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Mean Gain (mean + gain)
Selected AbstractsA Closer Look at Using Judgments of Item Difficulty to Change Answers on Computerized Adaptive TestsJOURNAL OF EDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT, Issue 4 2005Walter P. Vispoel Recent studies have shown that restricting review and answer change opportunities on computerized adaptive tests (CATs) to items within successive blocks reduces time spent in review, satisfies most examinees' desires for review, and controls against distortion in proficiency estimates resulting from intentional incorrect answering of items prior to review. However, restricting review opportunities on CATs may not prevent examinees from artificially raising proficiency estimates by using judgments of item difficulty to signal when to change previous answers. We evaluated six strategies for using item difficulty judgments to change answers on CATs and compared the results to those from examinees reviewing and changing answers in the usual manner. The strategy conditions varied in terms of when examinees were prompted to consider changing answers and in the information provided about the consistency of the item selection algorithm. We found that examinees fared best on average when they reviewed and changed answers in the usual manner. The best gaming strategy was one in which the examinees knew something about the consistency of the item selection algorithm and were prompted to change responses only when they were unsure about answer correctness and sure about their item difficulty judgments. However, even this strategy did not produce a mean gain in proficiency estimates. [source] Simplified standardized technique for living donor liver transplantation using left liver graft plus caudate lobeLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 11 2004Shin Hwang Concomitant resection of the caudate lobe (CL) would increase the liver mass in the left liver graft. We tried to define a simplified standardized technique for adult living donor liver transplantation using the extended left lobe (ELL) plus CL (ELLC) through a prospective study of 27 consecutive ELLC graft cases in 2003. Donor CL was dissected toward the 10 o'clock direction and transected at the midpoint between the trunks of the right hepatic vein (RHV) and the middle hepatic vein (MHV). This orthodox transection was performed in 18 cases, but the transection plane was moved left in 9 cases. Compared with conventional left liver implantation, there was no additional reconstruction except for single revascularization of the largest short hepatic vein of the CL (V1) in 21 cases. On 1-week computed tomography (CT) images, the perfusion states of the CL portion were good in 15 cases, fair in 7 cases, and poor in 5 cases. Regeneration of the CL portion during the 1st week was +43%, +18%, and ,10% in the good, fair, and poor perfusion groups, respectively. There were positive correlations among the perfusion state of the CL, the location of the CL transection plane, and the width of the CL portion that was attached to the left liver graft. CL implantation resulted in a mean gain of graft mass by 5.9% in the left liver at the time of operation and by 3.9% after 1 week. There were no donor complications, and 25 recipients (93%) survive to date. In conclusion, this simplified standardized technique was feasible for most of the living donor livers and required only 1 additional reconstruction of the V1. (Liver Transpl 2004;10:1398,1405.) [source] Improved final height with long-term growth hormone treatment in Noonan syndromeACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 9 2005Deborah Osio Abstract Aim: To assess whether children with Noonan syndrome on long-term growth hormone (GH) therapy improve their final height to near mid-parental height. Methods: Twenty-five prepubertal children (13 girls) with Noonan syndrome (NS) were studied. A single clinician made the diagnosis based on clinical criteria. GH treatment started at an age ranging from 3.1 to 13.8 y and was continued for at least 2 y. Improvement or "gain" in final height (FH) was defined as either the difference between adult height SD scores (SDS) and pre-treatment height SDS (the childhood component of the Swedish reference) or height SDS compared to the Noonan reference. Results: Ten children received a GH dose of 33 ,g/kg/d (mean age at start 7.7±2.1 y, mean age at stop 17.6±1.7 y) and 15 received a dose of 66 ,g/kg/d (mean age at start 8.6±3.3 y, mean age at stop 18.4±2.1 y). Eighteen out of 25 patients reached FH. A substantial improvement in FH of 1.7 SDS, equivalent to 10.4 cm compared to pre-treatment height, was observed. No significant difference was seen between the two GH doses. Females gained a mean height of 9.8 cm and males 1,13 cm (FH 174.5±7.8 cm vs mean adult height of 162.5±5.4 cm for males with NS) at final height. Moreover, 60% reached a mid-parental height of±1 SD. Conclusion: GH treatment improves final height in patients with Noonan syndrome, with a mean gain of 1.7 SDS. The prepubertal height gain is maintained to final height and the children achieve a height close to their mid-parental height. [source] Osteotome sinus floor elevation without grafting material: a 1-year prospective pilot study with ITI implantsCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 6 2006Rabah Nedir Abstract Objective: The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate: (1) the predictability of an osteotome sinus floor elevation procedure with ITI-SLA implants without placing a bone grafting material, and (2) the possibility to gain bone height without filling the created space with a bone grafting material. Material and methods: Seventeen patients received 25 implants protruding in the sinus. Most implants (21/25) were 10 mm long, eight were inserted in type 2 bone, 12 in type 3 and five in type 4 bone. At implant placement, the mean residual bone height (RBH) under the maxillary sinus was 5.4±2.3 mm; it was 5.7±2.6 mm on the mesial side and 5.1±1.9 mm on the distal side. Nineteen implants had less than 6 mm of bone on at least one side and six implants had less than 6 mm on both sides. A healing period of 3,4 months was allowed before abutment tightening at 35 Ncm. The percentage of stable implants at abutment tightening and at the 1-year control was calculated. The endo-sinus bone gain and the crestal bone loss (CBL) at the mesial and distal sides were measured. Results: Abutments were tightened after 3.1±0.4 months. All implants but one (96%) resisted the applied 35 Ncm torque. At the 1-year control, all implants were clinically stable and supported the definitive prosthesis. All showed endo-sinus bone gain; the mean gain was 2.5±1.2 mm. The mean CBL was 1.2±0.7 mm. Endo-sinus bone gain and RBH showed a strong negative correlation (r=,0.78 on the mesial side and ,0.80 on the distal side). A good correlation (r=0.73) was found between implant penetration in the sinus and endo-sinus bone gain. Conclusion: Elevation of the sinus membrane alone without addition of bone grafting material can lead to bone formation beyond the original limits of the sinus floor. Despite a limited RBH at implant placement, a healing period of 3 months was sufficient to resist a torque of 35 N cm and to lead to a predictable implant function at the 1-year control. [source] Horizontal ridge augmentation using autogenous block grafts and the guided bone regeneration technique with collagen membranes: a clinical study with 42 patientsCLINICAL ORAL IMPLANTS RESEARCH, Issue 4 2006Thomas Von Arx Abstract Objective: To analyze the clinical outcome of horizontal ridge augmentation using autogenous block grafts covered with anorganic bovine bone mineral (ABBM) and a bioabsorbable collagen membrane. Material and methods: In 42 patients with severe horizontal bone atrophy, a staged approach was chosen for implant placement following horizontal ridge augmentation. A block graft was harvested from the symphysis or retromolar area, and secured to the recipient site with fixation screws. The width of the ridge was measured before and after horizontal ridge augmentation. The block graft was subsequently covered with ABBM and a collagen membrane. Following a tension-free primary wound closure and a mean healing period of 5.8 months, the sites were re-entered, and the crest width was re-assessed prior to implant placement. Results: Fifty-eight sites were augmented, including 41 sites located in the anterior maxilla. The mean initial crest width measured 3.06 mm. At re-entry, the mean width of the ridge was 7.66 mm, with a calculated mean gain of horizontal bone thickness of 4.6 mm (range 2,7 mm). Only minor surface resorption of 0.36 mm was observed from augmentation to re-entry. Conclusions: The presented technique of ridge augmentation using autogenous block grafts with ABBM filler and collagen membrane coverage demonstrated successful horizontal ridge augmentation with high predictability. The surgical method has been further simplified by using a resorbable membrane. The hydrophilic membrane was easy to apply, and did not cause wound infection in the rare instance of membrane exposure. [source] | ||||||||||