.003] and by differing improvement on relevant subscales (P<0.05). MID was 0.45 on a seven-point response scale. Poorer quality of life at baseline increased the odds by over 2.0 of no improvement in HRQL scores 6-month time-point. General maternal health (OR 1.252), number of foods avoided (OR 1.369) and children >9 years (OR 1.173) were also predictors. The model correctly identified 84% of cases below MID. Conclusion The FAQLQ-PF is sensitive to change, and has excellent longitudinal reliability and validity in a food-allergic patient population. The standard error of measurement value of 0.5 points as a threshold for meaningful change in HRQL questionnaires was confirmed. The FAQLQ-PF may be used to identify problems in children, to assess the effectiveness of clinical trials or interventions, and to guide the development of regulatory policies. Cite this as: A. DunnGalvin, C. Cullinane, D. A. Daly, B. M. J. Flokstra-de Blok, A. E. J. Dubois and J. O'B. Hourihane, Clinical & Experimental Allergy, 2010 (40) 476,485. [source] Macular abnormalities and the Rarebit Fovea TestACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2007L MARTIN Purpose: To describe Rarebit Fovea Test (RFT) findings in healthy subjects with normal best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular abnormalities, observed in fundus photographs Methods: Forty-two healthy subjects, mean age 40 years (SD 10), were recruited as controls in a previous study. Selection criteria were BCVA , 1.0, refractive error within +/- 6 D, no ophthalmic or systemic disease. Reported here are RFT and fundus photography findings, and retinal thickness measurement values using optical coherence tomography (Stratus OCT, Carl Zeiss Meditec Int.). Results: Fifteen of the 42 subjects had visible macular changes in the fundus photographs; 10 had drusen and 5 pigment epithelium defects. Mean RFT mean hit rate (MHR) was 99+/-2%. Two subjects had MHR 91% and 96%, respectively, i.e. below the pre-defined limit for normality (97%). The subject with a MHR of 91% had drusen, the one with 96% had normal fundus. OCT values were within normal limits in all subjects (center zone mean 212.41 ,m, SD 19.35, range 166-257, inner perifoveal zone mean 238.99 SD 13.34, range 258.3-308.5 and outer perifoveal zone 241.53 SD 11.54, range 218-267.8). In the subject with RFT MHR 91% corresponding values were 228 ,m, 288.5,m and 249.3 ,m and in the subject with RFT MHT 96% 211,m, 279.8,m and 231.8,m, respectively, well inside the normal range. Conclusions: The Rarebit Fovea Test may be useful for discriminating between age-related macular changes with and without detrimental effects on visual function. [source] Optic disc biomorphometry with the Heidelberg Retina Tomograph at different reference levelsACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 1 2002Kyösti Vihanninjoki ABSTRACT. Purpose: The Heidelberg Retina Tomograph (HRT) is a confocal scanning laser tomograph that produces high resolution optical section images of the optic disc and central retina. Measurement accuracy and reproducibility is good. Several of the stereometric variables depend on the definition of a reference plane level. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the four different reference levels in terms of their advantages and disadvantages in clinical work. Methods: Sixty-seven randomly chosen eyes belonging to 67 subjects were included in this study. Forty of the eyes were healthy and 27 had glaucoma. The HRT with software versions 1.09 and 1.11 was used to acquire and evaluate topographic measurements of the optic disc. Image analysis was performed at four different reference levels: 320 µm fixed offset reference level (REFd) (version 1.09), an individually determined reference level (REFi), a papillo-macular reference level (REFm) and a flexible reference level (REFf) (version 1.11). ANOVA was used to determine differences in the topographic parameters between the reference levels. Results: In terms of the healthy eyes, all the variables using different reference levels give rather similar results. However, with advanced glaucoma the measurement values provided with REFd are clearly different to those of the other reference levels. The measurement values using REFm and REFf provide fairly similar results in all clinical groups. REFf indicates the lowest point in the segment between 350° and 356° along the contour line and thus provides the most stable and clinically useful reference level at present. Conclusion: At present, the flexible reference level REFf gives the most reliable and adequate HRT measurement values, both in normal and in glaucomatous eyes. [source] | ||||||||||