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Moderate Correlation (moderate + correlation)
Selected AbstractsObservations and ratings of preschool children's social behavior: Issues of representativeness and validityPSYCHOLOGY IN THE SCHOOLS, Issue 1 2005Brian C. McKevitt Data were gathered from videotaped recordings of two preschool children engaged in unstructured free play over 12 days each. Observers coded behavior from the videotapes and completed a behavior rating scale for each child after every two observation sessions. Teachers also completed two behavior rating scales per child. Results indicated that at least three 30-min observation sessions were required to reliably represent a child's overall behavior. Moderate correlations were obtained when observations were compared with teachers' and observers' own ratings, indicating the behavior rating scale did an adequate job of reflecting actual observed behavior. The implications of these results for researchers and practitioners are discussed. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 13,26, 2005. [source] Preliminary validation of a Chinese version of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2ASIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Jonathan P. Maxwell The increased globalization of psychology and related fields necessitates the availability of psychometric instruments in a number of languages, countries and cultures. Unfortunately, research on anger and aggression in Chinese populations has suffered from a lack of valid and reliable measurement instruments. Therefore, the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2 (STAXI-2) was translated into Chinese (Chinese STAXI-2). Two samples of Hong Kong Chinese (N = 489 and N = 775) completed the Chinese STAXI-2. Participants in the second sample also completed measures of anger rumination and aggression. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of responses from the first sample resulted in the loss of nine items from the 57 original items due to misspecification. A second CFA, using responses from the second sample, supported the construct validity of the modified scale. Moderate correlations were observed with measures of aggression and anger rumination, and significant differences were found between males and females on three anger expression subscales (Anger Expression-In, Anger Control-Out, and Anger Control-In). The preliminary evidence suggests that the abbreviated inventory may be a useful measure of state and trait anger, and anger expression in some Chinese populations. [source] 4354: Relationship between flicker FDF perimetry and standard automated perimetryACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2010P CALVO PEREZ Purpose To compare the main indices of flicker FDF perimetry (FDF, Heidelberg Engineering, Germany) with standard automated perimetry (SAP). Methods Twenty healthy subjects and twenty-three glaucoma patients were prospectively and consecutively selected. Glaucomatous patients had an intraocular pressure higher than 21 mmHg and glaucomatous optic disc appearance. All of them underwent at least one reliable perimetry with each device. SAPs were performed with a FDF perimeter (24-2 ASTA-Standard test) and Humphrey perimeter (Carl Zeiss (24-2 SITA standard algorithm). The Kolmogorov Smirnov test was applied to check that the data were normally distributed. Only one eye per subject was included in the study. Pearson correlations were calculated between both devices : mean deviation (MD), pattern standard deviation (PSD), and visual field index (VFI). Results Mean age was 58.41±12,4 years. MD of SAP was -2.82 ± 4.8 dB, and MD of FDF was -4.47 ± 4.8 dB (p=0.123); PSD of SAP was 3.11 ± 3.1, and PSD of FDF was 3.14 ± 1.4 (p = 0.953). The correlations between MDs were 0.521 (p<0.001) and between PSDs were 0.350 (p<0.001) Conclusion Moderate correlations were found between main visual field indices both devices. Altough no differences were found, FDF tends to present MD values lower than Humphrey. [source] Correlation between attenuated psychotic experiences and depressive symptoms among Japanese studentsEARLY INTERVENTION IN PSYCHIATRY, Issue 3 2010Hiroyuki Kobayashi Abstract Aims: To examine the emergence of attenuated psychotic experiences, self-disturbance or affective symptoms among younger subjects in the general population and to investigate the intergroup differences on each symptom between adolescents and post-adolescents. Methods: A total of 781 participants, 496 university students (mean age: 19.3 ± 1.1 years) and 285 high school students (mean age: 16.0 ± 0.3 years), were administered self-reported questionnaires. Psychotic prodromal symptoms were evaluated using the PRIME Screen-Revised (PS-R), a 12-item self-reported questionnaire. To measure the cognitive, emotional and physical symptoms associated with depression, the Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (ZSDS), a 20-item self-reported questionnaire, was administered. Results: There were no intergroup differences on the factor score of the PS-R, except the self-demarcation factor (post-adolescents > adolescents), whereas there were significant differences in the factor score of the ZSDS, except for the anxiety factor. Among the post-adolescents, the factors of the PS-R showed a moderate correlation to the cognitive factor on the ZSDS; among the adolescents, the PS-R factors showed a greater correlation to the anxiety factor on the ZSDS than other factors. There were no differences in the distribution of each item of the PS-R between the two groups. Conclusions: The disturbance of self results in difficulty to precisely objectify, especially among adolescents, which would induce more primitive reactions such as agitation, irritability or anxiety; probably, the self disturbance would become an explicit symptom from an implicit experience with advancing age of the subject. Although these data are only preliminary, they could explain the pathway of progression prior to the onset of psychosis, from disturbance within the self to exaggerated self-absorption. [source] Interrelation between the Poisoning Severity Score, carboxyhaemoglobin levels and in-hospital clinical course of carbon monoxide poisoningINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PRACTICE, Issue 12 2006A. A. CEVIK Summary The aim of the present study is to evaluate the relationship between the Poisoning Severity Score (PSS) and carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels in patients with carbon monoxide poisoning (COP) using outcome as the measure. The study was designed as a retrospective chart review of patients with final diagnosis of COP. Correlation of PSS and COHb levels at presentation was evaluated with collected data. Majority of the cases were grade 1 (minor) PSS (134 cases, 73.6%) and 93.4% of these patients made a complete recovery. There were six deaths (mortality 3.3%) and six in-hospital major complications (IHMCs) (3.3%) (please specify whether the complications were in the patients who died). There is moderate correlation between PSS and outcome (p < 0.001, r = 0.493). Grade 3 (severe) PSS was significantly different from other grades for outcome (six mortalities and three IHMCs). Patients classified as grade 3 and patients who died had a significantly higher mean age (p < 0.05, 41.8 ± 23.6 and p < 0.01, 60.1 ± 20.3, respectively). Mean COHb level of grade 3 (33.2 ± 13.9%) was significantly higher than that of other grades (p < 0.05). COHb levels according to outcome were not different (? within the patients in grade 3). Decreased level of consciousness, acidosis, tachycardia, high glucose and leucocyte levels showed significant relation with higher PSS, COHb level and adverse outcome. We conclude that the PSS is a reliable guide in COP. Value of the PSS in COP may be enhanced if additional factors and investigations are included. [source] Association between cognition and daily life functioning in dementia subtypesINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY, Issue 7 2009Sharon F. M. Bouwens Abstract Objective To investigate the association between cognition and daily life functioning in dementia subtypes. Methods Cross-sectional data were used from 615 patients with dementia who were referred to the Maastricht Memory Clinic of the Maastricht University Medical Centre. Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated between the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE; to measure cognitive status) and the Blessed Dementia Scale (BDS; to measure daily life functioning) for the following types of dementia: Alzheimer's Disease (AD, n,=,442); Vascular dementia (VaD, n,=,113); frontotemporal dementia (FTD, n,=,18); Parkinson's dementia (PD, n,=,21); and primary progressive aphasia (PPA, n,=,21). One-way ANOVA was used to test differences in age, MMSE scores and BDS scores across dementia subtypes. Results Scores on the MMSE showed strong correlation with BDS scores in cases of FTD (r,=,,0.80); moderate correlation in cases of AD, VaD, and PD (range r,=,,0.50,0.60); while no correlation was found in PPA cases. Conclusions The association between cognition and daily life functioning varied among dementia subtypes for AD, VaD, FTD and PD. Furthermore, the overall scores on both domains differ between dementia subtypes, indicating that different types of dementia are characterized by a specific pattern of cognitive status and daily life functioning. These findings underline the need for multidomain assessment in patients with dementia. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Prediction of Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Older Men Infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Clinical Factors and Value of the Six-Minute Walk DistanceJOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 11 2009Krisann K. Oursler MD OBJECTIVES: To investigate factors related to cardiorespiratory fitness in older human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients and to explore the utility of 6-minute walk distance (6-MWD) in measuring fitness. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in clinic-based cohort. SETTING: Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: Forty-three HIV-infected men, median age 57 (range 50,82), without recent acquired immunodeficiency syndrome,related illness and receiving antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Peak oxygen utilization (VO2peak) according to treadmill graded exercise testing, 6-MWD, grip strength, quadriceps maximum voluntary isometric contraction, cross-sectional area, muscle quality, and muscle adiposity. RESULTS: There was a moderate correlation between VO2peak (mean ± SD; 18.4 ± 5.6 mL/kg per minute) and 6-MWD (514 ± 91 m) (r=0.60, P<.001). VO2peak was lower in subjects with hypertension (16%, P<.01) and moderate anemia (hemoglobin 10,13 gm/dL; 15%, P=.09) than in subjects without these conditions. CD4 cell count (median 356 cells/mL, range 20,1,401) and HIV-1 viral load (84% nondetectable) were not related to VO2peak. Among muscle parameters, only grip strength was an independent predictor of VO2peak. Estimation of VO2peak using linear regression, including age, 6-MWD, grip strength, and hypertension as independent variables, explained 61% of the variance in VO2peak. CONCLUSION: Non-AIDS-related comorbidity predicts cardiorespiratory fitness in older HIV-infected men receiving ARV therapy. The 6-MWD is a valuable measure of fitness in this patient population, but a larger study with diverse subjects is needed. [source] Bone Strength at Clinically Relevant Sites Displays Substantial Heterogeneity and Is Best Predicted From Site-Specific Bone DensitometryJOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 1 2002Felix Eckstein Ph.D. Abstract In this study we test the hypotheses that mechanical bone strength in elderly individuals displays substantial heterogeneity among clinically relevant skeletal sites, that ex situ dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) provides better estimates of bone strength than in situ DXA, but that a site-specific approach of bone densitometry is nevertheless superior for optimal prediction of bone failure under in situ conditions. DXA measurements were obtained of the lumbar spine, the left femur, the left radius, and the total body in 110 human cadavers (age, 80.6 ± 10.5 years; 72 female, 38 male), including the skin and soft tissues. The bones were then excised, spinal and femoral DXA being repeated ex situ. Mechanical failure tests were performed on thoracic vertebra 10 and lumbar vertebra 3 (compressive loading of a functional unit), the left and right femur (side impact and vertical loading configuration), and the left and right distal radius (fall configuration, axial compression, and 3-point-bending). The failure loads displayed only very moderate correlation among sites (r = 0.39 to 0.63). Ex situ DXA displayed slightly higher correlations with failure loads compared with those of in situ DXA, but the differences were not significant and relatively small. Under in situ conditions, DXA predicted 50-60% of the variability in bone failure loads at identical (or closely adjacent) sites, but only around 20-35% at distant sites, advocating a site-specific approach of densitometry. These data suggest that mechanical competence in the elderly is governed by strong regional variation, and that its loss in osteoporosis may not represent a strictly systemic process. [source] Measurement of serum hyaluronic acid in patients with chronic hepatitis C and its relationship to liver histologyJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY, Issue 8 2000John G McHutchison Abstract Background and Aims: Chronic hepatitis C is a slowly progressing inflammatory disease of the liver that can lead to cirrhosis and its complications. Assessment of liver damage in hepatitis C has been primarily via histological evaluation. Liver biopsy, while useful in determining the extent of liver damage, has associated costs and places patients at a small but finite risk of bleeding. Studies in small patient populations have identified serum markers shown to correlate with liver histology, including pro-collogen III peptide and hyaluronic acid (HA). To determine whether serum HA was a reliable predictor of cirrhosis and fibrosis, we examined serum HA concentrations from 486 chronic Hepatitis C virus (HCV) patients. Methods and Results: Patients were anti-HCV and HCV RNA positive, with elevated alanine aminotransferase values and underwent a liver biopsy. Sera were obtained at the baseline for HA using radioimmunoassay methodology. Patients with cirrhosis had significantly higher serum HA concentrations compared with non-cirrhotic patients (382 ± 31 vs 110 ± 9 ,g/L respectively, P < 0.001). Patients with fibrosis had significantly higher mean serum HA concentrations (179 ± 11 ,g/L) compared with patients without fibrosis (62 ± 20 ,g/L; P < 0.001). The correlation between HA concentration and the components of the Knodell histological activity index score revealed no strong associations with the exception of fibrosis, which showed moderate correlation (R = 0.5421, P < 0.001). The clinical value of HA measurement appears to be its ability to exclude cirrhosis. A HA value of < 60 ,g/L excluded the presence of cirrhosis or significant fibrosis with a predictive value of 99 and 93%, respectively. Conclusions: Serum HA measurement may be clinically useful to non-invasively assess the degree of fibrosis and cirrhosis. Further prospective studies are warranted to determine the clinical utility of HA as a non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis. [source] Subjective food intake ability in relation to the Mixing Ability Index in Korean adultsJOURNAL OF ORAL REHABILITATION, Issue 4 2010S.H. JEONG Summary, This study examined the association between the subjective food intake ability (FIA) using a questionnaire with 30 types of foods and the objective Mixing Ability Index (MAI) using a two-coloured wax cube. A total of 147 subjects (32 males, 115 females, mean age: 54·9 ± 20·7) were enrolled in this study. The FIA for 30 food types and the key food intake ability (KFIA) for five key food types were obtained using a self-assessed questionnaire to evaluate the subjective chewing ability. The objective chewing ability was evaluated by asking the subjects to chew a wax cube for 10 strokes. The MAI was calculated by image analysis of the chewed wax cube. The Pearson's correlation between the subjective FIA and objective MAI was analysed according to age and number of post-canine teeth lost. The FIA for the 30 foods and five key food types showed a moderate correlation with the MAI (r = 0·51, 0·55, respectively, P < 0·01). The KFIA of the denture wearing group (r = 0·44, P < 0·01) and over 60-year-old group (r = 0·49, P < 0·01) showed a significantly higher correlation with the MAI than the other groups. In conclusion, there was a moderate correlation between the subjective FIA and objective MAI in Korean adults. [source] Plasma Asymmetric Dimethylarginine, Symmetric Dimethylarginine, l -Arginine, and Nitrite/Nitrate Concentrations in Cats with Chronic Kidney Disease and HypertensionJOURNAL OF VETERINARY INTERNAL MEDICINE, Issue 2 2008R.E. Jepson Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypertension have been associated with decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial dysfunction. Increased concentrations of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) are implicated. Hypothesis: Plasma ADMA concentration is increased in cats with CKD and systemic hypertension corresponding to a decrease in total plasma nitrate/nitrite (NOx) availability. Decrease in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and proteinuria during treatment of hypertension with amlodipine besylate may be associated with increased NOx availability. Animals: Sixty-nine client-owned normotensive and hypertensive cats with variable azotemia. Methods: Plasma ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), and l -arginine were measured simultaneously by hydrophilic-interaction liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry in cats from 6 groups: normotensive nonazotemic (n = 10), normotensive mildly azotemic (n = 10), hypertensive mildly azotemic with hypertensive retinopathy (n = 20), hypertensive mildly azotemic without hypertensive retinopathy (n = 10), normotensive moderately azotemic cats (n = 10), and hypertensive nonazotemic cats (n = 9). Plasma NOx concentrations were measured. Results: A moderate correlation between plasma creatinine and ADMA (n = 69, r= .608, P < .001), SDMA (n = 69, r= .741, P < .001), and NOx concentrations (n = 69, r= .589, P < .001) was observed. There was no association among plasma ADMA, SDMA, and NOx concentrations and SBP. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Plasma ADMA and SDMA concentrations are increased in cats with CKD and correlate with plasma creatinine concentration. This may imply the presence of endothelial dysfunction in cats with CKD. Plasma ADMA concentrations were not associated with systemic hypertension. Treatment of systemic hypertension with amlodipine besylate did not affect plasma ADMA or NOx concentrations. [source] Real-time single-heartbeat fast strain-encoded imaging of right ventricular regional function: Normal versus chronic pulmonary hypertension,MAGNETIC RESONANCE IN MEDICINE, Issue 1 2010Monda L. Shehata Abstract Patients with pulmonary hypertension and suspected right ventricular (RV) dysfunction often have dyspnea at rest, making reliable assessment of RV function using traditional breath-holding methods difficult to perform. Using single-heartbeat fast strain encoding (Fast-SENC) imaging, peak systolic RV circumferential and longitudinal strains were measured in 11 healthy volunteers and 11 pulmonary hypertension patients. Fast-SENC RV longitudinal strain and circumferential strain measurements were compared to conventional SENC and MR tagging, respectively. Fast-SENC circumferential and longitudinal RV shortening correlated closely with SENC measurements (r = 0.86, r = 0.90, P < 0.001 for all). Circumferential strain, by conventional tagging, showed moderate correlation with Fast-SENC in pulmonary hypertension patients only (r = 0.5, P = 0.003). A nonuniform pattern of RV circumferential shortening was depicted in both groups. Peak systolic circumferential strain was significantly reduced at the basal RV in pulmonary hypertension patients (,18.06 ± 3.3 versus ,21.9 ± 1.9, P < 0.01) compared to normal individuals, while peak systolic longitudinal strain was significantly reduced at all levels (P < 0.01 for all). Fast-SENC is a feasible and reliable technique for rapid quantification of RV regional function in a single-heartbeat acquisition. Information derived from Fast-SENC allows characterization of RV regional function in normal individuals and in pulmonary hypertension patients. Magn Reson Med, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Urodynamics, the supine empty bladder stress test, and incontinence severity,,§NEUROUROLOGY AND URODYNAMICS, Issue 7 2010Charles W. Nager Abstract Aims Determine whether urodynamic measures of urethral function [(valsalva leak point pressure (VLPP), maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP), functional urethral length (FUL)] and the results of the supine empty bladder stress test (SEBST) correlate with each other and with subjective and objective measures of urinary incontinence (UI). Methods Data were collected preoperatively from subjects enrolled in a multicenter surgical trial of mid-urethral slings. Subjective measures included questionnaire scores from the Medical Epidemiological and Social Aspects of Aging Questionnaire, Urogenital Distress Inventory, and Incontinence Impact Questionnaire. Objective measures included a 24-hr pad weight test, incontinence episode frequency on a 3-day voiding diary, and a SEBST. Results Five hundred ninety-seven women enrolled. Three hundred seventy-two women had valid VLPP values; 539 had valid MUCP/FUL values. Subjective measures of severity had weak to moderate correlation with each other (r,=,0.25,0.43) and with objective measures of severity (r,=,,0.06 to 0.45). VLPP and MUCP had moderate correlation with each other (r,=,0.36, ,<,0.001). Urodynamic measures of urethral function had little or no correlation with subjective or objective measures of severity. Subjects with a positive SEBST had more subjective and objective severity measures compared to the negative SEBST group, but they did not have significantly different VLPP and MUCP values. Conclusions VLPP and MUCP have moderate correlation with each other, but each had little or no correlation with subjective or objective measures of severity or with the results of the SEBST. This data suggests that the urodynamic measures of urethral function are not related to subjective or objective measures of UI severity. Neurourol. Urodynam. 29:1306,1311, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Liver biopsy results in patients with sickle cell disease on chronic transfusions: Poor correlation with ferritin levelsPEDIATRIC BLOOD & CANCER, Issue 1 2008Lina B. Karam MD Abstract Background: Chronic transfusions are effective in preventing stroke and other complications of sickle cell disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether serum ferritin levels correlated with liver iron content in sickle cell patients on chronic transfusion. Procedure: Forty-four liver biopsy specimens from 38 patients with homozygous sickle cell anemia (HbSS) and one patient with sickle thalassemia receiving chronic transfusions were studied. Five patients underwent a second liver biopsy for follow up. Three ferritin measurements were used to calculate a mean for each patient. The association between serum ferritin levels and liver iron quantitation was measured using the Spearman rank correlation, and sensitivity and specificity were determined for selected threshold values of serum ferritin. Results: Serum ferritin levels ranged from 515 to 6076 ng/ml, liver iron concentration ranged from 1.8 to 67.97 mg/g dry weight. The amount of iron per gram liver dry weight was moderately correlated with serum ferritin values (r,=,0.46). The correlation of duration of transfusion with serum ferritin (r,=,0.40) and with liver iron content (r,=,0.41) also indicated moderate correlation. Liver biopsy results led to changes in the management after 29/44 (66%) of the biopsies. Serum ferritin ,2500 ng/ml predicted high liver iron content (,7 mg/g), with a sensitivity of 62.5% and a specificity of 77.8%. Conclusion: We found a poor correlation between serum ferritin levels and liver iron content (LIC). Despite being on chelation therapy, many patients on chronic transfusion had high levels of liver iron. Measurement of LIC is highly recommended in these patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;50:62,65. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Cutaneous melanoma in Swedish women: Occupational risks by anatomic site,AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2005Beatriz Pérez-Gómez MD Abstract Background Few occupational studies have addressed melanoma in women. Accordingly, our aim was to identify occupations with higher risk of cutaneous melanoma, overall and by site, in Swedish female workers. Methods All gainfully employed Swedish women were followed-up from 1971 to 1989, using Death/Cancer Registers. Occupational risk ratios adjusted for age, period, town size, and geographic zone were computed for each site. Risk patterns for different sites were then compared. Results High risks were observed among educators, bank tellers, dental nurses, librarians/archivists/curators, horticultural workers, and hatmakers/milliners. Telephone operators and textile workers had increased risk, mainly in the leg. Other occupation-specific site excesses were also found. Upper-limb risks were correlated with head/neck and thorax, though these two sites were not associated. Legs registered a special pattern, with a moderate correlation with upper limbs or thorax, and no correlation with head/neck. Conclusions Some occupations with possible exposure to arsenic/mercury displayed increased risk. The generalized excess risk among hatmakers/milliners warrants further attention. The weak correlation between legs and other sites suggests site specificity in melanoma risk factors. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Factor structure of the Japanese Interpersonal Competence ScalePSYCHIATRY AND CLINICAL NEUROSCIENCES, Issue 2 2008Tomomi Matsudaira ma Aim:, Assessing social competence is important for clinical and preventive interventions of depression. The aim of the present paper was to examine the factor structure of the Japanese Interpersonal Competence Scale (JICS). Methods:, Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed on the survey responses of 730 participants. Simultaneous multigroup analyses were conducted to confirm factor stability across psychological health status and sex differences. Results:, Two factors, which represent Perceptive Ability and Self-Restraint, were confirmed to show a moderate correlation. Perceptive Ability involves a more cognitive aspect of social competence, while Self-Restraint involves a more behavioral aspect, both of which are considered to reflect the emotion-based relating style specific to the Japanese people: indulgent dependence (amae) and harmony (wa). In addition, Self-Restraint may be linked to social functioning. Both constructs may confound a respondent's perceived confidence. Conclusion:, Despite its shortcomings, the JICS is a unique measure of social competence in the Japanese cultural context. [source] Bone microstructure in juvenile chimpanzeesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL ANTHROPOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Dawn M. Mulhern Abstract The growth, development, and maintenance of bone are influenced by genetic and environmental variables. Understanding variability in bone microstructure among primates may help illuminate the factors influencing the number and size of secondary osteons. The purpose of this study is to assess the bone microstructure in 8 humeral and 12 femoral sections of 12 juvenile chimpanzees, aged 2,15.3 years, and one adult chimp. Secondary osteons were counted and measured for 16 fields per section. Results indicate that the femur exhibits a mean osteon population density (OPD) of 4.46 ± 2.34/mm2, mean Haversian canal area of 0.0016 ± 0.0007 mm2, and mean osteon area of 0.033 ± 0.006 mm2. The humerus has a mean OPD of 4.72 ± 1.57/mm2, mean Haversian canal area of 0.0013 ± 0.0003 mm2, and mean osteon area of 0.033 ± 0.005 mm2. Differences are not significant between the humerus and femur, possibly indicating similar mechanical demands during locomotion. Osteon population density exhibits a moderate correlation with age (r = 0.498) in the femur of the juvenile chimps, but the adult chimp has an OPD of 10.28/mm2, suggesting that osteons likely accumulate with age. Females exhibit higher osteon densities in the periosteal envelope compared to males in the humerus, indicating more remodeling during periosteal expansion. Overall similarities between chimpanzees and humans as well as previously published data on Late Pleistocene hominids (Abbott et al.: Am J Phys Anthropol 99 1996 585,601) suggest that bone microstructure has been stable throughout human evolution. Am J Phys Anthropol, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Japanese version of Cutaneous Body Image Scale: Translation and validationTHE JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 9 2009Yuko HIGAKI Abstract Cutaneous body image, defined as the individual's mental perception of the appearance of their skin, hair and nails, is an important psychodermatological element in skin diseases. To measure individuals' cutaneous body image, a practical and accurate instrument is necessary. In this study, we translated the Cutaneous Body Image Scale (CBIS), a 7-item instrument originally created by Gupta et al. in 2004, into Japanese using a forward- and back-translation method and evaluated the reliability and validity of the instrument by psychometric tests. A total of 298 healthy adults (64 men and 234 women, aged 28.9 ± 9.9 years) and 165 dermatology patients (56.7% eczema/dermatitis, 9.8% acne, 7.5% alopecia, 6.9% psoriasis, 19.1% skin tumor/fleck/other) (30 men and 135 women, aged 37.9 ± 15.2 years) responded to the Japanese version of the CBIS. The internal-consistency reliability of the instrument was high (Cronbach's ,, healthy adults 0.88, patients 0.84). The CBIS measure demonstrates good test,retest reliability (healthy adults , = 0.92, P < 0.0001; patients , = 0.79, P < 0.001). Compared to the healthy adults (4.11 ± 1.80), the CBIS scores among dermatology patients (3.18 ± 1.69, P = 0.000) were significantly low. The CBIS scores showed moderate correlation with the "emotions" and "global" scores of Skindex-16 in healthy adults (, = ,0.397 and ,0.373, respectively) and in patients (, = ,0.431 and ,0.38, respectively). A stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that an emotional aspect of skin-condition related quality of life was the best predictor of cutaneous body image in both healthy adults and patients (, = ,0.31 and ,0.41, respectively) followed by "body dissatisfaction" (, = ,0.17, and ,0.23, respectively). Adjusted R2 was 0.246 in healthy adults and 0.264 in patients. These were consistent with the results from the original the CBIS. These results suggest that the Japanese version of the CBIS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure the cutaneous body image of Japanese adults and also dermatology patients. [source] Neurologic signs and symptoms in fibromyalgiaARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 9 2009Nathaniel F. Watson Objective To determine the type and frequency of neurologic signs and symptoms in individuals with fibromyalgia (FM). Methods Persons with FM (n = 166) and pain-free controls (n = 66) underwent systematic neurologic examination by a neurologist blinded to disease status. Neurologic symptoms lasting at least 3 months were assessed with a standard questionnaire. We used logistic regression to evaluate the association of neurologic symptoms and examination findings with FM status. Within the FM group we examined the correlation between self-reported symptoms and physical examination findings. Results Age- and sex-adjusted estimates revealed that compared with the control group, the FM group had significantly more neurologic abnormalities in multiple categories, including greater dysfunction in cranial nerves IX and X (42% versus 8%) and more sensory (65% versus 25%), motor (33% versus 3%), and gait (28% versus 7%) abnormalities. Similarly, the FM group had significantly more neurologic symptoms than the control group in 27 of 29 categories, with the greatest differences observed for photophobia (70% versus 6%), poor balance (63% versus 4%), and weakness (58% versus 2%) and tingling (54% versus 4%) in the arms or legs. Poor balance or coordination, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs, and numbness in any part of the body correlated with appropriate neurologic examination findings in the FM group. Conclusion This blinded, controlled study demonstrated neurologic physical examination findings in persons with FM. The FM group had more neurologic symptoms than did the controls, with moderate correlation between symptoms and signs. These findings have implications for the medical evaluation of patients with FM. [source] Carbon and Oxygen Isotopic Composition of Surface-Sediment Carbonate in Bosten Lake (Xinjiang, China) and its Controlling FactorsACTA GEOLOGICA SINICA (ENGLISH EDITION), Issue 2 2009Chengjun ZHANG Abstract: Bosten Lake is a mid-latitude lake with water mainly supplied by melting ice and snow in the Tianshan Mountains. The depositional environment of the lake is spatially not uniform due to the proximity of the major inlet and the single outlet in the western part of the lake. The analytical results show that the carbon and oxygen isotopic composition of recent lake sediments is related to this specific lacustrine depositional environment and to the resulting carbonate mineralogy. In the southwestern lake region between the Kaidu River inlet and the Kongqi River outlet, carbon isotope composition (,13C) values of the carbonate sediment (,1, to ,2,) have no relation to the oxygen isotope composition of the carbonate (,18O) values (,7, to ,8,), with both isotopes showing a low variability. The carbonate content is low (<20%). Carbonate minerals analyzed by X-ray diffraction are mainly composed of calcite, while aragonite was not recorded. The salinity of the lake water is low in the estuary region as a result of the Kaidu River inflow. In comparison, the carbon and oxygen isotope values are higher in the middle and eastern parts of the lake, with ,13C values between approximately +0.5, and +3,, and ,18O values between ,1, and ,5,. There is a moderate correlation between the stable oxygen and carbon isotopes, with a coefficient of correlation r of approximately 0.63. This implies that the lake water has a relatively short residence time. Carbonate minerals constitute calcite and aragonite in the middle and eastern region of the lake. Aragonite and Mg,calcite are formed at higher lake water salinity and temperatures, and larger evaporation effects. More saline lake water in the middle and eastern region of the lake and the enhanced isotopic equilibrium between water and atmospheric CO2 cause the correlating carbon and oxygen isotope values determined for aragonite and Mg,calcite. Evaporation and biological processes are the main reasons for the salinity and carbonate mineralogy influence of the surface-sediment carbonate in Bosten Lake. The lake water residence time and the CO2 exchange between the atmosphere and the water body control the carbon and oxygen isotope composition of the carbonate sediment. In addition, organic matter pollution and decomposition result in the abnormally low carbon isotope values of the lake surface-sediment carbonate. [source] Battery for assessment of neuropsychological status (RBANS) in schizophrenia: a pilot study in the Spanish population,ACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 1 2009Juan C. Sanz Objectives:, The aims of this study were to research the following issues in a Spanish population of patients with schizophrenia. (a) The sensitivity and reliability of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) to detect cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. (b) The convergent validity of RBANS on a larger battery of neuropsychological tests sensitive to the cognition disorders typically observed in schizophrenia. (c) The correlates of poor performance in RBANS with clinical features and illness severity. Method:, Thirty schizophrenia patients, 30 non-psychotic patients and 30 healthy participants were assessed using RBANS (form A). We administered a battery of neuropsychological tests and four scales to evaluate patient's clinical status. Results:, Schizophrenia patients and non-psychotic patients performed significantly worse than healthy controls on RBANS, and schizophrenia patients performed slightly worse than non-psychiatric controls, but this difference was not significant. Good inter-test reliability and concurrent validity were found. Only a moderate correlation between RBANS performance and illness severity was observed. Conclusions:, RBANS revealed coherence in identifying cognitive impairment in schizophrenia patients of a different cultural background, and it is shown to be a sensitive, valid and easy-to-perform tool for the neuropsychological assessment of Spanish patients with schizophrenia. [source] Corneal hysteresis using the Reichert ocular response analyser: findings pre- and post-LASIK and LASEKACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2 2008Caitriona Kirwan Abstract. Purpose:, To evaluate and compare corneal hysteresis in patients prior to and following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK) using the Reichert ocular response analyser (ORA). Methods:, Corneal hysteresis was recorded prior to and 3 months after corneal laser refractive surgery for myopia. Preoperative corneal hysteresis was correlated with age and preoperative central corneal thickness (CCT). Postoperative corneal hysteresis was correlated with postoperative CCT in both the LASIK and LASEK treatment groups. The correlations between postoperative change in hysteresis and stromal ablation depth, percentage of tissue ablated, optical zone and patient age were also examined. Results:, A total of 84 eyes of 84 patients were involved in the study. LASIK was performed in 63 eyes and LASEK in 21. Mean preoperative corneal hysteresis of all eyes was 10.8 ± 1.5 mmHg. Mean age, preoperative CCT, corneal hysteresis and ablation profile were similar in both groups. A statistically significant decrease in hysteresis occurred following LASIK (p < 0.01) and LASEK (p < 0.01) with similar decrements observed in both treatment groups. A moderate correlation was found between postoperative hysteresis and postoperative CCT in LASIK (r = 0.7) and LASEK (r = 0.7) treated eyes. A weak correlation was found between postoperative decrease in hysteresis and the parameters examined. Conclusion:, Corneal hysteresis decreased following LASIK and LASEK. Similar reductions occurred following both procedures, indicating that LASIK involving a thin 120-,m flap did not induce additional biomechanical change. Postoperative reduction in hysteresis did not correlate with the amount or percentage of corneal tissue removed, nor with optical zone or patient age. [source] Psychometric evaluation of the mini-social phobia inventory (Mini-SPIN) in a treatment-seeking sample,DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 6 2007Justin W. Weeks M.A. Abstract The Mini-Social Phobia Inventory (Mini-SPIN) is a 3-item, self-rated screening instrument to assess social anxiety disorder, but its psychometric properties have not yet been examined in a sample seeking treatment for psychiatric disorders. We analyzed responses from 291 adults who telephoned the Adult Anxiety Clinic of Temple (AACT) seeking treatment for social anxiety or generalized anxiety and worry. The Mini-SPIN demonstrated strong internal consistency. Support for the convergent validity of the Mini-SPIN was provided by moderate correlations with several self-report measures and a clinician-administered measure of social anxiety completed by the subsample of callers who later came to the AACT for evaluation. Furthermore, the Mini-SPIN correlated significantly with two of three measures of functional disability, but not with a measure of life satisfaction. Correlations with measures of other constructs were nonsignificant, providing support for the discriminant validity of the Mini-SPIN. In addition, a cutoff score of 6 on the Mini-SPIN yielded strong sensitivity and diagnostic efficiency in the subsample of treatment seekers that later completed pretreatment evaluation, although the specificity of this cutoff score was not optimal in this sample. Overall, the Mini-SPIN demonstrated sound psychometric properties in this treatment-seeking sample. Depression and Anxiety 24:382,391, 2007. Published 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Beyond Accountability and Average Mathematics Scores: Relating State Education Policy Attributes to Cognitive Achievement DomainsEDUCATIONAL MEASUREMENT: ISSUES AND PRACTICE, Issue 4 2005Laura M. Desimone We found moderate correlations among four policy attributes (consistency, specificity, authority, and power), which suggest that in many states, at least in design, standards-based reform is working as advocates imagined,aligned content standards and assessments established, backed up by detailed guidelines and frameworks, incentivized by rewards and sanctions, and supported with extra resources and programs for struggling students and their teachers. Our findings suggest that specificity and authority may be related to improvements in procedural knowledge, and no change in problem solving or conceptual understanding, while power (accountability) may be associated with a small decrease in all types of learning. We found that disadvantaged students showed gains in procedural knowledge and did not lose ground in either conceptual understanding or problem solving. Implications for developing an improved theory of policy effects on achievement are discussed. [source] The structure of Estonian personal values: a lexical approachEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PERSONALITY, Issue 3 2002Toivo Aavik The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the variety of value describing words and interrelation of value categories in the Estonian language. To accomplish this aim, a psycholexical approach was adopted, during which a set of 560 value-related words was selected from the Estonian Orthological Dictionary and the results were compared with the Schwartz Values Survey (SVS). When principal-component analysis was applied on the self-ratings of a reduced list of 78 value-related words, six factors emerged and were labelled as benevolence, self-enhancement, broadmindedness, hedonism, conservatism, and self-realization. However, all these themes are interrelated and load on a singular secondary dimension. The constructs measured by SVS and the value categories in Estonian were only partially interchangeable; moderate correlations imply an imperfect correspondence: each theme was related to many categories on the other questionnaire. However, a significant general structure refers to the same two-dimensional level of higher-order values described by Schwartz in 1992. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Marginal mandibular nerve injury during neck dissection and its impact on patient perception of appearanceHEAD & NECK: JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES & SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK, Issue 5 2009FRACDS(OMS), FRCS(OMFS), Martin D. Batstone MPhil(Surg) Abstract Background. Neck dissection to remove cervical lymph nodes is common practice in head and neck cancer management. The marginal mandibular nerve may be injured during neck dissection, particularly of level 1. The rate of injury to this nerve is underreported in the literature and its impact on patients is not well defined. Methods. An observational study was undertaken on patients who had undergone neck dissection over a 5-year period. The patients were examined for weakness and given a questionnaire related their perception of their appearance and their function. Results. Sixty-six patients were identified who had undergone 85 neck dissections. The rate of House Brackmann injury was 18% when analyzed by patient and 23% by neck. There were moderate correlations between observed injury and subjective responses to questions relating to ability to smile and weakness of the lower lip. Discussion. The rate of smile asymmetry following neck dissection is relatively high; however, severe injuries to the marginal mandibular nerve are uncommon. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2009 [source] In Vivo Determination of Bone Structure in Postmenopausal Women: A Comparison of HR-pQCT and High-Field MR Imaging,JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 4 2008Galateia J Kazakia PhD Abstract Bone structural measures obtained by two noninvasive imaging tools,3T MRI and HR-pQCT,were compared. Significant but moderate correlations and 2- to 4-fold discrepancies in parameter values were detected, suggesting that differences in acquisition and analysis must be considered when interpreting data from these imaging modalities. Introduction: High-field MRI and high resolution (HR)-pQCT are currently being used in longitudinal bone structure studies. Substantial differences in acquisition and analysis between these modalities may influence the quantitative data produced and could potentially influence clinical decisions based on their results. Our goal was to compare trabecular and cortical bone structural measures obtained in vivo by 3T MRI and HR-pQCT. Materials and Methods: Postmenopausal osteopenic women (n = 52) were recruited for this study. HR-pQCT imaging of the radius and tibia was performed using the XtremeCT scanner, with a voxel size of 82 × 82 × 82 ,m3. MR imaging was performed on a 3T Signa scanner using SSFP imaging sequences, with a pixel size of 156 × 156 ,m2 and slice thickness of 500 ,m. Structure parameters were calculated using standard HR-pQCT and MRI analysis techniques. Relationships between measures derived from HR-pQCT, MRI, and DXA were studied. Results: Significant correlations between HR-pQCT and MRI parameters were found (p < 0.0001) and were strongest for Tb.N (r2 = 0.52), Ct.Th (r2 = 0.59), and site-specific Tb.Sp (r2 = 0.54,0.60). MRI and HR-pQCT provided statistically different values of structure parameters (p < 0.0001), with BV/TV and Tb.Th exhibiting the largest discrepancies (MR/HR-pQCT = 3,4). Although differences in the Tb.N values were statistically significant, the mean differences were on the order of our reproducibility measurements. Systematic differences between MRI and HR-pQCT analysis procedures leading to discrepancies in cortical thickness values were observed, with MRI values consistently higher. Minimal correlations were found between MRI or HR-pQCT parameters and DXA BMD or T-score, except between HR-pQCT measures at the radius and the ultradistal radius T-scores, where moderate correlations were found (r2 = 0.19,0.58). Conclusions: This study provides unique insight into two emerging noninvasive tools for bone structure evaluation. Our findings highlight the significant influence of analysis technique on results of in vivo assessment and underscore the importance of accounting for these differences when interpreting results from these modalities. [source] Sonographic measurements of normal gallbladder sizes in childrenJOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 2 2003Jeong-Hyun Yoo MD Abstract Purpose Our goal was to establish the range of sonographic measurements of normal gallbladders in children. Methods Six hundred ten children aged 0,16 years (male:female ratio, 1.5:1) with normal clinical and laboratory findings were included in this study. The sonographic parameters were the length, width, and calculated volume of the gallbladder, and the clinical parameters were the age, height, weight, and body surface area of the children. Statistical significance was determined through correlation and regression analyses. Results The length of the gallbladder showed significant positive correlations with age (r = 0.65), height (r = 0.67), weight (r = 0.63), and body surface area (r = 0.65; p < 0.01). The calculated volume of the gallbladder also showed moderate correlations with age (r = 0.53), height (r = 0.55), weight (r = 0.61), and body surface area (r = 0.57; p < 0.01). The gallbladder width showed modest but significant correlations with age (r = 0.48), height (r = 0.53), weight (r = 0.53), and body surface area (r = 0.55; p < 0.01). The highest correlation coefficients were found between the gallbladder length and subject age (r = 0.65; p < 0.01) and between the gallbladder length and subject height (r = 0.67; p < 0.01). For all correlations, statistical significance remained after regression analysis (p < 0.01). Conclusions Values for the size of the normal pediatric gallbladder are defined and will be helpful in the diagnosis of gallbladder abnormalities. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 31:80,84, 2003 [source] META-ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE FIVE-FACTOR MODEL OF PERSONALITY AND HOLLAND'S OCCUPATIONAL TYPESPERSONNEL PSYCHOLOGY, Issue 1 2003MURRAY R. BARRICK The purpose of this study is to examine the nature and magnitude of the relationship between 2 widely accepted models for classifying individual differences,the 5-factor model of personality and Holland's RI-ASEC occupational types. Based on extensive meta-analyses, our results illustrate that there are meaningful relations between some FFM personality dimensions and some RIASEC types. The strongest relationships were obtained between the RIASEC types of enterprising and artistic with the FFM personality dimensions of Extraversion and Openness to Experience, p= .41 and .39, respectively. Three other RIASEC types had moderate correlations with at least 1 FFM personality trait. In contrast, the realistic type was not related to any FFM personality traits. Multiple regression analyses in which each RIASEC type is regressed on the FFM scores (based on meta-analytic estimates), revealed a multiple R of .11 for realistic, .26 for investigative, .42 for artistic, .31 for social, .47 for enterprising, and .27 for conventional types. The overall conclusion from the study is that although FFM personality traits and RIASEC types are related, they are not merely substitutes for each other. [source] Fear of recurrence in long-term testicular cancer survivorsPSYCHO-ONCOLOGY, Issue 6 2009Tone Skaali Abstract Objective: To explore fear of recurrence (FoR) in long-term testicular cancer survivors (TCSs) since FoR hardly has been examined in TCSs. Methods: In a cross-sectional questionnaire study, 1336 TCSs at a mean of 11.4 years (SD 4.2) after diagnosis gave information about their medical and social situation, and completed measures on mental distress, fatigue, quality of life, coping, self-esteem and neuroticism. FoR during the last week was explored with one question, with the response categories rated on a 4-point Likert scale. Nine percent of the TCSs had a structured psychiatric interview. Results: Twenty-four percent of the TCSs reported ,quite a bit' FoR and 7% reported ,very much' FoR during the last week. The FoR question showed moderate correlations (0.22,0.51) with established psychological measures. The level of FoR was significantly positively correlated with mental distress, fatigue and neuroticism and significantly negatively correlated with quality of life, self-esteem and coping. In univariate analyses, neurotoxic side effects and somatic symptoms, but not treatment modality, were significantly associated with level of FoR. In a multivariate analysis, a medium educational level, increasing levels of traumatic cancer-related stress symptoms and of neuroticism were significantly associated with rising FoR. Among those who had a psychiatric interview, the presence of at least one current mental disorder was significantly associated with FoR. Conclusions: High levels of FoR in long-term TCSs are not uncommon. Levels of mental and somatic problems are associated with the levels of FoR. Clinical consequences of these findings for TCSs are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||