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Pattern Groups (pattern + groups)
Selected AbstractsFamily Caregivers' Patterns of Positive and Negative Affect,FAMILY RELATIONS, Issue 1 2007Suzanne M. Robertson Abstract: Stressful and positive family caregiving experiences were examined as predictors of caregivers' patterns of positive and negative affect in a sample of families providing care for a relative with dementia (N= 234). Four affect pattern groups were identified: (a) Well Adjusted (i.e., high positive affect, low negative affect); (b) Ambiguous (i.e., low on both positive and negative affect); (c) Intense (i.e., high on both positive and negative affect); and (d) Distressed (i.e., high negative affect, low positive affect). A multivariate model that included demographic characteristics and indicators of stressful and positive experiences of caregiving yielded 2 significant discriminant functions that served to classify caregivers correctly into their known affect groups. Implications for improving intervention efforts targeting family caregivers are discussed. [source] Differences in cognitive factors between "true drug" versus "placebo pattern" response to fluoxetine as defined by pattern analysisHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 4 2006Amy H. Farabaugh Abstract Objective Pattern analysis has identified two types of response patterns to antidepressants: "true drug" response (TDR) and "placebo pattern" response (PPR). This study examines the relationship between cognitive factors and TDR and PPR to fluoxetine. Methods We assessed 310 outpatients meeting DSM-III-R criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) who were enrolled in an 8-week open trial of fluoxetine 20,mg/day. Response patterns were determined using the clinical global impressions-improvement (CGI-I). We administered the following self-rated scales to all patients at the baseline visit and at endpoint: perceived stress scale (PSS), cognitions questionnaire (CQ), Beck hopelessness scale (BHS) and dysfunctional attitudes scale (DAS). Results One hundred and thirty-four patients had TDR, 66 patients had PPR, and 110 patients were non-responders (NR). Demographic variables and severity of depression at baseline (HAMD-17) were not significantly different between the two response pattern groups. We compared cognitive factors before and after treatment across patients with TDR and PPR, and there were no significant differences at baseline in CQ, PSS, BHS, and DAS scores. At endpoint, outpatients with PPR had significantly lower scores on the PSS (p,<,0.001) compared to the patients with TDR, even after adjusting for multiple comparisons and severity of depression at endpoint. Conclusions Significant differences in cognitive/psychological factors, specifically lower post-treatment perceived stress, accompany "placebo" pattern of response to antidepressant treatment and differentiate it from "true drug" response pattern, as defined by pattern analysis. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Variation in tree growth, mortality and recruitment among topographic positions in a warm temperate forestJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 3 2006Riyou Tsujino Abstract: Questions: Do the population dynamics of trees differ among topographic positions and, if so, how does topographic position affect the population dynamics of species that are distributed in a topography-specific manner? Which is the most important life stage in determining vegetation patterns? Location: Primary and secondary warm temperate evergreen broad-leaved forest (40 - 280 m a.s.l.) on the western part of Yakushima Island, Japan. Methods: Mortality, recruitment, DBH growth and distribution of stems (= 5 cm DBH) in a 2.62-ha plot were surveyed in 1992 and 2002 to determine the relationships between population parameters and (1) topography and (2) distribution patterns of 17 common tree species. Results: Common species (n = 17) were classified into three distribution pattern groups: group A, distributed mainly on convex slopes; group B, on concave slopes, and group C, not aggregated with respect to topographic position. Stem mortality, recruitment and DBH growth were greater in group A than in group B within each topographic class. The hierarchy of stem mortality among topographic classes for groups A and B was convex > planar > concave. Stem recruitment density was relatively high on the convex and concave slopes, respectively, for groups A and B. Conclusions The topographical positions of adult trees were not always most suited for adult survival and growth. For group A, the distribution pattern of adults was determined in the juvenile stage, while this was not the case for group B. Studies of juvenile stages are important for understanding the demographic basis of vegetation distribution patterns. [source] The use of ribotyping and antibiotic resistance patterns for identification of host sources of Escherichia coli strainsLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2005M. Samadpour Abstract Aims:, To compare antibiotic resistance and ribotyping patterns ability to identify triplicate isolates sent from a group of 40 Escherichia coli taken from seven host sources. Methods and Results:, Of the 120 isolates, 22 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim and 98 isolates were susceptible. Antibiotic patterns identified 33 of the triplicates and three of the six groups had isolates from multiple hosts. Ribotyping divided the isolates into 27 ribotype groups with all triplicates grouped into the same ribotype group with one host per group. Conclusions:, Antibiotic susceptibility pattern placed 98 of the isolates in a single group with 50% of the antibiotic susceptibility pattern groups containing multiple host species. Ribotyping groups were host specific with each host having one to seven ribotype groups. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Antibiotic susceptibility pattern groups have been used for environmental source identification and faecal pollution tracking, however these groups do not always distinguish between host species. Stability of the markers is a potential concern and this system can only be used if antibiotic resistance levels are high in the isolates studied. All isolates have a ribotype group which was stable and like other molecular methods has advantages over antibiotic susceptibility pattern groups which uses a phenotypic method. [source] Perceived pain and self-estimated activity limitations in women with back pain post-partumPHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2003Lena Nilsson-Wikmar RPT Abstract Background and Purpose In the general population many daily activities have an impact on low back pain. The aim of the present study was to describe pain intensity, localization, type of sensation and perceived activity limitation in women with different back pain patterns post-partum. Method In this cross-sectional survey 119 women with back pain persisting for two months after having given birth were interviewed and examined on average 7.2 months (range 6,10 months) post-partum. Based on pain provocation tests, four different back pain pattern groups were identified. Pain could be provoked in the area of the posterior pelvic/sacroiliac joints, in the lumbar spine, both in the posterior pelvic/sacroiliac joints and in the lumbar spine, and in none of the above areas. All women rated pain intensity on a visual analogue scale (VAS, 0,100 mm), and the pain localization and type of sensation were indicated on a pain drawing. They scored their activity limitations by use of the Disability Rating Index (DRI), which covers 12 daily activity items (VAS, 0,100 mm). Results There was no significant difference (p = 0.12) in pain intensity (range of medians 19.5,10 mm) between the four groups. However, on average, most areas in the lower back (median 5 mm (range 2,14 mm)), were marked in the group with pain in both the posterior pelvic/sacroiliac joints and in the lumbar spine. The women in the three groups where pain was provoked in the lower area of the back had significantly (p < 0.01) more difficulties with movement-related daily activities than the group where no pain could be provoked. Conclusions The findings of this descriptive study suggest that back pain post-partum provoked by clinical tests considerably hampers movement-related activities. It seems important to pay special attention to the women where pain could be provoked in the lower back areas. The women should be identified early in the post-partum period to initiate adequate treatment. Copyright © 2003 Whurr Publishers Ltd. [source] | ||||||||||